Bhojshala- Saraswati Temple(currently a mosque)

‘Bhojshala’ is an ancient and the only temple of Mata Saraswati, Goddess of Knowledge and Wisdom. The temple was built in the year of 1034 AD by Raja Bhoj, the mighty Hindu King whose empire stretched from Rajasthan to Odisha and from Madhya Pradesh to Maharashtra. This temple of Mata Saraswati is situated at Dhar district in Madhya Pradesh, which was capital of Raja Bhoj. Bhojshala was home to thousands of students and scholars and it was main centre of education.

1305 AD – First attack on Bhojshala by Alauddin Khilji:
Bhojshala was first attacked by infamous and cruel Muslim invader Alauddin Khilji in 1305 AD. After the sacrifices of Hindu king Raja Mahakaldev and his soldiers in the battle, Khilji killed 1200 Hindu students and teachers in Bhojshala as they refused to convert to Islam.

The process of Islamic attack started 36 years back, when a Muslim fakir named Kamal Moulana entered Malwa in 1269 AD. He used treacherous ways and converted many Hindus to Islam. He collected detailed information of Malwa region for 36 years and handed it over to Alauddin Khilji.

1401 AD – Destruction of Vijay Mandir (Surya Martand temple) by Dilawar Khan:
A Muslim emperor named Dilawar Khan destroyed Vijay Mandir (Surya Martand temple) and tried to convert part of Saraswati Temple Bhojshala into dargah. Today Muslims offer Namaz in this same Vijay Mandir and now conspiracy is hatched to prove that it is actually a dargah named ‘Lat Masjid’.

1514 AD – Construction of Kamal Moulana Makbara by Mehmudshah Khilji II :
In this year, Mehmudshah attacked Bhojshala and tried to convert it into dargah. He encroached land outside Saraswati Temple and built ‘Kamal Moulana Makbara’ after 204 years of death of Kamal Moulana. On this ground only, conspiracy is hatched to prove that Bhojshala is actually a dargah.

1826 AD – Malwa captured by British:
In 1703 AD, Malwa was captured Marathas (Hindus) ending rule of Muslims. In 1826 AD, East India Company defeated Hindus and conquered Malwa. They too attacked Bhojshala and destroyed many monuments and temples.

1952 AD – Bhojshala handed over to Archeological Survey of India (ASI):
Central government handed over Bhojshala to ASI in this year. In this same year, activists of RSS and Hindu Mahasabha started awakening Hindus about Bhojshala. Shri Maharaja Bhoj Smruti Vasantotsav Samiti was formed by Hindus.

1997 AD – Congress Chief Minister Digvijaya Singh barred Hindus from entering Bhojshala and allowed Muslims to offer Namaz in Bhojshala:
Before 12 March 1997, Hindus were allowed to take darshan, but were not allowed to perform puja. CM Digvijaya Singh issued draconian order allowing Muslims to offer Namaz in Bhojshala on every friday and barred Hindus even from entering Bhojshala. Hindus were allowed only one day of Vasant Panchami to enter and perform puja in Bhojshala.