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==History==
==History==
Sunehri Bagh Masjid has a reported history of over 200 years.<ref name="qa-29dec23">{{cite news |title=200 سال پرانی مسجد کو ہٹانے کے حوالے سے 2 ہزار سے زائد تجاویز موصول! |url=https://www.qaumiawaz.com/national/owaisi-against-removing-of-sunheri-masjid |work=Qaumi Awaz |date=29 December 2023}}</ref> It is reported to have been constructed of [[Lakhori bricks]].<ref>{{cite news |title=200 سو سال قدیم سنہری مسجد کو شہید کیے جانے کا خدشہ |url=https://naibaat.pk/2023/12/28/109352/ |access-date=31 December 2023 |work=Daily Nai Baat |date=28 December 2023}}</ref> The entire area of [[Lutyens' Delhi]] is asserted to have developed around the mosque several decades after its construction.<ref name="b&b-30dec23" /> According to historian [[Swapna Liddle]], the mosque had survived ravages of time including the colonial reconstruction of the city in 1912.<ref name="toi-untouched-29dec">{{cite news |last1=Jaiswal |first1=Anuja |title=Lutyens left mosque untouched, find other solutions: Historians |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/delhi/lutyens-left-mosque-untouched-find-other-solutions-historians/articleshow/106366201.cms |work=Times of India |date=29 December 2023}}</ref>
Sunehri Bagh Masjid was constructed in the [[Mughal era]],<ref name="nl-3jan24">{{cite news |last1=Zuberi |first1=Fahad |title=Heritage, freedom struggle, practical solutions: What NDMC’s Sunehri Masjid plan has overlooked |url=https://www.newslaundry.com/2024/01/03/heritage-freedom-struggle-practical-solutions-what-ndmcs-sunehri-masjid-plan-has-overlooked |access-date=4 January 2024 |work=[[Newslaundry]]}}</ref> and has a reported history of over 200 years.<ref name="qa-29dec23">{{cite news |title=200 سال پرانی مسجد کو ہٹانے کے حوالے سے 2 ہزار سے زائد تجاویز موصول! |url=https://www.qaumiawaz.com/national/owaisi-against-removing-of-sunheri-masjid |work=Qaumi Awaz |date=29 December 2023}}</ref> Its construction material includes [[Lakhori bricks]].<ref>{{cite news |title=200 سو سال قدیم سنہری مسجد کو شہید کیے جانے کا خدشہ |url=https://naibaat.pk/2023/12/28/109352/ |access-date=31 December 2023 |work=Daily Nai Baat |date=28 December 2023}}</ref>


The mosque housed Indian independence movement activists including [[Hasrat Mohani]], who used to stay there while attending Parliament sessions.<ref>{{cite news |title=Sunehri Bagh masjid demolition: ‘With Mosque will go all this history’, netizens react |url=https://www.livemint.com/news/india/sunehri-bagh-masjid-demolition-with-mosque-will-go-all-this-history-netizens-react-11703643265179.html |work=Livemint |date=27 December 2023}}</ref> The Delhi chapter of [[Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage]] listed Sunehri Masjid as a heritage building which was worth preservation, and had filed a PIL "ensure that such buildings were given legal protection".<ref name="toi-untouched-29dec" /> The mosque was subsequently listed as a Grade-III heritage building in a 2009 Delhi government notification.<ref name="indiaexp-27dec">{{cite news |last1=Singhal |first1=Upasika |last2=Husain |first2=Saman |title=Sunehri Bagh masjid a heritage structure or a roadblock? NDMC seeks public opinion |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/delhi/sunehri-bagh-masjid-a-heritage-structure-or-a-roadblock-ndmc-seeks-public-opinion-9084052/ |access-date=31 December 2023 |work=Indian Express |date=27 December 2023}}</ref>
The [[Lutyens' Delhi]] area is asserted to have developed around the mosque several decades after its construction.<ref name="b&b-30dec23" /> The mosque survived several ravages including the colonial reconstruction of the city in 1912 led by [[Edwin Lutyens]].<ref name="nl-3jan24"/><ref name="toi-untouched-29dec">{{cite news |last1=Jaiswal |first1=Anuja |title=Lutyens left mosque untouched, find other solutions: Historians |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/delhi/lutyens-left-mosque-untouched-find-other-solutions-historians/articleshow/106366201.cms |work=Times of India |date=29 December 2023}}</ref> The mosque housed Indian independence movement activists including [[Hasrat Mohani]], who used to stay there while attending Parliament sessions.<ref>{{cite news |title=Sunehri Bagh masjid demolition: ‘With Mosque will go all this history’, netizens react |url=https://www.livemint.com/news/india/sunehri-bagh-masjid-demolition-with-mosque-will-go-all-this-history-netizens-react-11703643265179.html |work=Livemint |date=27 December 2023}}</ref> The Delhi chapter of [[Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage]] listed Sunehri Masjid as a heritage building which was worth preservation, and had filed a PIL "ensure that such buildings were given legal protection".<ref name="toi-untouched-29dec" /> The mosque was subsequently listed as a Grade-III heritage building in a 2009 Delhi government notification.<ref name="indiaexp-27dec">{{cite news |last1=Singhal |first1=Upasika |last2=Husain |first2=Saman |title=Sunehri Bagh masjid a heritage structure or a roadblock? NDMC seeks public opinion |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/delhi/sunehri-bagh-masjid-a-heritage-structure-or-a-roadblock-ndmc-seeks-public-opinion-9084052/ |access-date=31 December 2023 |work=Indian Express |date=27 December 2023}}</ref>


