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'''Kishore Kunal''' (born 1950) is a retired officer of the [[Indian Police Service]]<ref name=hvk>{{Cite news |url=http://www.hvk.org/articles/0901/0.html |publisher=Times of India |date=1 September 2001 |title=Stone writ could hold key to Ayodhya |first=Ambikanand |last=Sahay |access-date=22 March 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100620104933/http://hvk.org/articles/0901/0.html |archive-date=20 June 2010 |url-status=dead }}</ref> from the state of [[Bihar]], India. During his police career, he was appointed as the Officer on Special Duty (Ayodhya) by the prime minister [[V. P. Singh]] to mediate between the [[Vishwa Hindu Parishad]] and the [[Babri Masjid Action Committee]] on the [[Ayodhya dispute]]. He continued to serve in this position during the premierships of [[Chandra Sekhar]] and [[P. V. Narasimha Rao]].<ref name=security/>

==Early life==
Kishore Kunal was born on 10 August 1950. He had his schooling at Baruraj village in [[Muzaffarpur district]]. Then he studied [[History]] and [[Sanskrit]] at [[Patna University]], graduating in 1970. Later, in the middle of his career, he also studied for master's degree, receiving it in 1983.<ref name=security>{{cite news | title = Security at Mahavir Mandir is Ram bharose | author = Amit Bhelari | publisher = [[The Telegraph (Calcutta)]] | date = 19 December 2011 | accessdate = 3 December 2012 | url=http://www.telegraphindia.com/1111219/jsp/bihar/story_14900315.jsp#.ULxS6OQ3tc0}}
</ref> His teachers included historians [[Ram Sharan Sharma|R. S. Sharma]] and [[D. N. Jha]].{{sfn|Jain, The Battle for Rama|2017|p=6}}

==Career==
In 1972, Kunal became an officer of the [[Indian Police Service]] in the Gujarat cadre. His first posting was as the [[Superintendent of Police]], at [[Anand, Gujarat|Anand]]. By 1978, he rose to become the [[Deputy commissioner of police (India)|Deputy Commissioner of Police]] of [[Ahmedabad]].<ref name=security/>

After completion of his Master's in 1983, Kunal was appointed as the [[Senior Superintendent of Police]] at [[Patna]]. In 2001, Kunal retired from the Indian Police Service voluntarily.<ref name=security/> After retirement, he served as the chairman of the Bihar State Board of Religious Trusts.<ref>[http://www.telegraphindia.com/1160311/jsp/bihar/story_73936.jsp#.V1sXkLt97IU Era ends at religious board], The Telegraph (Calcutta), 11 March 2016.</ref><ref name="trusts">{{Cite news|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/1549973.cms|title=Kunal new head of Religious Trusts Board|date=26 May 2006|publisher=Times of India}}</ref> Kunal is also secretary of the [[Mahavir Mandir|Mahavir Temple]] Trust, Patna,<ref name="Mahavir">{{Cite news|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Cities/Hajipur/Mahavir-Mandir-to-have-its-twin-in-Houston/articleshow/4754664.cms|title=Mahavir Mandir to have its twin in Houston|date=9 July 2009|publisher=Times of India}}</ref> and previously of [[Mahavir Cancer Institute and Research Centre|Mahavir Arogya Sansthan]], in which he was involved with the improvement of healthcare for the poor.<ref name="cancer">{{Cite news|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/573956.cms|title=Cancer cases on rise due to change in lifestyle: Expert|last=Jha|first=Vinayanand|date=22 March 2004|publisher=Times of India}}</ref> He also founded [[Gyan Niketan]] school in Patna.

