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Sunrise over Ayodhya
On 9 November 2019, the Supreme Court, in a unanimous verdict, cleared the way for the construction of a Ram temple at the disputed site in Ayodhya.
As we look back, we will be able to see how much we have lost over Ayodhya through the years of conflict. If the loss of a mosque is preservation of faith, if the establishment of a temple is emancipation of faith, we can all join together in celebrating faith in the Constitution. Sometimes, a step back to accommodate is several steps forward towards our common destiny.
Through this book, Salman Khurshid explores how the greatest opportunity that the judgment offers is a reaffirmation of India as a secular society.
As we look back, we will be able to see how much we have lost over Ayodhya through the years of conflict. If the loss of a mosque is preservation of faith, if the establishment of a temple is emancipation of faith, we can all join together in celebrating faith in the Constitution. Sometimes, a step back to accommodate is several steps forward towards our common destiny.
Through this book, Salman Khurshid explores how the greatest opportunity that the judgment offers is a reaffirmation of India as a secular society.
304 pages, Hardcover
Published March 1, 2022
9 people are currently reading
119 people want to read
About the author
Salman Khurshid
26 books13 followersSalman Khurshid Alam Khan (born 1 January 1953) is an Indian politician, designated senior advocate, eminent author and a law teacher. He was the Cabinet Minister of the Ministry of External Affairs. He belongs to the Indian National Congress. He is a lawyer, and a writer who has been elected from Farrukhabad Lok Sabha constituency in the General Election of 2009.
Born in Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh, he is the son of Khurshed Alam Khan a former Union Minister of External affairs, Government of India, and maternal grandson of Zakir Hussain, the third President of India.
He studied in St. Xavier's High School, Patna, Delhi Public School, Mathura Road, and college at St. Stephen's College, Delhi and St Edmund Hall, Oxford, Oxford, UK (B.A. (English and Jurisprudence), M.A., B.C.L.). He also taught as Lecturer in Law at Trinity College, Oxford.
Khurshid has been deeply involved in writing and acting in plays since his student days in Delhi and Oxford. He is the author of the play Sons of Babur, published by Rupa & Co., which has been staged, with Tom Alter in the lead role, at the Red Fort in Delhi.
Born in Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh, he is the son of Khurshed Alam Khan a former Union Minister of External affairs, Government of India, and maternal grandson of Zakir Hussain, the third President of India.
He studied in St. Xavier's High School, Patna, Delhi Public School, Mathura Road, and college at St. Stephen's College, Delhi and St Edmund Hall, Oxford, Oxford, UK (B.A. (English and Jurisprudence), M.A., B.C.L.). He also taught as Lecturer in Law at Trinity College, Oxford.
Khurshid has been deeply involved in writing and acting in plays since his student days in Delhi and Oxford. He is the author of the play Sons of Babur, published by Rupa & Co., which has been staged, with Tom Alter in the lead role, at the Red Fort in Delhi.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
November 4, 2024
Unveiling the Real Mentality.
I am very much shocked while reading the book knowing that it is written by Former education minister of India. I left with no doubt about his intentions behind the propaganda for how he, while being on that reputed position, worked to ruin the image of India by maligning the image of Majoritarian group and consistently remaining biased with thoughts of inhuman and anti-national activities.
This author belonged to my Constituency and I knew him since long back but somewhere I thought that he was not that bad but after the veil went down, Reality glitter over his slummed-brain.
Such a worst book he had written and his word indicate towards the "Contempt of Court" even when he is lawyer by profession. Pity and shame on him.
Few terrorist invaders looted and destroyed our very traditional artifacts and Temples that belongs to the most ancient way of life, Hinduism. Because they convert the people then with brutality and rapes, now their left-over descendants following the traits and start covering those act and framing them as noble rulers. What he depicted was clear Hatred against Hindus. In today's India of Secularism and Democracy, there is no such place of hatred against any group of people. He needs to understand the meaning of acceptance of facts with more maturity. This is more of a political propaganda than any fact in it.
