Mangarh Dham national monument demand raised in Lok Sabha by MP Beniwal
Synopsis
Nagaur MP Hanuman Beniwal pushed in the Lok Sabha for National Monument status for Mangarh Dham — site of a colonial-era massacre of Bhil tribals — only to be told the site does not qualify under the 1958 Monuments Act. The exchange exposes a gap in India's legal framework for recognising non-archaeological sites of freedom struggle significance.
Key Takeaways
Hanuman Beniwal , RLP chief and Nagaur MP , demanded National Monument status for Mangarh Dham in the Lok Sabha on Monday .
The site commemorates the Mangarh massacre , in which British forces killed thousands of Bhil tribal freedom fighters on the Mangarh Hills .
Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat said Mangarh Dham does not qualify under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1958 .
Beniwal also demanded a special government scheme to preserve and develop the site as a national tribal memorial.
The MP vowed to continue pursuing the issue both inside and outside Parliament.
Nagaur MP and Rashtriya Loktantrik Party (RLP) chief Hanuman Beniwal on Monday raised a formal demand in the Lok Sabha to declare Mangarh Dham in Rajasthan a National Monument, calling the site an enduring symbol of tribal sacrifice in India's freedom struggle. Beniwal urged the Centre to recognise the hill's historical significance, which spans the tribal communities of Rajasthan, Gujarat, and Madhya Pradesh.
The Mangarh Massacre and Its Significance
At the heart of Beniwal's demand lies the Mangarh massacre, in which British forces opened fire on thousands of Bhil tribal freedom fighters gathered on the Mangarh Hills. Beniwal argued that the site is not merely a geographic location but a living memorial to the resistance, identity, and sacrifice of India's tribal communities against colonial rule. He described honouring the martyrs of Mangarh as a responsibility of the entire nation.
Government's Response
Responding on behalf of the Union government, Minister for Tourism and Culture Gajendra Singh Shekhawat said that Mangarh Dham does not qualify for the status of a Monument of National Importance under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1958. Shekhawat stated that no proposal to accord it such status is currently under consideration.
Beniwal's Counterargument
Beniwal expressed sharp disappointment at the government's position, contending that the existing legal framework fails to capture the full scope of India's freedom struggle. 'History is not shaped only by buildings and archaeological structures but also by the sacrifices that shaped the nation's freedom and social consciousness,' he said in the House. He urged the Centre not to evaluate Mangarh Dham solely on archaeological criteria.
Demand for a Special Preservation Scheme
Beyond monument status, Beniwal called on the Union government to formulate a special scheme to preserve and develop Mangarh Dham as a national memorial and a symbol of tribal pride. He stressed the need for steps that ensure future generations remain connected with the site's historical significance. The MP stated he would continue to pursue the issue both inside Parliament and outside until the site receives what he termed its rightful national recognition.
This comes amid a broader national conversation about the recognition of tribal contributions to India's independence — a discourse that has gained momentum in recent years, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Mangarh Dham in 2022. Whether the Centre revisits its position under sustained political pressure remains to be seen.
Point of View
Not sites of mass sacrifice or social resistance. That distinction matters. Mangarh Dham's significance is not architectural; it is moral and historical. The government's own symbolic outreach — including a Prime Ministerial visit in 2022 — sits awkwardly against a bureaucratic 'no proposal under consideration.' India's framework for national heritage recognition has a structural blind spot: it privileges stone over sacrifice. Until that gap is addressed legislatively, sites like Mangarh Dham will remain in a limbo between political symbolism and formal state acknowledgement.
NationPress
4 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Mangarh Dham and why is it historically significant?
Mangarh Dham is a hilltop site in Rajasthan where British colonial forces massacred thousands of Bhil tribal freedom fighters in the early 20th century. It is regarded as a major symbol of tribal resistance against colonial rule, with significance extending to the tribal communities of Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh as well.
What did Hanuman Beniwal demand in the Lok Sabha?
Beniwal demanded that the Union government declare Mangarh Dham a National Monument and formulate a special scheme for its preservation and development as a national tribal memorial. He raised the demand on Monday, arguing the site's importance transcends standard archaeological criteria.
Why did the Centre reject the National Monument demand?
Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat said Mangarh Dham does not qualify as a Monument of National Importance under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1958, and that no proposal to grant it such status is currently under consideration.
Which states are connected to Mangarh Dham's tribal heritage?
According to Beniwal, Mangarh Dham represents the identity, sacrifice, and resistance of tribal communities across Rajasthan, Gujarat, and Madhya Pradesh, making it a site of inter-state tribal significance.
What happens next in the Mangarh Dham recognition campaign?
Beniwal stated he will continue to pursue the demand both inside Parliament and outside until Mangarh Dham receives formal national recognition. Whether the Centre revisits its position — possibly through a separate legislative or executive route — remains uncertain.
