Ibadat Khana

 

Ibaadatkhana Is a Historical Movement

By Justice Markandey Katju
Former Judge of Indian Supreme Court
Delhi, India

I went last month (September 2025) with some relatives from Delhi (where I live) to Mathura (166 km south of Delhi) and Agra (58 km south of Mathura). While my relatives were keen to see the temples of Mathura and Vrindavan, and the Taj Mahal at Agra, my real aim was to visit the building called Ibaadatkhana in Fatehpur Sikri, about 22 miles from Agra, which was the capital of the Mughal Empire from 1571 to 1585.

This is because it was in this building in Fatehpur Sikri that the great Mughal Emperor Akbar proclaimed the doctrine of suleh-e-kul, or giving equal respect to all religions and communities, the only doctrine which can keep India, a country with tremendous diversity, together, and take it on the path of progress. That is why I regard Emperor Akbar as the real Father of the Indian Nation

https://indicanews.com/justice-markandey-katju-emperor-akbar-is-the-father-of-the-indian-nation

 I regard the Ibaadatkhana the most sacred place in the Indian subcontinent, and I go there whenever I get a chance, like a pilgrim on a pilgrimage.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ibadat_Khana

The Ibaadatkhana is a building in which spiritual/religious scholars of all religions – Hindus, Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, Parsis, Jains, etc. – would gather together amicably and hold debates peacefully, pointing out the good things in their religions. This was at a time when Europeans were massacring each other (including women and children), Catholics massacring Protestants (e.g. the St Bartholomew massacre of Protestants in Paris in 1572), Protestants killing Catholics (e.g. in the reign of Queen Elizabeth I in England), and both committing atrocities on Muslims and Jews (as in Spain).

After reaching Agra, I decided to go to Fatehpur Sikri to visit the Ibaadatkhana. I was very sick on the day of my scheduled visit there, running a high fever, and my relatives advised me to rest in bed. But I was determined to go, otherwise the whole purpose of my visit would be lost.

I had before leaving Delhi requested the authorities in Agra that I wanted a man called Bharat Sarkar (real name Chand Mohammed), whom I had known for about 30 years, as my guide at Fatehpur Sikri, where he lives with his family. Whenever I go to Fatehpur Sikri I take him as my guide, as he has phenomenal knowledge of the place.

Here I am, standing before Ibaadatkhana during my recent visit to Fatehpurv Sikri

To promote interfaith harmony and the principle of suleh-e-kul we have formed an organization called Ibaadatkhana, which was sorely needed to combat communalism in India in today’s charged atmosphere of religious polarization incited by some vested interests.

https://indicanews.com/the-historical-importance-of-the-ibaadatkhana-movement

https://countercurrents.org/2019/12/justice-markandey-katju-launches-ibaadatkhana-movement-to-promote-peace-in-south-asia

We held an inaugural function of the organization in Fremont, California, in December 2019, in which I explained to a huge gathering the purpose of forming Ibaadatkhana.

And here are links of some global online webinars we held  I am the patron of that organization, Tasawar Jalali ( tasawarjalali@hotmail.com ) who lives in San Jose, California is the Chairman, Irfan Ali ( irfan79@gmail.com ) who lives in Princeton, New Jersey is the Vice Chairman, Narendra Singh ( narensingh@yahoo.com  who lives in California is the Gen Secy, Ritu Jha ( rituj@indicanews.com ) who lives in California is the media head, Neelu Vyas ( neeluvyasthomas@gmail.com ) who lives in Delhi is the Vice Chairman, South Asia Chapter, and Majeed Memon ( majeedmemonadv@gmail.com) , advocate living in Mumbai is the head of the Indian Chapter. All interested in joining us are welcome. 

(Markandey Katju is an Indian jurist and former judge of the Supreme Court of India who served as chairman of the Press Council of India from 2011 to 2014)