Author

Dr Vikram Sampath is a historian based in Bangalore. He is the author of eight acclaimed books including Splendours of Royal Mysore: The Untold Story of the Wodeyars, Voice of the Veena: S. Balachander, Women of the Records and Indian Classical Music and the Gramophone, 1900–1930. His two-volume biography of V.D. Savarkar, Savarkar: Echoes from a Forgotten Past, 1881–1924, and Savarkar: A Contested Legacy, 1924–1966, and his latest book, Bravehearts of Bharat: Vignettes from Indian History, have gone on to become national bestsellers. In 2021, Vikram was elected a fellow of the prestigious Royal Historical Society. He was awarded the Sahitya Akademi’s first Yuva Puraskar in English literature and the ARSC International Award for excellence in historical research in New York for his book My Name Is Gauhar Jaan: The Life and Times of a Musician. The book has been adapted for a play, Gauhar, by Lillette Dubey. He was among four writers and artists selected as writers-in-residence at the Rashtrapati Bhawan in 2015. Vikram has a doctorate in history and music from the University of Queensland, Australia, and was a senior research fellow at the Nehru Memorial Museum and Library, New Delhi (2017–2019). He was also a fellow of Aspen Global Leadership Network and Eisenhower Fellowships 2020 and a visiting fellow at the Wissenschaftskolleg zu Berlin in 2010. Currently, he is an adjunct senior fellow at Monash University, Australia. He has an engineering and mathematics degree from BITS Pilani with an MBA in finance from S.P. Jain Institute of Management and Research, Mumbai. Vikram is also a trained Carnatic vocalist. He established the Foundation for Indian Historical and Cultural Research to promote original, primary source–based research on Indian history and the Archive of Indian Music, India’s first digital sound archive for vintage recordings. He is the founder-director of the Bangalore Literature Festival and curates the ZEE Group’s cultural fest, Arth.

Vikram Sampath

Dr Vikram Sampath is a historian based in Bangalore. He is the author of eight acclaimed books including Splendours of Royal Mysore: The Untold Story of the Wodeyars, Voice of the Veena: S. Balachander, Women of the Records and Indian Classical Music and the Gramophone, 1900–1930. His two-volume biography of V.D. Savarkar, Savarkar: Echoes from a Forgotten Past, 1881–1924, and Savarkar: A Contested Legacy, 1924–1966, and his latest book, Bravehearts of Bharat: Vignettes from Indian History, have gone on to become national bestsellers.

In 2021, Vikram was elected a fellow of the prestigious Royal Historical Society. He was awarded the Sahitya Akademi’s first Yuva Puraskar in English literature and the ARSC International Award for excellence in historical research in New York for his book My Name Is Gauhar Jaan: The Life and Times of a Musician. The book has been adapted for a play, Gauhar, by Lillette Dubey. He was among four writers and artists selected as writers-in-residence at the Rashtrapati Bhawan in 2015.

Vikram has a doctorate in history and music from the University of Queensland, Australia, and was a senior research fellow at the Nehru Memorial Museum and Library, New Delhi (2017–2019). He was also a fellow of Aspen Global Leadership Network and Eisenhower Fellowships 2020 and a visiting fellow at the Wissenschaftskolleg zu Berlin in 2010. Currently, he is an adjunct senior fellow at Monash University, Australia. He has an engineering and mathematics degree from BITS Pilani with an MBA in finance from S.P. Jain Institute of Management and Research, Mumbai. Vikram is also a trained Carnatic vocalist. He established the Foundation for Indian Historical and Cultural Research to promote original, primary source–based research on Indian history and the Archive of Indian Music, India’s first digital sound archive for vintage recordings. He is the founder-director of the Bangalore Literature Festival and curates the ZEE Group’s cultural fest, Arth.

Author's books

Waiting for Shiva-Telugu
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Waiting for Shiva

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చరిత్ర ఒక బరువు, ఒక బాధ్యత. ఆ బరువుబాధ్యతలను హుందాగా అలవోకగా మోస్తూ వచ్చిన న గరం కా శీ లే దా వా రణాసి. ప్ర పంచానికి వె లుగు చూ పిన ఈ దే శసంస్ కృతికి విలువైన ప్ర తీక. శతాబ్దా లుగా ఎదుర్కొన్న కష్టా లను, దాడులను భరిస్తూ , ఎదిరిస్తూ తలెత్తు కు నిలిచిన నగరం కాశీ.

