Suraj Bhan (archaeologist)

Suraj Bhan (1931–2010) was an Indian archaeologist and professor of archaeology. He was part of a panel of academics which contested the Vishva Hindu Parishad's claim that the Babri Masjid was built on top of a Râm temple.

Quotes

 * In the cross-examination before the HC, Bhan admitted that only he and Sharma had gone to Ayodhya prior to the study. He admitted having no knowledge of Puranas and said, “We were given only six weeks time for the entire study. Pressure was being repeatedly exerted; so, we submitted our report without going through the record of the excavation work by B B Lal. This was the point the bench focussed on to refuse attaching any value to the four historians' report."
 * Historians’ report on Babri mosque mere ‘opinion’: SC, Times of India, 18 September 2019

Quotes from the Judgment from Honorable Justice Agarwal, 2010

 * Allahabad High Court (30 9 2010). "Decision of Hon'ble Special Full Bench hearing Ayodhya Matters".


 * “.. I did not try to know what is written in the Ramayana by Tulsi Das…”...“I did not read what features a mosque may not have. I am not a specialist in epigraphy and numismatics… I am not a geologist… I am not a student of History… I am not a specialist in architecture. My specialty was field archaeology.”
 * [Page 3628-3631]


 * “Nobody forbade me from observing the potteries in the pottery yard but no archaeologist was there to help me in my study.”
 * [Page 3953 para 3826]


 * “I did not make any study of any recorded history with regard to the disputed subject.”
 * [Page 3633 para 3615]


 * At the time of my exploration at the disputed site, Prof. Irfan Habib was Chairman of the said institution. It is true that we had received grant for the exploration of the disputed site through this very institution.
 * [Page 4848]


 * It is true that my conclusions and views on certain issues are based on my knowledge existing prior to the submission of ASI’s report in court. I and Prof. Habib had given this statement that remains of old mosque or Eidgah had been found beneath the disputed site and not of any temple.If this propaganda that remains of temple were found at the disputed site, had not taken place, there would have been no occasion for me and Prof. Irfan Habib to give the above statement.
 * (Justice Aggarwal, Para 3826)


 * “The ASI Report had a feature not amenable to criticism. It was that they (the excavators) have discovered many walls and floors and some pillar bases beneath the Babri mosque, and all these constitute evidence.”
 * Justice Sudhir Aggarwal’s verdict, Para 3719