Kozhikode: Eminent archaeologist KK Mohammed has exposed the role of Communist historians and Times of India for having inflated the Ayodhya issue, when there were all chances of settling the matter of Ram Janmabhumi in an amicable way.

In his autobiography ‘Njan Bharatiyan’ which was released today, Mohammed exposes how the Communists, Left historians and a section of media worked hand in glove in sabotaging those peaceful solutions. The book, along with a host of controversial exposes on the various sabotages indulged in by Left historians and Babri Action Council, details how it was evident that a temple existed beneath the structure and how the structure was made into a mosque using pillars, slabs and other structural components of the temple.

KK Mohammed was among members from Delhi School of Archaeology who joined the excavation team of Ayodhya headed by Prof VB Lal. The book highlights how, “during the course of excavation, it was discovered that may of the temple pillars had foundations made of bricks. Also it was very clear that the structure’s walls had temple pillars. There were engravings of full ‘kalash’ carved out of black basalt. All this was discerned after spending over two months in studying the structure.

He points out how Left historians and Babri Masjid Action Committee of JNU succeeded in giving matters a crooked turn. “It was the Left historians and their various writings which are given preference over anything else by media houses including Times of India, who took concrete efforts in making those Muslim policy makers who had ample thoughts of peaceful reconciliation, think otherwise,” says Mohammed.

According to Mohammed, the same Leftist venom was instrumental in pumping life into Babri Masjid Action Committee. “Unfortunately, this (Leftist drama) instilled courage and gave false hopes to Babri Masjid Action Committee. This resulted in a reversal of thought process amongst Muslims who had till then, been pondering wholeheartedly about giving back the mosque and settling the matter amicably. They came to a renewed conclusion that the mosque will not be given- a decision on which they stood rooted to. The fodder for this thought process was given solely by interference of Left historians. And had the matter been settled amicably, the nation would not have been facing many of those numerous issues, which they are, now,” he observes, adding that the nation had to pay a heavy price for the same.

Mohammed also reveals how a team led by Left historian Dr Irfan Habib, chairman of Indian Council of Historical Research conducted a meeting on Babri Masjid Action Committee, in ICHR office. “Even though it was opposed by member secretary MGS Narayan, it had little value in the presence of Irfan Habib,” he cites.

The book further says how the “Archaeological Survey came to the conclusion that remnants of a temple was indeed present under the structure known as Babri mosque, following evidences acquired from the excavation site. This was acknowledged by the Lucknow Bench of Allahabad High Court,” says the book.

Mohammed’s book reveals how out of the 131 people employed towards unbiased collection of excavations, 51 persons were Muslims who were part of Babri Action Committee, who were represented by archaeological historians like Soorajban, Supriya Varma, Jaya Menon along with a Magistrate of Allahabad High Court.

The foreword has been penned by Dr MGS Narayanan and the book has been compiled by eminent journalist Aneesh Kuttan.