By The Sampadak Express
The historic Shahi Jama Masjid in Sambhal is once again in the news, this time due to a change in the signboard outside the mosque. The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has provided a new signboard that will replace the current one, renaming the mosque to “Juma Masjid” instead of its widely known name, “Shahi Jama Masjid.”
The new blue-colored ASI signboard, which has already been delivered to the Satyavrat police outpost, is set to be installed soon. The board is expected to replace the existing sign that currently reads “Shahi Jama Masjid.” The shift to “Juma Masjid” is based on official ASI documentation, which records the mosque’s name as such.
Vishnu Sharma, counsel for ASI, explained that a previous ASI signboard had been placed at the mosque but was reportedly removed by certain individuals. In its place, a signboard referring to the mosque as “Shahi Jama Masjid” was put up. Sharma emphasized that the new board reflects the historical name as per the ASI’s official records, which list the mosque as “Juma Masjid.”
Interestingly, a similar ASI blue signboard bearing the name “Juma Masjid” has already been installed inside the mosque premises. However, the ASI has not yet specified a date for when the new signboard will be put up outside the mosque.
The Shahi Jama Masjid, built during the Mughal era, has long been a site of historical and cultural significance. Recently, the mosque has been at the center of a heated controversy following a petition claiming that the site was once home to an ancient Hindu temple. The controversy escalated in November 2024, when violence erupted in Sambhal’s Kot Garvi locality during a survey of the mosque. The incident led to the tragic deaths of four individuals, with several others injured in the clash.
The installation of the new signboard is likely to reignite the ongoing debates surrounding the mosque’s historical and religious significance. As of now, the ASI has not provided further details on the timing of the installation or any additional context regarding the mosque’s role in the wider dispute.