 

“వెయిటింగ్ ఫర్ శివ: అనెర్తిం గ్ ది ట్రూ త్ ఆఫ్ కాశీస్ గ్యానవాపి” కు తెలుగు అనువాదం ఇది. శ కలాలుగా వు న్న చ రిత్ర ను ఒ క సూత్రం గా కూ ర్చిన ర చన, వి శ్వేశ్వరుడిగా విశ్వనాథుడిగా అనాదిగా ఈ జాతిని తరిం పచేస్తు న్న పరమేశ్వరుడి నివాసమై న కాశీ కథ ఇది. ‘కాశీలో తుది శ్వాస విడిస్తే చాలు ముక్తినిస్తా’ అని శివుడు స్వయంగా ప్ర కటించాడు. శతాబ్దా లుగా కాశీ పొందిన గౌరవమర్యాదలు, ముష ్కరుల దాడుల్లో శిథిలమై న కాశీ వ్యథలు, పడిన ప్ర తిసారీ కాశీని మళ్లీ లేపిన అచంచలమై న భక్తిప్ర పత్తు లు అన్నీ పేజీలలో మనను పలకరిస్తా యి. దెబ్బలు తినడం కాశీకి అలవాటే, అయితే చావుదెబ్బ కొట్టిం ది మటుకు 1669 లో ఔరంగజేబ్. ఆలయం ధ్వం సం చేసి, పడమటి గోడ మీద రెండు గుంబజ్ లు కట్టి, దాన్ని మసీదు అన్నా డు. గ్యా నవాపి మసీదు ఉన్న స్థ లం, ఆవరణ, 18 వ శతాబ్దం లో కట్టిన మందిరానికి మసీదుకు మధ్యలోని స్థ లం మొత్తం వివాదాలకు కారణమయ్యాయి. గంగ నెత్తు రు పులుముకుని రోదించిం ది. బ్రిటి ష్ హయాం లో ఎన్ని వ్యాజ్యా లలో తీర్పులు ప్ర కటించి నా పరిష్కారం లేకపోయిం ది. 1947 తరవాత కాశీ మందిరానికి స్వేచ్ఛ తేవాలన్న సంకల్పం మరిం త బలమై ంది. 2021 లోనమోదై న సివిల్ కేసు దేశాన్ని ఒక ఊపు ఊపగా, సుప్ర ీం కోర్టు ASIని సమగ్ర నివేదిక సమర్పిం చమని కోరిం ది. 2024 జనవరిలో బయటకు వచ్చిన ASI నివేదిక ఏం చెబుతోంది?

 

గ్యా నవాపి రహస్యాలను ఎంతో వివరంగా, ఆసక్తికరంగా, వివరిం చారు విక్ర మ్ సంపత్. పాఠకుల మనసు గెలుచుకునే, ఆలోచింపచేసే రచన. ఇదిగో, తెలుగులో మీకోసం.

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Waiting for Shiva-Marathi
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प्रतीक्षा शिवाची

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ज्या सहजतेने काशी किंवा वाराणसी आपल्या इतिहासाचे प्रचंड ओझे वाहते, तशी जगातील फार थोडी ठिकाणे असतील. ही नगरी आपल्या संस्कृतीच्या आत्म्याचे आणि शतकानुशतके आलेली विपरीत परिस्थिती, हल्ले सहन करूनही पुन्हापुन्हा उभी राहत आपल्या अपराजित वृत्तीचे दर्शन घडवते. 

 

 ‘प्रतीक्षा शिवाची – काशी– ज्ञानवापीच्या सत्याचा शोध’ या पुस्तकाच्या माध्यमातून विश्वेश्वर किंवा विश्वनाथाच्या रुपातील शिवाचा अधिवास असणाऱ्या काशीचा इतिहास, तिची प्राचीनता आणि पावित्र्याचे दर्शन घडते. जो या शहरात आपला देह ठेवतो त्याला मोक्ष मिळेल असे वचन प्रत्यक्ष शिव देतो. हे पुस्तक या स्वयंभू ज्योतिर्लिंग विश्वेश्वराच्या इतिहासाचा सखोल शोध घेते. आपल्या भक्तांचे आश्रयस्थान असलेले हे विश्वेश्वर मंदिर हे नेहमीच धर्मांध मूर्तीभंजकांच्या निशाण्यावर राहिलेले आहे. परंतु जेव्हा जेव्हा हे मंदिर उद्ध्वस्त करून त्याचे अस्तित्व पुसून टाकण्याचा प्रयत्न झाला तेव्हा तेव्हा हे मंदिर पुन्हा उभे राहिले आणि भरभराटीला आले. 

 

मंदिराच्या इतिहासातील या प्रलयंकारी घटनांचा लेखाजोखा ‘प्रतीक्षा शिवाची’ हे पुस्तक मांडते. जुलमी मुघल बादशाह औरंगजेबाने १६६९ मध्ये या मंदिरावर घातलेला घाव वर्मी बसला आहे. त्याने मंदिर फोडले आणि मंदिराच्या पश्चिमेकडील अर्धवट तुटलेल्या भिंतीवर घुमट उभे करून त्याला मशिदीचे रूप दिले. आज ज्याला ज्ञानवापी मशीद म्हणतात ती मशीद आणि त्याच्या आजूबाजूची आणि अठराव्या शतकात बांधल्या गेलेल्या नव्या विश्वनाथ मंदिराजवळची जागा यावरून नेहमीच वादंग माजलेला आहे. भूतकाळात या मुद्द्यावरून अनेक वेळा रक्तरंजित दंगली झाल्या आहेत. इंग्रजी सत्तेच्या काळातही या जमिनीच्या मालकी आणि ताब्याच्या मुद्द्यावरून अनेक वेळा ब्रिटिश न्यायालयांचे दरवाजे ठोठावले गेले आहेत, त्यासंबंधीचे खटले चालवले गेले आहेत. स्वातंत्र्यानंतरही हा पूर्ण परिसर मुक्त करावा अशी मनीषा हिंदूंच्या मनात कायमच वास करत आली आहे. २०२१ ला नव्याने दाखल करण्यात आलेल्या एका खटल्याने या फार काळापासून ठसठसणाऱ्या जखमेवरची खपली निघाली. भारतीय पुरातत्व विभागाकडून सर्वेक्षण होऊ नये यासाठी अगदी सर्वोच्च न्यायालयापर्यंत वारंवार अपीले करूनही हे सर्वेक्षण झाले आणि जानेवारी २०२४ मध्ये या सर्वेक्षणाने या पूर्ण प्रकरणातील सत्य उजेडात आणले. 

 

विक्रम संपतचे हे नवे पुस्तक या मंदिराचा बहुपेडी इतिहास, त्यात आलेली नाट्यमय वळणे, घडलेल्या गूढ घडामोडी, या जागेवरून झालेले कडाक्याचे वादविवाद या साऱ्या गोष्टी उलगडून दाखवते. कितीतरी काळ ज्ञानवापीमध्ये दडपून आणि लपवून ठेवलेल्या या गुपितांना या पुस्तकाच्या रूपाने वाचा फुटली आहे.

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Waiting for Shiva – Front Cover Hindi
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प्रतीक्षा शिव की ज्ञान वापी काशी के सत्य का उद्घाटन

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दुनिया में कुछ ही ऐसी जगहें हैं जो इतनी सहजता से इतिहास का भार वहन कर पाती हैं, जितना काशी या वाराणसी ने किया है। यह पवित्र शहर हमारी सभ्यता की आत्मा का प्रतीक है और उस लचीलेपन का प्रतीक है जो हमने सदियों से कई प्रतिकूलताओं और घातक हमलों का सामना करते हुए प्रदर्शित किया है।

 

‘प्रतीक्षा शिव की: ज्ञान वापी काशी के सत्य का उद्घाटन’ विश्वेश्वर या विश्वनाथ रूपी भगवान शिव की निवास स्थली के रूप में काशी के इतिहास, प्राचीनता और पवित्रता को पुनः प्रस्तुत करती है। शिव ने स्वयं अपने भक्तों को आश्वासन दिया था कि यदि वे अपनी नश्वर कुण्डली का इस शहर में करेंगे तो उन्हें मोक्ष प्राप्त होगा। यह पुस्तक विश्वेश्वर के इस स्वयं-प्रकट स्वयंभू ज्योतिर्लिंग मंदिर के इतिहास पर प्रकाश डालती है, जो सदियों से भक्तों के लिए शरणस्थली भी रही है और मूर्तिभंजन की रक्तरंजित लहरों का लक्ष्यभी रही है। हालाँकि, जब भी मंदिर को ध्वस्तकर उसे नष्ट करने का प्रयास किया गया, यह और भी तीव्र उत्थान तथा वैभव के साथ लोकजीवन के समक्ष प्रकट हुआ।

 

