Eminent historians of the Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, Professor S. Gopal, Romila Thapar, and K.N. Panikkar have criticised the hypothesis of Dr. S.P. Gupta, former Director of the Allahabad Museum, who has argued that archaeological excavations in Ayodhya suggest that the Babari Masjid was the site of an earlier Hindu temple. Dr. Romila Thapar explains her stand.
Dr. Gupta says that these pillars were found during excavations supervised by Prof. B.B. Lal (former Director-General, Archaeological Survey of India) during 1975-80. However, Prof. Lal has made no mention of such pillar-bases in the official reports of the excavations which have been published in the Journal of Indian Archaeology- A Review.
The Journal published precise details about all on-going archaeological research and is taken to be the most important update of the discipline by all Indian archaeologists.
In the issues for the year 1976-77 and 1979-80, Prof. Lal has described finds of his excavations in the Ram Janmabhoomi area around the Babari Masjid and has noted the discovery of seals, coins, terracotta figures and pottery. However, there is no mention of pillar-bases. Prof. Lal found no significant evidence relating to the age of the Gupta Kings. Indeed Prof. Lal has emphasised in his report that 'the entire late period was devoid of any special interest.'
The pillars of the Babari Masjid on which Dr. Gupta rests such a premise were not constructed in the 11th century alone. Pillars with similar 'late Pratihara' or 'Gahadvala' style of carving continued to be built right up to the end of the fifteenth century. This has been admitted by Dr. Gupta.
Indeed, the debris which Dr. Gupta reports as being found in association with the pillar bases has been described as 'Islamic medieval glazed ware with blue and white floral paintings'. The earliest known sample of this blue and white Islamic ware has been dated in Persia itself to the 15th century. There is no question of this style coming to India earlier than that. It is illogical that material belonging to the 15th century could form the basis of pillars supposedly constructed in the 11th century.
Many competent historians have agreed that the motifs of the carvings on these pillars do not in any way relate to the Ramayana or to the mythical hero Ram. The sculpture referred to by Dr. Gupta such as figures of the yakshas, devakanyas or the Purna ghata are found in much of Indian architecture, even secular buildings. They can be found in old Jain and Buddhist constructions also.
The directional alignment of most constructions which exist in proximity to each other tend to be similar. It depends on the elevation and nature of the terrain.
The number of pillars by itself does not determine the size of any building. The more determining factor is the placement of these structures. The Ayodhya excavations have not offered any evidence about the placement of these pillar-bases.
We dispute that the recently disclosed evidence from the archaeology of the pillar-bases at the site proves the existence of a temple, and that this temple was dedicated to Ram."
(Source: The Times of India, New Delhi, 9 Dec 1990)