Restoration of Argha at Baba Vishvanath Mandir: 1983

 

To the best of my knowledge, this story is as near true as possible. The story has been threaded together from what Mr Narendra Agarwal of Agarwal Ornament House, Thethri Bazaar, Varanasi - 1 had narrated to me at Chunar, Uttar Pradesh, in the year 1997, and a publication dated 26 Feb 1985 of Shri Kashi Sarafa Mandal, Varanasi. 

I had made a promise to Mr Agarwal that I would write the story of making good the loss of the stolen gold and put it up (at that time I didn't know the word 'upload') in a platform where it would be publicly accessible. Of course, at that time I had no idea about blogs or any digital platforms. 

The story is a little about the theft, and mostly about the making good of the gold stolen from the Argha below the Ling of Bhagwan Vishvanathji Mandir in Beneras on the night of 4th/5th January, 1983.

I quote from the aforesaid publication, not particularly in the order given in the publication: This Mandir has been visited by many bhakts- including foreigners - who have donated generously to the Temple. It is said that Maharaja Ranjit Singh of Punjab, in the year 1839, donated 22.5 maunds (839.7945 kgs) of gold to adorn the Mandir.

Continuing with the quote: 

There has been many thefts in the Mandir after the turn of the twentieth century. The last big theft happened on the night of 4th/5th of January 1983. The thieves made away with gold from the Argha beneath Bhagwan Vishvanath's Linga.

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The brother of the main accused, Markandaya Singh, Bhagwati, another actor in the theft drama, said to Pujari Ramsurat about the theft: We went to steal. The lock of Satyanarayan was opened with a crowbar. There we got the keys to Baba. With the keys of Baba, we opened the Mandir. With the help of crowbar and screw driver we undid the gold covering of the Argha. However, we couldn't winch out the rest of the gold.

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Honouring the sentiments of the public, the UP Government took over the Temple on 28th January 1983. Immediately the concerned authorities decided that before the Shivratri festival due on 10 Feburaray 1983, the Argha would be reornamented with gold as before. In view of paucity of time required to procure the gold, and to adorn the Argha with help of craftsmen, the Commissioner of Beneras, Shri Shaibal Kumar Mukherjee called a meeting to enlist the support and help of Kashi Sarafa Mandal on 5 Feburary 1983. The meeting was attended by DC Vinod Kumar Mittal, SSP Trinath Mishra, Gold Control Commissioner G B Singh, Sarafa Mandal's Narendra Agarwal, Vinod Bihari Shukla, Govindji, Maheshwar Nath Kapur, Jagdish Kumar, Harish Pathak among others.

In that meeting, the Sarafa Mandal with great joy and alacrity agreed to adorn the Argha with gold within the stipulated time, contingent, of course, to the gold having being made available.

Under the statutues of Gold Control prevelant then, all governmental as well commercial efforts were made to procure the gold required to adorn the Argha.

Now the story as narrated by Mr Narendra Agarwal to me:

The theft took place on the night of 4th/5th January 1983. The thieves stole the gold sheet from the 'Argha' of the Shiv Ling. (2.555 kg was however later recovered by the police.) Commissioner of Beneras, Mr S K Mukherjee, IAS, Chairman Managing Committee took Rs 11 lakhs loan without interest from the UP Government for purchasing the gold and rectifying the deformity in the gold piece. For 8 days the Sarafa Mandal tried to coax the foremost jewellers of Beneras, the Kanhiyalal Sharaf Group. The Kanhiyalal Group were not ready to ready the Argha in such a short notice.

The 5th Feb 1983 Meeting that has been described earlier was convened.

A letter was written to RBI, Mumbai that Mr Yogendra Kumar Bahal, ADM will go on behalf of the UP Government to get 3.5 kg of standard gold on credit. One Inspector of Gold Control Mr K L Khatri will also go with him to Mumbai to meet the Gold Control Administrator to get his permission for making the gold adorned Argha. Now, Argha is only an article. As per Gold Control Act, 1963 prevelant then, licensed dealers were permitted to manufacture or sell gold ornaments. They couldn't manufacture or sell 'articles'. Mr Nagendra Agarwal opined that the ADM may not be able to procure the gold in such a short period. The Executive Officer of the Mandir asked him to go alongwith ADM to Mumbai. They went directly to the airport and took the flight to Delhi. They reached Delhi by 4 PM. They took the 8 PM flight to Mumbai and reached there by 11:30 PM. They had no accommodation. All of them slept on the floor of one of ADM's relation at Juhu.

At 10 AM, next day (Monday), they met all officers of the RBI. The officers said thay they were only custodian of the gold. There was no policy of giving gold to anyone. The Gold Administrator said that he couldn't help because he was not a policy maker and could only operate within the precincts of the law. Giving gold to Kashi Vishvanath Temple was a policy matter.

The team contacted Jt Secretary, Finance, Central Government, Mr K K Bakshi. Although Mr Bakshi refused to give permission for making of the Argha (article), but he agreed to meet them personally at Delhi the following day.

Next day (Tuesday) the team took a flight back to Delhi and reached Delhi at 10 AM. They went directly to the North Block and met the Jt Secretary. A South Indian officer was also participating in the meeting. (Mr Narendra Agarwal did not recall his name.) He said that in South India all idols of Gods and Goddesses are adorned with what is called Kawacha. Mr Narendra Agarwal said that South India idols are adorned by Kawacha, and Baba Kashi Vishvanath is adorned by Argha. Now, the definition of ornament in the Gold Control Act was checked by the team. The definition given was, any item that adorns idol or person. Mr K K Bakshi immediately said that no special sanction for Argha adornment was required and the gold could be purchased from any licenced dealer.

Mr Haribhai Damani, of Chandi Chowk, Delhi refused to immediately give 3.5 kg of standard gold without money. His argument was if government fails to pay how will the team make good the loss? Standard gold is never sold in credit. It is booked in advance and full payment is made in advance. It was nearing 6 PM. Mr Narendra Agarwal argued with him till 8 PM. He went for a bio call. In the meantime the telephone rang. The Commissioner was calling. He was asked if the money would be paid on receiving the standard gold. The Commissioner said, 'Yes'. 

3.5 kg gold was bought and was declared at the airport but the flight had left. Mr Damani asked for a suitcase and sent the 3.5 kg gold in cargo. The team had only one ticket so the Gold Inspector and ADM were left behind.

The team went straight from the airport to the Commissioner's residence. As an aside, the Commissioner called his wife to show her the gold. The DM, the SSP, the Executive Officer of the Mandir were all present. Next day, the payment of Rs 7,15,562.50/- was made at SBI, City Branch.

The Press was called at 3 PM and was shown the gold.

Work for restoration of Argha started outside the temple at 6 PM. Smelting continued from 6 PM to 8 PM. Lights went off at 8 PM. Miracalously, there was no deficiency of gold after smelting. Rolling finished by 11 PM. After the Mandir was closed for public at 11 PM, the rolled sheet was shaped for adorning. 2 Kgs were expended thus. 1.5 kg was smelted again and after that one patti of 2 inch thickness was put all around. Still, 108 gm of gold was left, and it was used for riveting. Now, the entire thing was brought over the Ling. Work of adornment was finished by 1 AM on 10 Feb 1983.

200 bhakts bathed in the Ganges. Mangala Aarti was performed at 2 AM on Mahashivratri. At 3 AM, the Gates were opened for public. 10,000 bhakts were waiting at the gate.

Note: There may be some gaps in my narration. I had scribbled notes as Mr Narendra Agarwal had dictated to me. I may have missed out some detail. I need to apologise in advance if there are some gaps.