ASI Rejects Twitter User's 'misleading' Tweets On Konark Temple Restoration

The Konark Sun Temple in Odisha recently broke free of the iron scaffolding surrounding it after a rather lengthy restoration process. However, soon after it was unveiled, Twitter erupted in a controversy over the repair work.

A Twitter user on Monday took the to the micro-blogging site to wonder if restoration work at the temple had resulted in sculptures and motifs being replaces with plain stones.

Taking to Twitter with two comparative photos, the user (Anushka) said, "Kalapahad's soul must be satisfied today. We did it. We fulfilled his dream of breaking Konark."

"Konark then" and "Konark now" she captioned the two photos.

In a follow-up post she added that "almost each and every wall is restored like this".

The Konark Sun Temple in Odisha recently broke free of the iron scaffolding surrounding it after a rather lengthy restoration process.

Kalapahad's soul must be satisfied today. We did it. We fulfilled his dream of breaking Konark.

Konark Then Konark Now pic.twitter.com/2LopABCGWS

— Anushka S. (@ANaayak_) February 10, 2020

Following the posts, people on the social media site took umbrage, with many calling for a clarification from the Archaeological Survey of India.

As one Twitter user put it, "If true, this is criminal destruction. Can somebody please double check on this right away? This is of the utmost importance. This art belongs to the world."

"Kalapahad or Kala Pahar was a Muslim General of Bengal Sultanate under the reigning Karrani Dynasty, who is mentioned in the Mughal Empire records as the one who attacked Jagannath Puri with his army to tear down the Konark temple. Seems like ASI has indeed fulfilled his dream," wrote another user.

Few more.

Sculptures in 1st picture have become really rare. Now konark looks exactly like the 2nd picture especially on the back.

When asked they say "zyadatar school ke bachhe aate hen, thodi murti thik nhi hena unke liye, isliye aisa restoration hua he". pic.twitter.com/WJPLogKtvb

— Anushka S. (@ANaayak_) February 10, 2020

The Archaeological Survey of India however has rejected the post, and that of others as being "false and misleading".

"The 2 images shown in the tweet are from different locations. The image with sculptures is from Natya Mandapa while the plain stones images are from the plinth of Jagmohana (the main temple)." the organisation wrote.

They followed that up with another post: "The plain stone work shown in the image was done in mid1980s. ASI used plain stone only wherein there was no evidence left & as per ASI’s the then archaeological policy only such portions were filled with plain stones. ASI would like to confirm that no sculpture has been replaced."

The tweet regarding replacement of sculptures with plain stones is false and misleading. The 2 images shown in the tweet are from different locations. The image with sculptures is from Natya Mandapa while the plain stones images are from the plinth of Jagmohana (the main temple). pic.twitter.com/FcT2Hih60k

— Archaeological Survey of India (@ASIGoI) February 10, 2020

ASI, the SS that you used is not mine to begin with. I have clarified that is *NOT* before & after as clearly mentioned in the thread itself & 2nd I pointed out the plain rocks used for restoration. Where did I mentioned images were replaced or got stolen?

Is this also false? https://t.co/Wt33h1Z5qC pic.twitter.com/irZS0EedQg

— Anushka S. (@ANaayak_) February 10, 2020