The Ayodhya Case: Hindutva or A Political Fix

 5th August,11:30 AM, Ayodhya

“India is creating a golden chapter in Ayodhya, wait of centuries ends today”: PM Modi 

"Jai Siya Ram”

Glued to our TV screen watching the most awaited ceremony, we all were wondering about the bitter battle which lasted 500 years and was only settled last year. As this auspicious Ram mandir Bhoomi pujan ended in Ayodhya, most of the country celebrated like it was Diwali. Diyas were lit, fairy lights were put up and temples were decorated (made us feel alive after so long). The event which was foreseen to have at least 1,75,000 spectators was conducted with only 175 guests and strict measures of social distancing. ( who would have imagined things would happen this way)

So what incidents led to this day? 

Let’s go back to 1853 and start our journey from the very beginning. In the end, we have some shocking controversies for you. (we know you love that)

TIMELINE-

1853

First violence over the site took place as Nirmohis, a Hindu sect claimed that a Hindu temple was destroyed to build a mosque here during the Babur's reign. (One small fight and see what's happening years after)

1949

Idols of Ram Lalla found inside the Babri Masjid leading to further conflicts. The government then locked the place. (this was apparently done to 'solve' the issue)

1961

Suit pleading for the restoration of property to the Muslims filed. 

1980s

A committee was formed by Vishwa Hindu Parishad to 'liberate' the place and build a temple in the honour of Lord Rama.(#Mandiryahibanega)

1986

After a series of protests, the court opened the gates of Mosque for all the Hindus and the mosque also started function as a Hindu temple. (Wohoo, a Merger)

1989

A case was filed to shift the mosque somewhere else. The case was now transferred to a special bench of the high court (things were starting to get serious).

1990

Rath Yatra was started from Somnath, Gujrat under the leadership of LK Advani. Thousands of volunteers participated in this traveling more than 300 kms everyday. PM VP ordered the arrest of Advani leading to widespread communal riots.

1992

After the long Rath Yatra, the situation even worsened when in 1992 the mosque was demolished. The demolition provoked widespread communal riots across the country. At least 2,000 people died in the violence (Will riots ever end?)

2010

The case prolonged for more than a decade when in 2010 Allahabad High court gave judgment to divide the area into 3 parts-

1/3rd to Ram Lalla- Represented by Hindu Mahasabha

1/3rd to Islamic Waqf Board and remaining 

1/3rd to Nirmohi Akhara

(Though even after getting this much, a petition to SC was filed thereafter)

2011

What was expected? Supreme Court as it does in most of its cases, stayed the High Court's order.

2016

Its truly said hearings keep on going unless the case finds a new angle. Finally, it was Subramanian Swamy who filed a plea for the construction of Ram Mandir.

2019

The landmark judgment- It was in November 2019 when a five-judge bench of the Supreme Court ordered the disputed land (2.77 acres) to be handed over to trust (to be created by GOI) to create Ram Janam Bhoomi Temple.  The court also ordered the government to give an alternate five acres of land in another place to the Sunni Waqf Board the purpose of building a mosque. The trust for the construction of Ram temple was named Shri Ram Janambhoomi Teerth Shetra.

2020

Foundation stone laying ceremony- Recently The Prime Minister unveiled a plaque and released a common postal stamp on August 5, 2020, for construction of Ram Temple. (Well, Salman Khan hit and run case took fewer years) 

PM shouldn't have visited?

This is in the most heard lines these days (Not including Binod). Some say the prime minister has freedom of religion. Every Indian citizen has freedom of religion. But I want to know from the prime minister: does the government of India have a religion? No, because the Constitution clearly says that secularism is part of the basic structure of the Constitution (Clearly, India's secular ethos compromised).

Some say this incidence took place in the past too when President Rajendra Prasad visited the inauguration of the Somnath Temple in 1951, so what's the big deal now? (But were these questions raised that time too?) It wasn't surprising for Muslims to react to this incident. Response from the country’s Muslim community has been largely muted. Ahead of the groundbreaking ceremony, a Muslim member of Parliament called on Modi to not attend the function saying that it would be against his constitutional oath as prime minister of a secular country. Modi's government has faced both domestic and global criticism for deliberately neglecting its vast Muslim minority, numbering nearly 200 million. The Ayodhya verdict has only cemented this opinion among its opponents and critics.

And wait, what?

The date was chosen for the ceremony also coincides with the first anniversary of the abrogation of the special status of Indian-administered Kashmir, India's only Muslim majority region that has been the theatre of a bloody armed rebellion for more than 30 years. (Does being a Hindu make us neglect this act of Modi Gov too?)

Even the image of Lord Rama?

The image selected by the Ram temple trust is that of Lord Ram as an archer holding a bow and arrows. People even objected this saying it depicted Rama as an "aggressor" which he was not. However, those involved in organizing the Ayodhya Ram Mandir Bhoomi Pujan have defended the use of this particular image saying the bow and arrow is a distinguishing feature of Lord Ram. (Seriously, was this issue even big enough?)

REALITY CHECK-

It is a celebration time for all of us, August 5 will be seen as a second Diwali, where we would light up diyas and worship Lord Rama. Hindutva, an ideology seeking to establish the hegemony of Hindus and the Hindu way of life has set its strong roots in India. But was there any political fix, was it a political verdict where a 492 year long timeline of events came to an end or was it a matter of facts where Supreme Court asked only Muslim side to prove “exclusive possession” of the land, without applying the same standard to the Hindu side, we leave it upto you to decide!