The Kerala State Sunni Students Federation (SSF)’s Aligarh unit has raised a banner of protest against the decision of the Aligarh Muslim University Old Students Association, Kerala (AMUOSAK) to honour a controversial Malayali archaeologist at the Sir Syed Day celebrations to be held at Farook College, on Saturday.
The AMUOSAK is to honour archaeologist K.K. Muhammed, a former Aligarh student whose recent remarks about the Babri Masjid site at Ayodha had kicked up a row with several historians turning up against him, at the day-long function on Saturday. Governor Arif Mohammed Khan, who is also an alumnus of Aligarh Muslim University, will be the chief guest
at the function. In an emailed statement, SSF Aligarh unit president Mohammed N. and secretary Mohammed Siraj N.K. said that the AMUOSAK would do a great injustice to the people who value history by felicitating an archaeologist who “fabricated facts” to get in the good books of the Hindutva brigade.
The Centre awarded Mr. Muhammed with Padma Shri, the fourth highest civilian honour, this year. The AMUOSAK officials said he would be felicitated for winning the top civilian honour.
Mr. Muhammed, claiming his findings during the excavations at Ayodhya, had maintained that a Ram temple had stood at the site of Babri Masjid. When Sangh Parivar historians praised him, leading Left historians in the country, including Irfan Habib, decried his views.
Ali Nadeem Rezavi, head of Aligarh Muslim University’s History Department, and leading historian D.N. Jha criticized Mr. Muhammed for his recent remarks. Prof. Rezavi said that Mr. Muhammed had only been a student when the excavations took place at Ayodha.
SSF leaders asked the AMUOSAK to drop the move to honour Mr. Muhammed.