New Delhi

Archaeologist KK Muhammed, who played a major role in establishing the presence of a temple at the site of the Babri Masjid at Ayodhya following his participation in the ASI team that undertook excavations at the mosque’s eastern side in 1976, has been invited to the Pran Pratishtha ceremony at the Ram temple at Ayodhya.

Muhammad, who wrote about the discovery of a temple under the mosque at Ayodhya and exposed those trying to suppress the facts, said he would visit Ram Janambhoomi Temple in March.

Taking to X, K K Muhammad said he was invited twice to attend the Pran Pratishtha ceremony which is happening on Monday, January 22 at Ayodhya.

K K Muhammad said he is not able to attend it for health reasons.

Very honoured to receive invitation 2 times to participate and get blessings during the Prabhu Pran Pratishtha Occasion of Sri Ram Lalla Vigrah; due to some health issues not going there but in Mar-Apr will be there to take vision of Prabhu Ram 👏🏻 Jai Jai. https://t.co/bA9A9QlzWk

— केकेमोहम्मद: - commentary (@kkmuhammedk) January 22, 2024

His post gave the lie to the speculations that he was not invited by the Janambhoomi Trust despite his bold stand for the temple that antagonized some people of his faith.

K K Muhammad also took on the leftist cabal that shaped the history textbooks in schools back then. He alleged that the ASI findings of a temple underneath the mosque built between the 10th and 11th centuries were suppressed by Marxist historian Irfan Habib.

It may be recalled that the ASI team was led by B B Lal.

He also expressed his joy on the occasion of Pran pratishtha of the Ram janmbhoomi temple at Ayodhya on X:

Finally the day comes up after long-long struggle of time in multiple grounds. ❤️

Ram Ram Jai Rajaram
Ram Ram Jai Seetaram pic.twitter.com/Rs4hOagM72

— केकेमोहम्मद: - commentary (@kkmuhammedk) January 19, 2024

KK Muhammad, being the only non-Hindu in the team went public about the discovery by writing about it in the newspapers. He alleged Habib and his contemporaries were very powerful and influential and they tweaked history to suit their political agenda.

K K Muhammad is also associated with several bold and landmark excavations and he rose to become the Regional Director (North) of the ASI.

He is credited with the discovery of Ibadat Khana of Emperor Akbar which he used for propagating Din-e-Ilahi, an inclusive religion.

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He is also behind the discovery of various prominent Buddhist Stupas and Monuments. During his career, he undertook the restoration of the Batehswar Complex after convincing the Naxal insurgents who controlled the area and dacoits to cooperate.

He was awarded the Padam Shri in 2019.