=== Ayodhya dispute ===
The Government of [[V. P. Singh]] established an 'Ayodhya Cell' in 1990 under the leadership of the Minister of State for Home Affairs for handling the [[Ayodhya dispute]]. Kunal was appointed as an 'Officer on Special Duty' to assist in its functioning.<ref name=Rediff>[https://www.rediff.com/news/interview/ayodhya-i-want-to-place-rare-evidence-before-sc/20170503.htm Ram temple: 'I want to place rare evidence before SC'], Rediff News, 3 May 2017.</ref> The cell continued under the Government of [[Chandra Sekhar]] (November 1990–March 1991), during which time [[Rajiv Gandhi]] suggested that historical and archaeological evidence should be taken into consideration for deciding the Ayodhya issue. The representatives of the [[Vishva Hindu Parishad]] (VHP) and the [[Babri Masjid Action Committee]] (BMAC) met under the banner of the Ayodhya Cell, and decided to exchange their respective evidence.{{sfn|Jain, Rama and Ayodhya|2013|pp=166–167}} Kunal stated that he had forwarded the submitted evidence to the Chairman of the [[Indian Council of Historical Research]] (ICHR), the Director General of the [[Archaeological Survey of India]] (ASI) and the Director General of Archives for verification and submitting reports. Both VHP and BMAC had also nominated ten experts each to examine the evidence.{{sfn|Kunal, Ayodhya Revisited|2016|p=xxxviii}} The four key historians nominated by the BMAC, [[Ram Sharan Sharma|R. S. Sharma]], [[Suraj Bhan]], [[M. Athar Ali]] and [[D. N. Jha]], asked for six weeks to examine the VHP's evidence. The VHP did not agree to the demand. The negotiations ended after this.{{sfn|Jain, Rama and Ayodhya|2013|pp=166–167}}

Kunal later published his own analysis of the evidence submitted by the parties, and other evidence that he unearthed on his own, under the title ''Ayodhya Revisited''.<ref name=TheHindu>Kuldeep Kumar, [http://www.thehindu.com/books/Re-examining-an-imbroglio/article16788955.ece Re-examining an imbroglio], The Hindu, 10 December 2016.</ref>

==Social service==
===Mahavir Temple===
Kunal is also secretary of the Mahavir mandir, Patna. Under his secretaryship, renovation work of [[Mahavir Temple]] started on 30 October 1983, and it was inaugurated on 4 March 1985. Governor R S Gavai on Monday said Mahavir Temple is an ideal religious trust and it should be emulated by other trusts in the country. Mahavir Trust later set up [[Mahavir Cancer Sansthan]]. The Samiti also runs another hospital, Mahavir Arogya Sansthan, at Kankerbagh, and on its premises Mahavir Netralaya has been set up which caters to the needs of those suffering from eye problems. The temple has already established four big hospitals and provides financial help to the needy people.<ref name=hails>{{cite news
| url = http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2008-01-15/patna/27750594_1_mahavir-temple-temple-trust-dalit-priest
| archive-url = https://archive.today/20130103113812/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2008-01-15/patna/27750594_1_mahavir-temple-temple-trust-dalit-priest
| url-status = dead
| archive-date = 3 January 2013
| title = Guv hails services of Mahavir Temple
| author = TNN
| work = [[The Times of India]]
| date = 15 January 2008
| accessdate = 20 January 2012
}}</ref>

===Mundeshwari Bhawani Mandir===
He is involved in the uplift of Mundeshwari Bhawani Mandir, the 'oldest' surviving temple in the eastern region belonging to Gupta Age (AD 343) and located in Kaimur hills. The temple site will also be developed into a full-fledged pilgrim center, just like [[Vaishno Devi temple]], with a number of amenities like dormitory, rest rooms, kitchens and efficient transportation system. As part of the temple's development plans, a 'vivah' mandap is under construction in over two-and-a-half acres.< He is penning a historical novel titled 'Mahima Mundeshwari Maa Ki'. Recently, a 185-page book 'Mundeshwari Mandir: The Oldest Recorded Temple in the Country', also written by him, was released.<ref name=plan>{{cite news
| url = http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-06-14/patna/29656560_1_temple-site-ancient-temple-acharya-kishore-kunal
| archive-url = https://archive.today/20130103112813/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-06-14/patna/29656560_1_temple-site-ancient-temple-acharya-kishore-kunal
| url-status = dead
| archive-date = 3 January 2013
| title = Plan to develop ancient temple
| author = Pooja Kashyap
| work = [[The Times of India]]
| date = 14 June 2011
| accessdate = 20 January 2012
}}</ref>

===Virat Ramayan Temple===
{{main|Angkor Wat#Similar temple}}

Under his leadership as the Secretary, Bihar Mahavir Mandir Trust (BMMT), he has spearheaded building the biggest temple in the world. He said, "they will build a bigger temple in Bihar's East champaran district than the 12th century [[Angkor Wat temple]] in [[Cambodia]]."

