A mosque, which is obviously still the structure of a temple and can be used by Hindus for worship, should be returned. There are many such edifices where the sanctum sanctorum has been walled up, a mehrab constructed towards the direction of Holy Mecca and the statuettes defaced. In some cases, a small dome has been built above the mimbar or the pulpit. For Muslims to pray in such edifices is like using stolen property in full and continual public view. And that too for remembering Allah!

Iconoclasm was endemic to Islamic invaders and desecration of temples was widespread. At the end of this section are reproductions of three maps, a list of iconoclastic examples and the sources there of. Although the list, covering the period 1192-1760AD, is not exhaustive, it is by an American, Richard M. Eaton, Professor of History, University of Arizona. The maps as well as the list are taken from his Essays on Islam and Indian History, Oxford University Press, New Delhi, 2000.

Shuddhi means purification. A pure end should be achieved by pure means. Talking to Muslim politicians is unnecessary. For one, there are no real leaders of national stature, whose word would carry weight with the masses. Second, politicians are likely to have their own agendas which can vitiate any issue. It is best to address the masses directly. If any politicians listen in, let them. Be frank, be forthright. No crooked motive, no devious manoeuvre. Neither threat nor violence.Tell our Muslim brethren, all we ask of them is: return what belonged to us and what today we can convince you is clearly ours. That would be in the spirit of shuddhi.

A few masjids have undergone shuddhi, whether in full or part, while othersare still unattended and deserve a change. For example, the Gobind Dev mandir at Vrindavan was returned to the Hindus by the British some 130 years ago. While Sultan Ghari at Delhi became a place of worship for all people; when, no one really imknows. The saga at Ayodbya is incomplete. While the Nand and Rohini temple palace at Mahaban is believed to have been redeemed in the wake of independency The edifices at Kannauj and Etawah have not undergone any stage of shuddhi. Spice the cities are situated in Uttar Pradesh, the Waterloo of Aryavrat is a Dart the series in the area.

Quwwatul Islam at Delhi and the Adhai Din Ka Jhopra at Ajmer tell the tale of vandalism so eloquently that the viewer is shocked as he enters these masjids.The Krishnajanmabhoomi as well as Kashi Vishwanath are making do with pathetic  alternatives for no shuddhi whatsoever has taken place. So alsoAtaladevi at Jampur and Bhojshala at Dhar. At Vidisha, all worship has been suspended while a great deal of the Rudra Mahalaya complex remains buried. The Adina masjid at Malda has fallen into disuse as a place of worship, whereas Jungle Pir Baba as will as the shrine at Pavagadh are in full use as dargahs. Daulatabad is a case of redemption which took place on the morrow of the police action in 1948 against the Fizz of Hyderabad.

Each chapter is independent, stands on its own and there is no particular logic to its placement in the section. All in all, the edifices are monuments to the Hind Muslim conflict. Merely because not many lay people have taken conscious notice of them, does not reduce their importance. Not all of them are objects of active controversy today, nevertheless, when visited, they are reminders of a deep conflict. If the appeal made in these pages leaves Muslim masses cold, tell them to abandon the edifices on the ground that they are objects of robbery or loot and should be too profane to be ever used for worshipping Allah, the Merciful.