The grand lodge of central India in Indore was unable to save its 100-year-old building from going into the hands of local district administration. The society is associated with devil worship and it’s works mostly shrouded in mystery was recently brought to light from its folds to the centre of all gossips.
What is Masonic community? Who are Freemasons? Not more than 40 people in Indore knew about this community until the district administration found some wired objects from the Lodge for their new City Bus project. Lodge of Central India No 84, was the ancient but beautiful looking bungalow constructed on a land spread in over 1.20 lakh square meters at a prime location of the city. It was exactly like the type of spot the officers of district administration were hunting to start their depot. They had an eye on that land, all what they knew about this place was that it was a Lodge belonging to people of Masonic community. But as others in this city with a population of over 28 lakh, they too had no idea about what the Masonic community is or who the members were and what activities were performed inside the Lodge. While on other hand the market value of the land where this lodge was constructed crosses Rs 50 crores at present and several big wigs of the city including land mafias had an eye on that portion of land. So the district administration was well aware that taking possession of this land and the Lodge could be a major problem and they had to go legally.
Nazul Officer Vivek Shotriya was pressed into the task of finding out entire details of the land, its ownership and collect documentary proofs regarding the entire area. He summoned the secretary of the Lodge to appear with all documents regarding the possession and purchase of said land. Two members of the Lodge Dr R P Shrivastav and Pankaj Gandhi appeared before the officer, respectively, on the behalf of the Masonic community and collected the documents and registered their statements. Shotriya in his final report to the collector cited that the lodge was located on a land notified as Plot No 30 of Residency Area and as per the documents presented by the secretary of the lodge, the Residency Authority on July 18, 1947 had leased 2.56 acre of this land for 10 years for Rs 192 per year to `Worshipful Master and Member of Freemason Lodge Central India No 3647’. Enclosing various laws and regulations and an order of Supreme Court, the Nazul officer in his final report submitted to the collector cited that the office bearers of the Lodge of Central India have unauthorized possession of the land which belongs to State Government and hence it is recommendable to re-acquire possession of that land. And on the basis of this report, the district administration grabbed possession of the land and converted it into the City bus depot.
Lodge officials tried to grab land: Report
NAZUL OFFICER Vivek Shrotriya’s report on land lease breach submitted to Additional Collector K K Khare has charged office-bearers with attempting to grab the government land encompassing Masonic Temple.
“Their (Lodge) denial for possessing 1947 land lease agreement despite constant appeals made to them to produce the original record and their failure to renew the lease and breach its provision indicates malafide intention on their part to grab the government land,” the report remarked.
It added that Lodge Central India No 84 represented by Dr R P Shrivastava and later by Pankaj Gandhi produced a photocopy of a 1913 sale deed, which mentioned that Seth Jajulal Mahajan sold off Bungalow No 3 (survey no 10) to Free Masonic Lodge Central India 3647.
The report reiterates that the Lodge office-bearers denied that they had any lease deed and produced the copy of sale deed when they were repeatedly asked to present the dossiers, which could prove their right to land. Adding that occupation on the land was illegal, Shrotriya in his report recommended regaining its possession.
Elucidating its history, the report says that Residency Area was part of Holkar state, which came in possession of East India Company in 1805 following Mandsaur Treaty. In 1858, British Empire took possession of the area that was governed by Residency Authority. Initially it was under purview of Residency Area Bazaar Act after, which Residency Area Authority Act came into force in 1934.
Residency Authority leased out land for educational, religious, social and commercial use by fixing annual lease rent from time to time. Masonic Lodge was one such beneficiary.
The provisions of Indore Residency Area Act 1934 were applicable to the land Lodge occupied.
