A photograph shared by Trinamool Congress (TMC) Member of Parliament and former cricketer Yusuf Pathan during his visit to an ancient mosque in Malda has prompted a response from the West Bengal BJP, which asserts that the structure in question is the “Adinath Temple.” This claim has sparked outrage among supporters of the TMC and historians.
Pathan visited the Adina Mosque on October 16 and posted several images on X (formerly Twitter), highlighting the monument’s architectural beauty and historical significance. He noted that the Adina Mosque, built in the 14th century by Sultan Sikandar Shah of the Ilyas Shahi dynasty, was constructed between 1373 and 1375 CE and was the largest mosque in the Indian subcontinent at that time.
In his post, Pathan wrote, “The Adina Mosque in Malda, West Bengal, is a historic mosque… showcasing the region’s architectural excellence.”
In response, the BJP West Bengal tweeted, “Correction: Adinat Temple,” leading to a surge of activity on social media. Hindu nationalist accounts utilized hashtags like #AdinaMandir and called for surveys similar to those conducted at Gyanvapi, asserting that Hindu symbols found at the site were evidence of a demolished temple.
Critics, including TMC leaders and historians, argue these claims are fabricated and intended to incite Islamophobia, noting that there is no evidence from the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) that supports the existence of a temple beneath the mosque. Local Muslim residents have expressed fears of violence, recalling previous tensions.
The Adina Mosque, built during the Bengal Sultanate, blends Bengali, Arab, and Persian architectural styles and is often compared in size and design to the Umayyad Mosque in Damascus. It is significant that Sultan Sikandar Shah is also buried on the mosque premises.
Last year, a group of Hindu priests entered the mosque to conduct rituals, claiming to have identified depictions of Hindu deities in its carvings. This narrative has gained traction on social media platforms and during political rallies, reflecting a broader trend within Hindutva ideologies aimed at promoting anti-Muslim sentiment.
Several groups associated with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) have reiterated claims that the mosque was built atop a Hindu temple. In 2022, BJP leader Rathindra Bose tweeted that “the Adinath Mandir sleeps under this Adina Masjid,” citing visible carvings as evidence for a buried Shiva or Adinath temple.
VHP spokesperson Sourish Mukherjee supported these claims, suggesting that motifs discovered at the site indicated a pre-Islamic structure. Hindutva advocates on social media have called for the mosque’s demolition and restoration as a temple, drawing parallels to the situation at Gyanvapi in Varanasi.
In February 2024, Hindu priest Hiranmoy Goswami from the Vishwavidya Trust led a group in performing rituals inside the mosque, claiming to have located a “Shivling” and idols. This prompted local Muslim protests, and the ASI subsequently filed a First Information Report against Goswami for unauthorized religious practices at a protected site.
The article highlights the ongoing contention surrounding the Adina Mosque and the increasing involvement of political and religious groups in this debate.
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