Faces of India – 350 KK Muhammed Archaeologist from Kerala

Faces of India,

Faces of India is a series through which I intend to portray the various characters of my country whom I met during my travels. I bring back souvenirs, frozen moments from my travels, why not some memories of people I have met and interacted during the travels. Faces of India is a weekly series in my blog since MARCH 2011. See more here…

How do you react when you come face to face with a celebrity? No I am not talking about Bollywood personalities.

I am talking about a real celebrity who solved the complicated Ayodhya dispute which India was carrying like a burden since her independence.

Padma Shri KK Muhammed Archaeologist

He is Karingamannu Kuzhiyil Muhammed, an Indian archaeologist.

Well, I was stunned to meet this great man. Many a time he was the topic of discussion over the dining table and gatherings with family and friends. Supreme court of India passed the historic judgement on Ayodhya dispute based on the archaeological evidences provided by him.

At that time I was only in my early twenties and it was my first assignment… I found the temple pillars had been used to make the mosque, I submitted my findings… – he said among the many things about the case.

Several times I had read in news papers the communist historians objecting to all findings in the disputed area, I thought it was baseless. But then I believed it all when I heard Muhammed sir himself saying that they were the ones hindering the process of solving the dispute. You can read it all in internet, I am not elaborating that episode here.

KK Muhammed was awarded Padma Shri, the highest civilian award of India, in 2019.

Happy local people posing with celebrity.

Not only Ayodhya dispute he also  helped remove illegal land occupation by land mafias in several places of religious importance. He has a strange power in convincing people, even the hardest anti socials relented and gave in to his demands.

Bhojeshwar Temple in Bhojpur is one such place. I saw the locals of the place respect him so much; they touch his feet in reverence and gratefulness. People flocked around him and requested for group photos and selfies.

Muhammed Sir, a Padma Shri awardee, is all calm, composed, poses for group pictures and at the same time requests them not to touch his feet. He is an epitome of humbleness!

Guide for Our Times Passion Trail

Time of India publications who organized the Times Passion Trail, a journey exploring the culture and heritage of Madhya Pradesh, did us a great favor by having him as our guide through this entire trail of 6 days. Really thankful to them!

Muhammed Sir took the effort to explain the stories and speak for the “lifeless” stones and monuments to us. He explained how the statues depicted Dashavtara – the 10 incarnations of Lord Vishnu, at one place during explanations he even quoted the Bhagavad Gita shloka. All this showed how much he understood Hinduism and how impartial he is.

Times passion trail participants with KK Muhammed Archaeologist

Muhammed Sir, a native of Kerala

I conversed with him in Malayalam, his native language. Muhammed sir was surprised that I could speak Malayalam so fluently. Then we got talking about more things. We all had several questions and he answered us patiently.

He did his schooling in Kozhikode, Kerala. The books Glimpses of World History and Discovery of India (translated versions in Malayalam) inspired him in the subject of History and Archaeology.

Muhammed Sir with locals – Pic by Dr. Shaunak Shah.

He did his master’s degree in history from Aligarh University. KK Muhammed Sir then worked as archaeologist in Archaeological Survey of India. During this tenure he revived several temples, mosques and churches.

Muhammed Sir talks very fondly about how he conversed with the dreaded dacoits of Bateshwar in Madhya Pradesh where 200 temples lay in ruin. He convinced them to vacate the temples which no other officer in the region could do. Muhammed Sir is of the opinion that there is a lot to be done in terms of restoration of temples in Madhya Pradesh.

I am proud of this picture of mine with Padma Shri KKMuhammed!