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THE DEMOLITION AND THE VERDICT AYODHYA AND THE PROJECT TO RECONFIGURE INDIA
Description
The Ram temple issue has been at the epicentre of Indian politics since the mid
1980s. The question–‘mandir or masjid’– dominated political discourse without
an apparent resolution – until the Supreme Court delivered its judgement on 9
November 2019. The 5-member bench in a unanimous verdict gave the ownership
of the 2.77 acres of disputed land to the Ram Janmabhoomi trust, and ordered it
to build a temple on the site. Though an alternative five acres of land was awarded
to the UP Sunni Central Waqf Board to build a mosque to replace the demolished
masjid, the scales were clearly tilted in favour of the Hindu petitioners, and as many
commentators noted, the judges had in effect legitimized what they themselves had
called a ‘criminal act’.
This unprecedented, comprehensive book looks at the key moments in the Ram
Janmabhoomi agitation, from the events of 1949, Rajiv Gandhi’s ‘unlocking of the
gates’ in 1986, L K Advani’s Rath Yatra in 1990, the demolition of the masjid in
1992, culminating in an in-depth analysis of the 9 November judgement. It gives an
objective analysis of the core was the mosque actually built by Babur, and did
there exist a Ram temple?
More importantly, the book examines how the Ram Janmabhoomi agitation
propelled the BJP from being a marginal political party into becoming the dominant
political force today. Mukhopadhyay analyses how politics over the Ram temple
secured support for the militant Hindu nationalistic idea and assesses the road ahead
for India and the long-term implications of the imminent construction of the Ram
temple
The Ram temple issue has been at the epicentre of Indian politics since the mid
1980s. The question–‘mandir or masjid’– dominated political discourse without
an apparent resolution – until the Supreme Court delivered its judgement on 9
November 2019. The 5-member bench in a unanimous verdict gave the ownership
of the 2.77 acres of disputed land to the Ram Janmabhoomi trust, and ordered it
to build a temple on the site. Though an alternative five acres of land was awarded
to the UP Sunni Central Waqf Board to build a mosque to replace the demolished
masjid, the scales were clearly tilted in favour of the Hindu petitioners, and as many
commentators noted, the judges had in effect legitimized what they themselves had
called a ‘criminal act’.
This unprecedented, comprehensive book looks at the key moments in the Ram
Janmabhoomi agitation, from the events of 1949, Rajiv Gandhi’s ‘unlocking of the
gates’ in 1986, L K Advani’s Rath Yatra in 1990, the demolition of the masjid in
1992, culminating in an in-depth analysis of the 9 November judgement. It gives an
objective analysis of the core was the mosque actually built by Babur, and did
there exist a Ram temple?
More importantly, the book examines how the Ram Janmabhoomi agitation
propelled the BJP from being a marginal political party into becoming the dominant
political force today. Mukhopadhyay analyses how politics over the Ram temple
secured support for the militant Hindu nationalistic idea and assesses the road ahead
for India and the long-term implications of the imminent construction of the Ram
temple
- GenresHistory
339 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 15, 2021
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
January 2, 2022
The book gives real insight into the political scenario of the county right from 1949 to 2014 . Further more it also cover every small detail regarding the Ram janmabhoomi - Babrimasjid issue and specially how the whole issue was politicised for the benefit of the few . The book shows the harsh reality on minority suppression and how the independence of the judiciary can be hampered in a few instances . Overall the book is a good detailed and intense read.
June 8, 2022
“From a time when the dominant section of the Hindus was of the view that it was the obligation of the majority to safeguard the interests of the minorities, the view now is that the obligation is on minorities to ensure the sentiments of the majority are not hurt.”
This quote from the book is the crux of what the Ayodhya Ram Mandir issue has done to India. It has changed the course of Indian history. It has done so not just by helping the BJP to come to power at the Centre, but also by altering the mindset of a large number of Hindus in the way spelt out above.
That is why the book, which traces the history of the controversy in minute detail, right from its genesis, is vitally important. The research is staggering, but it was extremely necessary. The author cannot be complimented enough for his meticulous documentation.
It shocked me to discover that the entire ‘Ayodhya movement’, as it is called, was based on lies.
The basis of the movement was that Lord Rama was born at that particular spot where a new Rama temple is now being built, and where the Babri Masjid had stood till it was illegally demolished by a frenzied crowd on December 6, 1992. The main thrust of those supporting the new temple’s construction is that a grand Rama temple had once existed there, but was destroyed by Babar in 1528 to build the Babri Masjid, and thereby assert the dominance of Muslims over Hindus in medieval India. The masjid was thus “the symbol of a past that had to be undone”, and the ‘Hindu rage’ that reduced it to rubble, was entirely justified.
But the author shows, by closely going through all the records available, how the historicity of Rama is extremely doubtful. Even if it is agreed that Hindu ‘belief’ or ‘sentiment’ is more important than whether or not Rama actually existed or had been born at that precise spot in Ayodhya – as the BJP and RSS have insisted – he shows that this ‘belief/sentiment’ is no more than two centuries old.
Archaeological excavations have indeed unearthed evidence that a temple had existed in the area before the Babri Masjid was built there. But the same excavations also established that this temple was made entirely of construction material that was in use four centuries before the Babri Masjid was built in 1528. So the argument that a Rama temple was demolished to build the masjid also falls flat.
Despite the lies, the movement has not only succeeded spectacularly, but also given India a new political direction. The lasting contribution of this book is that it will help to ensure that this truth is not obscured. Coming generations should know how and why India changed.
This quote from the book is the crux of what the Ayodhya Ram Mandir issue has done to India. It has changed the course of Indian history. It has done so not just by helping the BJP to come to power at the Centre, but also by altering the mindset of a large number of Hindus in the way spelt out above.
That is why the book, which traces the history of the controversy in minute detail, right from its genesis, is vitally important. The research is staggering, but it was extremely necessary. The author cannot be complimented enough for his meticulous documentation.
It shocked me to discover that the entire ‘Ayodhya movement’, as it is called, was based on lies.
The basis of the movement was that Lord Rama was born at that particular spot where a new Rama temple is now being built, and where the Babri Masjid had stood till it was illegally demolished by a frenzied crowd on December 6, 1992. The main thrust of those supporting the new temple’s construction is that a grand Rama temple had once existed there, but was destroyed by Babar in 1528 to build the Babri Masjid, and thereby assert the dominance of Muslims over Hindus in medieval India. The masjid was thus “the symbol of a past that had to be undone”, and the ‘Hindu rage’ that reduced it to rubble, was entirely justified.
But the author shows, by closely going through all the records available, how the historicity of Rama is extremely doubtful. Even if it is agreed that Hindu ‘belief’ or ‘sentiment’ is more important than whether or not Rama actually existed or had been born at that precise spot in Ayodhya – as the BJP and RSS have insisted – he shows that this ‘belief/sentiment’ is no more than two centuries old.
Archaeological excavations have indeed unearthed evidence that a temple had existed in the area before the Babri Masjid was built there. But the same excavations also established that this temple was made entirely of construction material that was in use four centuries before the Babri Masjid was built in 1528. So the argument that a Rama temple was demolished to build the masjid also falls flat.
Despite the lies, the movement has not only succeeded spectacularly, but also given India a new political direction. The lasting contribution of this book is that it will help to ensure that this truth is not obscured. Coming generations should know how and why India changed.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews