A recent petition filed in an Ajmer court has rekindled discussions about the historical significance of the 12th-century mosque, Adhai Din Ka Jhonpra. The petition seeks the restoration of the site to its pre-Islamic heritage, arguing that it was originally a Sanskrit college and temple before being demolished by invaders. This legal move comes amid growing concerns over illegal activities at the site and demands for a museum to display over 250 idols discovered by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).

Ajmer’s Deputy Mayor, Neeraj Jain, has been at the forefront of the campaign to restore the monument’s original identity. He claims there is substantial evidence indicating that Adhai Din Ka Jhonpra was once a Sanskrit college and temple. According to Jain, the ASI has already confirmed the existence of ancient structures at the site and the primary focus should be on halting illegal activities and encroachments, particularly the misuse of parking spaces around the monument.

Jain further emphasised that the numerous idols currently stored at the site should be displayed in a museum to preserve and showcase the region’s historical legacy. He stated that no additional surveys are necessary, as the historical evidence supporting the site’s pre-Islamic heritage is already well-documented.

Adhai Din Ka Jhonpra, a protected ASI site near the Ajmer Sharif Dargah, was constructed in 1199 AD by Qutub-ud-Din Aibak, the first Sultan of Delhi. The mosque is renowned for having been built from the ruins of earlier temples and is said to have hosted a two-and-a-half-day fair, giving it the name “Adhai Din Ka Jhonpra.”

ASI records confirm that the mosque includes several sculptures from Hindu temples, further supporting claims of its pre-Islamic origins. Jain monks and other community leaders have long argued that the monument was originally a Sanskrit school or possibly even a Jain temple before being transformed into a mosque.

The debate surrounding Adhai Din Ka Jhonpra extends beyond historical claims, stirring tensions between different community leaders. Some have questioned the site’s historical transformation, advocating for the restoration of its Hindu and Jain heritage.

Tensions escalated earlier this year when a group of Jain monks, alongside leaders from the Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP), visited the site. Their visit, which was met with objections from dargah officials, reignited the debate over the mosque's original identity. In November 2024, a civil court in Ajmer issued notices to the Ajmer Dargah Committee, the Union Ministry of Minority Affairs and the ASI after a petition filed by Vishnu Gupta, president of the Hindu Sena, alleged that the dargah was originally a Shiva temple.

Jain and other petitioners have consistently urged the creation of a museum at Adhai Din Ka Jhonpra to display the numerous artefacts and idols preserved by the ASI. Jain argues that presenting these artefacts would offer a clearer understanding of the site’s layered history and its significance to India’s cultural heritage.

The call for restoring Adhai Din Ka Jhonpra is part of a broader conversation about India’s cultural history, especially concerning monuments with complex pasts. The outcome of this petition along with potential restoration efforts, could shape the future narrative of the region’s historical identity and the cultural legacy attached to such monuments.