==Demolition notice==
==Demolition notice==

Revision as of 11:05, 4 January 2024

Sunehri Bagh Masjid
Religion
AffiliationIslam
Location
LocationLutyens' Delhi
StateDelhi
CountryIndia
MaterialsLakhori bricks

Sunehri Bagh Masjid is a mosque in Delhi, India, located in Lutyens' Delhi area.[1] The mosque is listed as a Grade-III heritage structure. The mosque is subjected to Central Vista Redevelopment Project and has been recommended to be demolished by the New Delhi Municipal Council.

History

Sunehri Bagh Masjid was constructed in the Mughal era,[2] and has a reported history of over 200 years.[3] Its construction material includes Lakhori bricks.[4]

The Lutyens' Delhi area is asserted to have developed around the mosque several decades after its construction.[5] The mosque survived several ravages including the colonial reconstruction of the city in 1912 led by Edwin Lutyens.[2][6] The mosque housed Indian independence movement activists including Hasrat Mohani, who used to stay there while attending Parliament sessions.[7] The Delhi chapter of Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage listed Sunehri Masjid as a heritage building which was worth preservation, and had filed a PIL "ensure that such buildings were given legal protection".[6] The mosque was subsequently listed as a Grade-III heritage building in a 2009 Delhi government notification.[8]

Demolition notice

Okhla MLA, Amanatullah Khan wrote to Prime Minister on 3 June 2021 seeking assurance that the heritage mosques in the Lutyen's area would not be touched as a part of the Central vista project.[9] Delhi Waqf Board filed a plea in the Delhi High Court in July 2023, which was first heard on 5 July 2023.[10] The court issued an interim order on 7 July 2023 maintaining a status quo[1], and the proceedings were closed on 18 December 2023.[11]

In August 2023, the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) had recommended to the High Court and proposed the removal of Sunehri Masjid for a better traffic management.[12]

NDMC issued a public notice on 24 December 2023[5] to seek public opinions and suggestions.[8] It issued the notification in accordance with statements from Delhi Traffic Police stating that the mosque "creates traffic snarls in the area, especially on Tuesdays and Fridays." [13] According to Indian Express, the removal proposal issued by the NDMC contradicts a 2021 traffic study submitted by the Central Public Works Department which found that the Sunehri Masjid roundabout did not need any intervention.[14] By 29 December 2023, NDMC had received over 2000 responses, majorly from Muslim and minority organisations.[3]