When Archaeology, which is the most reliable way to prove the fact with carbon dating all-over the world, revealed that there was Hindu Temple which was destroyed and constructed over it with Mosque which Supreme Court of India ruled to be removed and reconstruct the Former Ethical Structure then who is he to brag about his mean mentality on that same matter?
Order sustains and Facts ruling over bigotry and terrorism, always.
For me it is: 0.5/5.0
I am very much shocked while reading the book knowing that it is written by Former education minister of India. I left with no doubt about his intentions behind the propaganda for how he, while being on that reputed position, worked to ruin the image of India by maligning the image of Majoritarian group and consistently remaining biased with thoughts of inhuman and anti-national activities.
This author belonged to my Constituency and I knew him since long back but somewhere I thought that he was not that bad but after the veil went down, Reality glitter over his slummed-brain.
Such a worst book he had written and his word indicate towards the "Contempt of Court" even when he is lawyer by profession. Pity and shame on him.
Few terrorist invaders looted and destroyed our very traditional artifacts and Temples that belongs to the most ancient way of life, Hinduism. Because they convert the people then with brutality and rapes, now their left-over descendants following the traits and start covering those act and framing them as noble rulers. What he depicted was clear Hatred against Hindus. In today's India of Secularism and Democracy, there is no such place of hatred against any group of people. He needs to understand the meaning of acceptance of facts with more maturity. This is more of a political propaganda than any fact in it.
When Archaeology, which is the most reliable way to prove the fact with carbon dating all-over the world, revealed that there was Hindu Temple which was destroyed and constructed over it with Mosque which Supreme Court of India ruled to be removed and reconstruct the Former Ethical Structure then who is he to brag about his mean mentality on that same matter?
Order sustains and Facts ruling over bigotry and terrorism, always.
For me it is: 0.5/5.0
November 25, 2021
It should be banned. All hatred towards Hindu. Rascal writer.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 14, 2022
Salman Khurshid is a prejudiced prick.
November 28, 2021
Anti Hindu book. Writer hates Hindus and is pseudo radicalised Islamist himself.
November 28, 2021
Anti Hindu book written by pseudo radicalised Islamist.
June 26, 2022
Sunrise over Ayodhya is a wonderful summary of the events that have revolved around the Ram Janmabhoomi temple, from it's inception to it's mosque-rendition's destruction.
Salman Khurshid does a wonderful job at collecting all the different facets of the case, from the context of the story of Ram, the different disputed religious sites of the world, the different leaders of BJP/VHP/RSS who were indited in the planned demolition, the supreme court's struggle to grapple the spiritual with the legal, and all the loopholes and critiques that came with it. All of this is laced throughout with mostly abstracts of the judgement, as we read bits of the 1200 page verdict that tries to do many things, such as define Hinduism, consider pre-colonial property rights from a waqf perspective, tries to give deities legal entity status, and trace the entire historic event in detail, which could be a slog to read for some, but i found especially interesting.
Being a member of the INC, Salman Khurshid obviously has a bias here. Yet, he seems to take the verdict positively, despite the loopholes. He sees this as an opportunity for ideological reconciliation between Sanatanis and Muslims, and this is something that is highly desirable today. In my opinion the loopholes are extremely scientific, and hence very western, and won't fully fit in India's context, and hence the court did the best to approach both the scientific and emotional truth at the same time. Yes, we should be excited for the new Ram Mosque to be built as well! It is a historic moment for modern india, and will be remembered as such.
I feel a strong 7 to a light 8 on this book
8/10
For more book reviews follow: @normiesaftersesh
On instagram
Salman Khurshid does a wonderful job at collecting all the different facets of the case, from the context of the story of Ram, the different disputed religious sites of the world, the different leaders of BJP/VHP/RSS who were indited in the planned demolition, the supreme court's struggle to grapple the spiritual with the legal, and all the loopholes and critiques that came with it. All of this is laced throughout with mostly abstracts of the judgement, as we read bits of the 1200 page verdict that tries to do many things, such as define Hinduism, consider pre-colonial property rights from a waqf perspective, tries to give deities legal entity status, and trace the entire historic event in detail, which could be a slog to read for some, but i found especially interesting.
