Ayodhya: The case against the temple

by Koenraad Elst

The present book is my last contribution to the literature on what is known in India as 'communalism', meaning the conflict between the different religions, principally Hinduism and Islam. My first book in this sphere of interest was Ram Janmabhoomi vs. Babri Masjid: A Case Study in Hindu-Muslim Conflict (1990). It served a good purpose, viz. to break the false impression that the world of scholarship including Western Indologists was united in certifying that the Hindu claim to the disputed site in Ayodhya was historically unfounded. In the subsequent years, evidence has been piling up in favour of the Hindu claim. Corning full circle, I have included in this book a compilation of papers on various aspects of the Ayodhya debate written by me between 1995 and 2002. Its main focus is the argumentation and view of Hindu-Muslim history offered by the anti-temple party. In references to the question whether there really was a Hindu temple at the Ayodhya site later covered by the Babri Masjid, the focus is invariably on the case made by the Hindu side, viz. that there was a temple, and that different types of evidence confirm this. The standard question is: is this evidence for the temple demolition scenario valid? Have they succeeded in proving the existence of the temple? By contrast, the opponents of the temple hypothesis are but very rarely asked to put their evidence on the table. The non-temple argumentation is confined to two types of evidence: arguments from silence, and attempts to find fault with pieces of evidence offered by the temple party. Criticism of the pro-temple argument is usually directed against a straw man, not against the actual argumentation as presented by pro-temple scholars. A number of much-acclaimed anti-temple publications bravely announce in the introduction or on the cover that they will demolish every argument given (or 'concocted' and 'maliciously propagated') by the temple party, but then fail to address or even mention the main ...

238 pages, Paperback

Published January 1, 2002

About the author

Flemish writer and orientalist (without institutional affiliation).

Koenraad Elst was an editor of the New Right Flemish nationalist journal Tekos 1992 to 1995 and also contributed to other Flemish seperatist publications like Nucleus, 't Pallieterke, Secessie and The Brussels Journal.

Koenraad Elst is one of the most well-known western writers to actively defend the Hindutva movement.

Reviews

[Ashish Iyer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Everyone should read this book to know the details. This book is quite educating. The author raise several issues and discuss in details.

[Ajay · Rating 5 out of 5]

Those who want to know the the case of Ayodhya temple should read this book.

[Sreehari · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent as always from Koenraad Elst..

[Shikhar Sumeru Writer · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must read handbook to critique the Marxist school of history (which dominates Indian education system).

Concise, pointed and insightful essays on the following topics:
1. Ayodhya Issue : The case of the Anti-temple side : How the "Pro temple" party had a better and more solid case backed by facts from a team of historians and archeologists. But the Anti-temple party had something better - deep pockets and deeper reach in media
2. The allegation on Pushyamitra Shunga of being a Buddhist Prosecutor (Etienne Lamotte - arguably the greatest authority on Buddhism in the West - maintains that Shunga has to be acquitted basis lack of evidence). Was Ashoka a bigger prosecutor of non-Busddhists than Shunga allegedly was of Buddhists? Professor Elst alswers with facts, quotations and logic
3. Is the Bodh Gaya temple (Hindu-Buddhist common worshiping) same as Ayodhya?
4. Harsha of Kashmir - was he a bigger iconoclast than Islamists? Romila Thapar's allegations and their detailed rebuttals.
5. Islamic vandalism of non Islamic places of worship - sanctioned (even encouraged) by Islamic literature
6. Hindus vandalizing Hindu temples - How Dr. Richard Eaton's findings are twisted to absolve Islamic iconoclasm's religious reasons
7. Auranghzeb and Kashi Vishwanath demolition
8. Islamic claim to Ayodhya (and other Hindu places of worship) and why Christians should oppose it
9. Ayodhya and Supreme Court - arguments and counter arguments
10. Whitewashing and window dressing of Islamic history by Irfan Habib and team
11. The Ayodhya evidence debate: A Direct comparison of Cases by Pro and Anti temple parties
12. Critique of Monotheism and possible solution to Islamic problem (and its threat to the world) - Why the model of Indonesian Muslims or En Mass Ghar Vapasi may not be sustainable

In very short words, Dr. Elst presents the above complex topics very lucidly. His biggest asset is his propensity to give evidences, quotations, and facts to make his own case and counter that of others.

A must read crisp compendium of essays if you do not have time to read the detailed critique of Marxist school of history (which dominates Indian education system).

[E.T. · Rating 3 out of 5]

I do not think this book adds much to the better-written 'Ayodhya and After' by the same author.