यह पुस्तक मंदिर के इतिहास में घटित इन प्रलयकारी घटनाओं का दस्तावेजीकरण करती है। मंदिर को अंतिम आघात 1669 में मुगल शासक औरंगज़ेब द्वारा दिया गया, जिसने मंदिर को खंडित कर, इसे मस्जिद कहे जाने के लिए आंशिक रूप से नष्ट हुई पश्चिमी दीवार पर कुछ गुंबद खड़े कर दिए। वह क्षेत्र जिसे अब ज्ञान वापी मस्जिद कहा जाता है और आसपास की भूमि जो कि विश्वनाथ के नए मंदिर के निकट स्थित है, 18वीं शताब्दी के अंत में बनी थी तथा यह हमेशा से तीव्र विवाद का विषय रही है। इस मुद्देको लेकर वाराणसी में पहले भी कई बार खूनी दंगे हो चुके हैं। औपनिवेशिक युग के दौरान, क़ब्ज़े के मुद्दे को निपटाने के लिए ब्रिटिश अदालतों के दरवाजे खटखटाए गए और उन्होंने कई बार इस मामले पर अपना निर्णय भी दिया। स्वतंत्रता के बाद भी, इस परिसर को ‘मुक्त’ कराने की इच्छा हिंदू मन-मानस में पनपती रही है। ऐसे में वाराणसी सिविल कोर्ट के समक्ष 2021 में दायर एक नए मुकदमे ने लंबे समय से चले आ रहे ऐतिहासिक घाव को फिर से हरा कर दिया। याचिका को खारिज करने के लिए सुप्रीम कोर्ट में कई अपीलों के बावजूद, भारतीय पुरातत्व सर्वेक्षण (एएसआई) को इस परिसर के सर्वेक्षण का आदेश दिया गया, जिसने जनवरी 2024 में अपने निष्कर्षों के माध्यम से सच्चाई को उजागर किया।

 

विक्रम संपत की यह नवीनतम पेशकश इस विवादित स्थल के लंबे इतिहास और इस प्राचीन मंदिर के विचित्र अतीत में आए नाटकीय मोड़ और बदलावों की याद दिलाती है। ज्ञान वापी में लंबे समय से दबे हुए रहस्यों को अंततः इस पुस्तक के माध्यम से आवाज मिलती है।

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Waiting for Shiva – Front Cover
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Waiting for Shiva

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Few places in the world carry the heavy burden of history as effortlessly as Kashi, or Varanasi, has. The holy city embodies the very soul of our civilization and personifies the resilience that we have displayed over centuries in the face of numerous adversities and fatal attacks.

 

Waiting for Shiva: Unearthing the Truth of Kashi’s Gyan Vapi recreates the history, antiquity and sanctity of Kashi as the abode of Bhagwan Shiva in the form of Vishweshwara, or Vishwanath. Shiva himself assured his devotees of salvation if they leave their mortal coils in the city. The book delves into the history of this self-manifested swayambhu jyotirlinga shrine of Vishweshwara, which for centuries has been both a refuge for the devout and a target of the bloodiest waves of iconoclasm. However, each time an attempt was made to obliterate the temple by demolishing it, it managed to rise and prosper. Every iconoclastic storm was followed by an episode of persistence, tenacity and stubborn resolve. Shrines fell and shrines rose, but the Hindus of Kashi never gave up—not even once.

 

Waiting for Shiva documents these cataclysmic events in the temple’s history. The final death blow was dealt in 1669 by the Mughal despot Aurangzeb, who demolished the temple and erected few domes on the partially destroyed western wall to call it a mosque. The temple complex was desecrated and left strewn with ruins as a grim reminder of the humiliation and insult that Hindus had to face as a consequence of their holiest shrine being torn down to smithereens. The area that is now called the Gyan Vapi mosque and the surrounding land that lies adjacent to the new temple of Vishwanath, which came up towards the end of the 18th Century, has always been one of intense contestation. Bloody riots overran Varanasi over this issue multiple times in the past. During the colonial era, the doors of the British courts were knocked at to settle the occupancy issue, and they adjudicated the matter several times. Post-Independence, too, the desire to ‘liberate’ the complex has been seething in the Hindu imagination. A new suit filed in 2021 before the Varanasi civil court reopened a long-festering historical wound. Despite several appeals right up to the Supreme Court to dismiss the plaint, a survey by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) was ordered, which would lay bare the truth in its findings by the end of 2023.

 

Vikram Sampath’s latest offering retraces the long history of this bitterly disputed site and the dramatic twists and turns in the checkered past of this hoary shrine. Piecing together numerous documents and accounts—Vedic and Puranic texts, Sanskrit literary sources, Agama shastras, Jataka tales, Persian accounts, travelogues of foreigners, archival records and copious legal documents detailing the contestation from the British era to modern Indian courts—the book recreates, for the first time with facts and cogent arguments, this stormy history right up to the present times. The long-suppressed secrets that lay hidden in Gyan Vapi finally finds a voice through this book.

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