Being a member of the INC, Salman Khurshid obviously has a bias here. Yet, he seems to take the verdict positively, despite the loopholes. He sees this as an opportunity for ideological reconciliation between Sanatanis and Muslims, and this is something that is highly desirable today. In my opinion the loopholes are extremely scientific, and hence very western, and won't fully fit in India's context, and hence the court did the best to approach both the scientific and emotional truth at the same time. Yes, we should be excited for the new Ram Mosque to be built as well! It is a historic moment for modern india, and will be remembered as such.
I feel a strong 7 to a light 8 on this book
8/10
For more book reviews follow: @normiesaftersesh
On instagram
July 17, 2024
Sunrise over Ayodhya is an informative account of the unanimous verdict of the Supreme Court with regards to the disputed site of the The Babri Masjid and Ram Janmabhoomi. This book records the history of the events prior to the verdict in great detail major political moves that have mainly disrupted the peace and security and creating endless controversies until the fated day of 9 November 2019.
This book is insightful and well researched but nonetheless provoking at times. To form an opinion on an issue so grave this book will not be the only source that I would gather information from, there are times when the reader wants the author to call a spade a spade rather than deal with the undercurrent provocation. The fact that the book has a break down the Ayodhya judgement for the layperson, in an attempt to explain why the Supreme Court ruled the way it did, is immensely appreciable.
Nonetheless, these are my thoughts after reading the book and I wouldn’t discourage anyone from reading it to discover the answers that need to be found or simply because this book intrigues you.
This book is insightful and well researched but nonetheless provoking at times. To form an opinion on an issue so grave this book will not be the only source that I would gather information from, there are times when the reader wants the author to call a spade a spade rather than deal with the undercurrent provocation. The fact that the book has a break down the Ayodhya judgement for the layperson, in an attempt to explain why the Supreme Court ruled the way it did, is immensely appreciable.
Nonetheless, these are my thoughts after reading the book and I wouldn’t discourage anyone from reading it to discover the answers that need to be found or simply because this book intrigues you.
June 8, 2023
Worst Book ever. Totally Hinduph0bic.
We Hindus fought for Justice, Finally got Justice after 25 years of Long Struggle, Deaths, Sacrifices, Sufferings etc😭😭that too in our Own Country, Own Land. I can't believe We are getting Killed in Our Own country, The Land where my Hindu Dharma Religion is born(India, Indian-Subcontinent).
M us lims don't deserve Secularism and Toleracnce.
Everyone knows which Religion is Adharmic all across the World. Right from 1990 Kashmir Genocide to 9/11 to 26/11.
Everyone knows which Religion invented Terrorism.
What does I in ISIS stand for?
Salman Khurshid is a Jihadi Terrorist
We Hindus fought for Justice, Finally got Justice after 25 years of Long Struggle, Deaths, Sacrifices, Sufferings etc😭😭that too in our Own Country, Own Land. I can't believe We are getting Killed in Our Own country, The Land where my Hindu Dharma Religion is born(India, Indian-Subcontinent).
M us lims don't deserve Secularism and Toleracnce.
Everyone knows which Religion is Adharmic all across the World. Right from 1990 Kashmir Genocide to 9/11 to 26/11.
Everyone knows which Religion invented Terrorism.
What does I in ISIS stand for?
Salman Khurshid is a Jihadi Terrorist
June 9, 2023
Khurshid's stance on Hindu-Muslim unity and a secular is a most welcome one, but that's it. In my opinion, except this underlying emotion, the interpretation of the judgement, is deeply flawed. What is most sickening and revolting is that Hinduism and Hindutva has been compared to ISIS and Boko Haram and the christian-secular, colonialised perspective this book takes on these same topics. Reminds one of the fake 'saffron-terror' narratives put forward during the 2008 Mumbai attack, which is deeply disturbing.
September 5, 2024
It is a fine book. Very detailed about the case.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews