Dr.Vishnu Shridhar (Haribhau) Wakankar and Bhojshala Vagdevi Saraswati Mandir, Dhar, Madhya Pradesh, Bharat

After the landmark verdict by Hon’ble Indore High Court on Bhojshala and Vagdevi Saraswati Mandir, a small town called Dhar where we Wakankars hail from is back in limelight.

Noted Indologist and archaeologist Padma Shri Dr. Vishnu Shridhar Wakankar tracked down the authentic Bhojshala Saraswati (Vagdevi) idol in London in 1961.

The historic 1961 discovery as reported by publications like Dainik Bhaskar have deeply documented this historical sequence to highlight India’s claim on the artifact:

The Artifact's Expatriation

In 1034 AD, Paramara King Raja Bhoj established the Bhojshala university in Dhar, Madhya Pradesh, installing a highly revered marble idol of Goddess Vagdevi (Saraswati).

In 1875, during British colonial rule, British political agent Major General William Kincaid excavated the damaged idol from the ruins and subsequently shipped it to London.

Dr. Haribhau (Vishnu Shridhar) Wakankar’s Intervention

In 1961, Dr. V.S. Wakankar traveled to the British Museum in London. Upon tracking the idol cataloged as the “Saraswati of Dhar”, he was denied photography privileges by museum security due to structural protocols.

The Hand-Drawn Sketch

Leveraging his foundational training as a professional artist (holding a G.D. Art degree), Dr. Wakankar meticulously hand-sketched the exact features, dimensions, and unique iconography of the 4-foot-tall idol right from the glass showcase.

The Epigraphical Proof

His live sketch recorded a foundational Sanskrit inscription at the base. This text definitively proved to the global scientific community that the London museum piece was indeed the original sacred deity of Dhar's Bhojshala.

Picture: Maa Vagdevi Saraswati Murti sketch hand drawn to the exact scale/size by Dr. V. S. Wakankar sitting on the floor of London Museum despite severe objections by the then museum authorities who by the way did not even know that the murti (“artefact” as per their IQ) was of Maa Saraswati.

Picture courtesy: Wakankar Sangrahalya Ujjain, MP

Uttishtha Bharat 🇮🇳
April 16, 2026

Bhaskar article 👇🏻
https://www.bhaskar.com/local/mp/dhar/news/madhya-pradesh-high-court-mahavagdevi-temple-bhojshala-london-museum-137942634.html