Oath of Secrecy
How strong the oath of maintaining secrecy for the members of Masonic community could be understood when no one turned up before the District Administration to claim their belongings inside the Lodge. But they filed a petition with the Indore Bench of High Court accusing the District Administration of doing injustice to them. They produced a heap of documents claiming that the land belong to members of the Masonic community. They claimed that up to 1910 there was no Masonic Lodge in Indore. The members used to go to Lodges in Mhow. In the year 1910 some Freemasons in Indore decided to start a Lodge in Indore for which they approached District Grand Master of Bombay. Their Proposal was accepted and constitutionally approved and a lodge was consecrated at Indore on November 19, 1910, which was named Lodge Central India. The number given was 3467 EC of English Constitution in the register of Grand Lodge of England. The Lodge meetings were held at the Old Daily College building by the permission of Percy Hide; the then principal of the college and also member of this community. Later on the members decided of having own lodge and the put before an estimate of Rs 7000 for purchasing the aforesaid building. Accordingly the building was purchased at a cost of Rs 4,500 with its spacious grounds. Apart from these details the petitioners claimed that they had procured the land from Seth Jajulal Mahajan in the year 1913.
However the matter is now in the court and the district administration as well as the members of the Lodge has filed their claims. The case is on trial. “The land was on lease for 10 years which as per agreement ended in the year 1957. Now the land belongs to government. So what we did was based on documentary evidences” says Vivek Shotriya, the Nazul officer. While Ravindra J Potdar, the secretary of Lodge says “We have submitted necessary documents to the court and we are waiting for the decision”.
Mystic Objects…
The administrative officers found several mystic objects inside the Lodge; however everything was placed intact inside a large hall (which is the temple of freemasons) in that Lodge. The temple was sealed, while other rooms were allotted to the operators of the city bus. Even the officers were more surprised by the interiors of the temple. More surprised where they about, a portrait of an eye at the centre of the wall and a large chess board made on floor by black/white marbles.
Some documents were also found inside the lodge by which the administrative officials were able to identify the freemasons in Indore. Names, professions, addresses and telephone numbers were all disclosed. Some of the names shocked the administrative officer’s, as the member were renowned businessman and medicos whom they had met several times during the routine works, but had never known as a member of the said community. Like Dr Rajeev Chaudary, noted eye specialist and Dr Lalit Mohan Panth who is known for the largest sterilization operations he performed.
According to a record book of the lodge in Indore, Maharaja Yeshwant Rao Holkar, the ruler of Indore was also a member of Masonic community. Maharaja Yeshwant Rao Holkar was initiated as mason in the year 1920.
Ghost play ?
The Lodge of Central India in Indore was considered as a haunted building by people living around its premises. Many of them claimed of having sighted scary activities and movements inside the lodge in the late hours. Local newspapers reported the scare of residents quoting the lodge as haunted. The news carried quotes from some of them who claimed of having heard wired noises outside the building. People rarely visited that building after dark. Literatures say that this community has been criticized due to its secret rituals and activities. It was alleged that `The masons go to the temples to seek powers from their master – Satan – for the protection of their positions an ill- gotten wealth’. `They have a secret grip of a Master Mason (Masonic Handshake). It’s a regular handshake, except that you press your thumb against the base joints between the index finger and middle finger of the man you are shaking hands with. It looks pretty much like any other handshake; only the men shaking hands can feel the difference. Likely there are several coding that no one else than the freemasons could understand,’ said a professor wishing anonymity. ‘Sworn to secrecy, thousands of Masons roam silently among us, identifying themselves with secret handshakes, signs and code words such as Mahabone or matchpin,’ he added.
“We are not supposed to disclose anything. What I can tell you is that the Masonic experience encourages members to become better men, better husbands, better fathers, and better citizens. The fraternal bonds formed in the Lodge help build lifelong friendships among men with similar goals and values. Beyond its focus on individual development and growth, Masonry is deeply involved in helping people.” says Ravindra J Potdar, the secretary of Lodge of Central India, Indore. We are not supposed to reveal any of our secrets, he added refusing to comment on the secret rituals.
http://greatgameindia.wordpress.com/2013/06/05/confiscation-of-the-grand-masonic-lodge-of-central-india-indore/
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