== Awards ==
In 2008 he received the Bhagwaan Mahaveer Award for his contribution to community and social services. The award, presented to Kunal by the [[President of India]] [[Pratibha Patil]], is instituted by the Bhagwan Mahaveer Foundation, [[Chennai]].<ref name="awarded">{{Cite web|url=http://www.jaindharmonline.com/more/news2008.htm|title=Acharya Kishore Kunal awarded|date=20 May 2008|publisher=Jaindharmonline}}</ref> Acharya Kunal is the first individual from [[Bihar]]-[[Jharkhand]] to get this award.<ref name="awarded" /> His selection was made by a jury headed by Justice Shri [[M. N. Venkatachaliah]], former [[Chief Justice of India]].<ref name="awarded" />

==Works==
* ''Ayodhya Revisited'' (Prabhat Prakashan, 2016). {{ISBN|8184303572}}.<ref>[http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-news-india/ayodhya-ram-temple-destroyed-by-aurangzeb-not-babbar-book-by-former-gujarat-ips-officer-2862773/ Ayodhya Ram temple] destroyed by [[Aurangzeb]] not [[Babur|Babbar]]: former Gujarat IPS officer, The Indian Express, 19 June 2016.</ref><ref name=HT>[http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/ayodhya-dispute-aurangzeb-not-babar-built-babri-masjid-says-new-book/story-X3GIPMNSPh3JrcAIXHHq2L.html Ayodhya dispute: Aurangzeb, not Babar, built Babri masjid, says new book], Hindustan Times, 20 June 2016.</ref>

In this 800-page book, Kunal has analysed the historical documents to draw the conclusion that the [[Babri Masjid]] was built by Emperor [[Aurangzeb]], not [[Babur]]. He blames the British [[East India Company]] surveyor [[Francis Buchanan]] for erroneously crediting [[Babur]]. Kunal also states that a Ram temple existed at the disputed site which was demolished by Aurangzeb's governor Fedai Khan in 1660 AD. Reviewer Kuldeep Kumar has remarked that the book deserves a close reading by professional historians.<ref name=HT/><ref name=TheHindu/>

In May 2017, Kunal indicated that he would submit a petition to the [[Supreme Court of India]] in [[Ayodhya dispute]] presenting his evidence and analysis and "become a party to the dispute".<ref name=Rediff/>

==References==
{{reflist|30em}}

==Bibliography==
* {{citation |last=Jain |first=Meenakshi |author-link=Meenakshi Jain |title=Rama and Ayodhya |publisher=Aryan Books |location=New Delhi |year=2013 |isbn=978-8173054518 |ref={{sfnref|Jain, Rama and Ayodhya|2013}}}}
* {{citation |last=Jain |first=Meenakshi |author-link=Meenakshi Jain |title=The Battle for Rama |publisher=Aryan Books |location=New Delhi |year=2017 |isbn=978-81-7305-579-9 |ref={{sfnref|Jain, The Battle for Rama|2017}}}}
* {{citation |first=Kishore |last=Kunal |title=Ayodhya Revisited |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=gKKaDAAAQBAJ&pg=PA335 |publisher=Prabhat Prakashan |year=2016 |isbn=978-81-8430-357-5 |pages=335– |ref={{sfnref|Kunal, Ayodhya Revisited|2016}}}}

{{authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Kunal, Acharya Kishore}}
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Writers from Patna]]
[[Category:Indian Sanskrit scholars]]
[[Category:Hindu writers]]
[[Category:Indian social reformers]]
[[Category:Indian police officers]]
[[Category:Analysts of Ayodhya dispute]]
[[Category:Scholars from Bihar]]
[[Category:1950 births]]

Kishore Kunal - Revision history

->Serols at 13:53, 21 June 2021