Pandav wada : A burning issue for Hindus !

Magh Krushnapaksha 9/10, Kaliyug Varsha 5115

Pandav wada (Jalgaon district) is the place where the Pandavas spent some time incognito during their time in exile (ajnaatvas). Due to the extreme apathy of Hindus, more than 125 years ago Muslims started to slowly encroach on Pandav wada. Even though the Hindus have woken up today, the current situation is such that Pandav wada cannot be reclaimed without expecting strong resistance. This burning issue has been discussed in the following article.

Pandav wada : a place of pride for Hindus!

27 kilometers from Jalgaon city, situated on the banks of river Anjani, lies Erandol. This Erandol is the 'Ekachakranagari' mentioned in Mahabharata! Erandol was also known as Eranvel or Arunavathi.

Before the great Mahabharata war, the Pandavas spent some time of their year in exile in Ekachakranagari.

The area where they lived is known as Pandav wada. Pandav wada is famous as a place of historical interest.

Bheema slayed the demon Bakasura in Padmalaya, about 15 kilometers from Erandol. To this day, one can find relics like Bheema kund, Bheema's hand mill, Bheema's bowl and the area where Bheema and

Bakasura fought. A well close to the wada is known as Draupadikoop (Draupadi's well). The official government gazette even refers to this area as Pandav wada. A few years ago, school texts had a chapter about this place, which resulted in school outings to Pandav wada. Pandav wada thus occupies a place of pride in the hearts of Hindus.

Examples to show that Pandav wada belongs to Hindus!

Pandav wada is built up on an area of 4515.9 square meters. Stones found near the main entrance of Pandav wada have been found to have ancient carvings among which the Lotus pattern is prominently seen. There is a Dharmashala near Pandav wada, a feature that is common to Hindu temples. On entering the wada, one find open spaces on either side. The surrounding walls have many windows, all of which bear carvings like those of lotuses and lamps. At the end of the wada, one can see a structure that resembles a temple sanctum sanctorum (garbhagriha). The place where a murti (idol) would be normally placed is built in accordance to Hindu Vastu shastras.

This is how the Muslims encroached on Pandav wada!

A jumma masjid existed behind Pandav wada. Due to high rainfall the mosque collapsed in 1880 AD. The managing trust of the mosque then signed an agreement with the then British government. A One rupee stamp paper bore testament to the agreement wherein the trust rented some place from the government to store materials like fodder, wood etc for a period of 25 years. A two rupee rent per year was agreed upon.

Even though the agreement was limited to storage only, gradually many structures of historical importance were destroyed. Many stone pillars and window frames with intricate work were burnt or destroyed. Trees that were more than 150 years old were uprooted. With the intricate carvings chiselled out, the pillars were reused to build platforms and shelters. The underground tunnels were blocked. All this was done without permission. Since Pandav wada came under the purview of the Ancient Monument Act, all this activity was cognizable offense. When the Maintenance surveyor instructed the mamledar of Erandol to take action, a trustee of Jumma Musjid Sandekhan Rahimakha issued a written apology; the document is still available.

The confused government!

The government records are very confused when it comes to the Pandav wada! The query book refers to this place as Pandav wada. Tax records refer to this place as government land, whereas the surveyor's map shows this place as Juamma masjid! The same map earlier referred to this area as Pandav wada.

After which it was changed to 'Pandav wada and masjid'. After a few years it was changed to 'Pandav wada and jumma masjid'. Presently on the name Jumma masjid exists on the map.

According to the City Surveyor's records, CS No.1100 (Pandav wada) belongs to the Maharashtra government, but there are no records to show that the jumma masjid trust is the owner of the land. Despite this, the Muslims are forcibly exercising their ownership rights!

Developments after devout Hindus vow to reclaim Pandav wada!

Devout hindus who had participated in the Jalgaon Hindu Dharmajagruti Sabha (on 26^th of January) passed a resolution to get the Pandav wada out of the clutches of Muslims. After this many different situations involving the police and muslims arose in the district. We have presented the timeline of events here.

– Shri Sunil Ghanvat, Co­ordinator, Hindu Janajagruti Samiti, Maharashtra

1. On the 26^th of january, after the resolution was passed in the Sabha, the police started making arrangements to accord protection of Pandav wada on the same night. Since there are two policemen on guard round the clock, even the muslims have are under a clound of fear.

2. Earlier around 20­25 muslims used to attend the namaz there, but since the day of the Sabha more than 300 muslims gather there.

3. The police are investigating who told the Hindu Janajagruti Samiti about Pandav wada. the police have also started interrogating some devout Hindus. The government has become alert and is now watching every move that the devout hindus are making, to gather intelligence on what action they will take on Pandav wada.

4. Even the society at large is discussing the issue and from that it is clear that the Hindu Janajagruti Samiti is winning their trust.

The police inspect the illegal construction in Pandav wada!