Abdul Aziz, the imam of Sunehri Masjid, challenged the NDMC's seeking public opinion, in the Delhi High Court, and alleged "that the notice was issued with malafide intention without any application of mind and that the structure was being targeted without any research or data to support the claim that the structure was causing traffic congestion in the area."[15] Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind president Mahmood Madani wrote to the Prime Minister Modi and home minister Amit Shah expressing reservations about the notification. He wrote in the letter that "such an action would constitute a grave loss to our shared heritage".[1] An anonymous veteran architect quoted by Telegraph India stated that "The Sunehri Bagh Masjid is not merely a structure of bricks and mortar; it stands as a testament to our historical legacy and architectural grandeur. Its demolition would result in an irrevocable loss to the cultural fabric and collective identity of our city."[16] NDMC told the court that "nothing is going to happen to Delhi’s Sunehri Bagh Masjid anytime soon", stating that the public notice was procedural, and opinions from the Heritage Conservation Committee would be heard first.[5]

Reactions from historians

Historian and a retired professor of Jamia Millia Islamia university, Narayani Gupta observed that "Lutyens cleverly incorporated this little masjid into one of his roundabouts. Instead of learning from him, our present town controllers pay homage only to VIP cars", and Swapna Liddle stated that there were several other ways which could resolve the traffic problems around the mosque.[6]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c "NDMC Considers Demolition of Delhi's Sunehri Bagh Masjid; Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind Objects". The Wire. 27 December 2023. Retrieved 31 December 2023.
  2. ^ a b Zuberi, Fahad. "Heritage, freedom struggle, practical solutions: What NDMC's Sunehri Masjid plan has overlooked". Newslaundry. Retrieved 4 January 2024.
  3. ^ a b "200 سال پرانی مسجد کو ہٹانے کے حوالے سے 2 ہزار سے زائد تجاویز موصول!". Qaumi Awaz. 29 December 2023.
  4. ^ "200 سو سال قدیم سنہری مسجد کو شہید کیے جانے کا خدشہ". Daily Nai Baat. 28 December 2023. Retrieved 31 December 2023.
  5. ^ a b c Jha, Prashant (30 December 2023). "No action on Sunehri Bagh Masjid anytime soon: NDMC tells Delhi High Court". Bar and Bench. Retrieved 31 December 2023.
  6. ^ a b c Jaiswal, Anuja (29 December 2023). "Lutyens left mosque untouched, find other solutions: Historians". Times of India.
  7. ^ "Sunehri Bagh masjid demolition: 'With Mosque will go all this history', netizens react". Livemint. 27 December 2023.
  8. ^ a b Singhal, Upasika; Husain, Saman (27 December 2023). "Sunehri Bagh masjid a heritage structure or a roadblock? NDMC seeks public opinion". Indian Express. Retrieved 31 December 2023.
  9. ^ Butani, Ashna (5 June 2021). "Apprehensions over fate of mosques during Central Vista work, Amanatullah writes to PM". Indian Express. Retrieved 31 December 2023.
  10. ^ "NDMC to Delhi HC: 150-yr-old mosque blocking traffic". Hindustan Times. Retrieved 31 December 2023.
  11. ^ "Imam of Sunehri Bagh Masjid moves Delhi HC against notice for removal of mosque due to 'traffic congestion'". The Indian Express. 31 December 2023.
  12. ^ "Only Delhi govt. panel can decide on Sunehri Masjid removal, NDMC tells HC". The Hindu. 31 December 2023. Retrieved 31 December 2023.
  13. ^ "Traffic snarls can't justify demolition of Delhi's Sunehri Bagh Mosque: Danish Ali". The Hindu. 29 December 2023. Retrieved 31 December 2023.
  14. ^ Nath, Damini; Husain, Saman (31 December 2023). "Sunehri Bagh Masjid Removal: 2021 traffic study contradicts NDMC proposal, reveals no congestion at roundabout". Indian Express. Retrieved 31 December 2023.
  15. ^ Kakkar, Shruti (31 December 2023). "Sunehri Bagh masjid case: Cleric at Lutyens' mosque moves Delhi HC against notice". Hindustan Times. Retrieved 31 December 2023.
  16. ^ Vincent, Pheroze L. (28 December 2023). "Sunehri Bagh Masjid in crosshairs: Mosque that predates capital may be removed". Telegraph India. Retrieved 31 December 2023.

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