In Uttar Pradesh, revelations of alleged embezzlement in the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya have once again highlighted the vulnerabilities in the management of temples. It echoes a case of theft from nearly 44 years ago at the Kashi Vishwanath Temple in Varanasi. The theft in January 1983 not only exposed deep-rooted mismanagement but also became a turning point, prompting a change in the management of the temple and setting a historic precedent.

On  the intervening night of January 4 and 5, 1983, the golden Argha — the base encircling the Shivlinga, weighing approximately 2.6 kilograms of gold — was stolen from the Kashi Vishwanath Temple. The incident, in the heart of Varanasi, sparked immediate outrage, leaving the government at the Centre and the state feeling uneasy.

At the time, Uttar Pradesh was under the leadership of Chief Minister Sripati Mishra. The state police, headed by Shrish Chandra Dikshit, launched a swift investigation. By January 22, 1983, authorities had arrested 11 individuals. Much of the stolen property was recovered, though the process dragged on. The stolen items were finally returned to the temple trust in November 2006.

The fallout........

© Indian Express