After the sabha, on the day of the Pandav wada Wakf Board meet, two vehicles filled with muslims went to Sabhajinagar to exert pressure. After this the ATS and Crime Branch police went to Pandav wada. The inspected and investigated the illegal construction going on there. (Since the entire areas is under the protection of the Archaeological Department, no one has the permission to make any change there.)

Pressure tactics employed by the police and alertness displayed by muslims when the Pandav wada campaign was announced!

When the Pandav wada issue was discussed in the Sabha, the muslims immediately issued a pamphlet in urdu and distributed it in Delhi. As a result a team from the Crime Branch was sent directly to Jalgaon. For two days this team then interrogated a devout Hindu was was legally fighting the Pandav wada issue. On the first day the interrogation lasted for 6 hours straight. Then the team interrogated him in the Gandhi park for 1.5 hours. After this the NIA (National Investigation Agency), Anti terrorism Squad and the DSP questioned him.

In Delhi, the muslims started distributing pamphlets which gave the impression of 'Islam is in Danger'. They are trying to make sure this issue does not turn into another Ram Mandir. The police also said 'If we do turn over Pandav wada to the Hindus, who will take care of it? (The police are trying to throw Hindus off the track! ­ Editor, Dainik Sanatan Prabhat) When this matter is sub judice, why did these people (the Samiti activists) have to rake up the issue, that too with the elections round the corner?

Show of strength by the muslims!

(On Friday) two vehicles filled with muslims reached the area from outside, for namaz.

Oppression by the police!

1. The police told an activist 'we were present for your sabha, the meeting afterwards and also the followup meets. Everyone's phones are being tapped. Where are you going to meet on the 18^th ? (Only a few activists knew about the meeting to be held on the 18th of February). Before the sabha, a vehicle came to your house, in which the State Coordinator of HJS Mr. Sunil Ghanvat was present. What did you two talk about ? Who were the three people accompanying him ? We know every detail about you. Tell us what you discussed. (Every single time the police set out to crucify Hindus -­ Editor, Dainik Sanatan Prabhat)

2. After this they said, we are also devout Hindus. We also have the desrie to help you, but the government is not in our favour. So we have to listen to the government's orders. You bring in your government, we will certainly listen to what you have to say (Two faced police ­Editor, Dainik Sanatan Prabhat)

3. The police started gathering in every square in Erandol. The youth have been prohibited from gathering in large numbers (not even in twos or threes!). The youth are forced into complying under therats of cases being lodged.

Call for justice by Hindus!

1. The Archaeology department should legally fight the wakf board claims and if necessary approach the high court and supreme court to gain control over the entire area.

2. All the illegal construction in the Pandav wada should be stopped immediately. All those building without legal sanction should be removed. The special act regarding public structures should be invoked and a special officer should be immediately appointed to resolve the issue.

3. Necessary force should be used against those anti social elements who try to waylay justice. Stringent action should be initiated those leaders who are using such anti social elememts to create a volatile atmosphere by using pressure tactics against officials.

4. A high level committee consisting of a judge, social activists, historians, persons from the field of culture should be instituted immediately to oversee this process. This committee should be vested with enough power permissible under law.

5. This committee should be funded well. These funds should be utilised towards the beautification of Pandav wada, cleanliness drives, increasing its popularity in national and international circles, towards providing facilities to patriots who would like to visit the place and pay their respects. If possible, money from those temples under the Government control should be used in this project.

  An ordinance should be issued to offer compensation and immediately evict those who are making ownership claims. A lawful decision taking machinery should be in place such that once the court case is resolved, the compensation may be left as such or reclaimed. Since it is a question of Bharat's historical heritage, so the government is well within means to take over the land. Since this land will not be taken over to be used by any particular religious activity, no one can complain of any religious discrimination. The ordinance should ensure that all these points are covered.

6. Erandol is Ekachakrangari of Mahabharat ! The pandavas, whilst in exile, killed the demon Bakasura. So a greatful ruler gave them this land to stay on. The windows on Pandav wada have intricate designs featuring lamps and lotuses. Today, despite a standing order by the municipality, Hindus are not able to even simply visit Pandav wada. Restoration aside, even the existing structures are in acute disrepair and are falling apart! There is enough politics about 'Shriramjanmabhumi' and Shriram setu, but no one is bothered about Pandav wada. If a handful of people think that they can destroy those places that are held dear by a majority of this nations's citizens, then the people themselves may give them a befitting reply. We are making it very clear how we can safegaurd the interests of our national treasures, while staying well within the limits imposed by the constitution and also without straying away from the issue at hand. There are numerous examples where just because something did not fit in with the existing laws, a new law was enacted. So what we are suggesting is that there are two ways to approach this issue : either modify the existing laws to solve this issue or enact new laws that will; in either case a display of strong will power is necessary ! If this will power is found to be lacking in the politicians, then the court of the citizen will ensure justice !

Source : Dainik Sanatan Prabhat