Somnath Temple: History, Nehru's Opposition, and Reconstruction

Key Points

• 1Somnath temple, located in Gujarat, is a significant Hindu pilgrimage site and faced attacks from raiders, most notably by Mahmud of Ghazni in 1026 CE.
• 2British Governor General Lord Ellenborough highlighted the temple as a symbol of Islam's excesses on Hindus, linking it to British retaliation in Afghanistan.
• 3After India's Independence, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel announced the reconstruction of Somnath, endorsed by Nehru's cabinet, but Gandhi suggested public funding.
• 4Nehru opposed President Rajendra Prasad's participation in the inauguration, citing concerns about associating the secular government with a religious event and revivalism.
• 5Nehru also opposed the collection of water and soil from other countries for the ceremony, asking the Ministry of External Affairs to ignore the requests.