MY THOUGHTS ON THE AYODHYA VERDICT ON IT'S EVE

MY THOUGHTS ON THE ‘THE AYODHYA VERDICT’ ON IT’S EVE

  I see the clock in my room, it shows 10.10 PM. Means another less than 17 hours remaining for the THE BIG BIG VERDICT, - The Ayodhya Verdict, for which the people have waited for the last 60 years. The entire Nation, crores and crores of people, cutting across economic classes and religio-cultural groupings are eagerly and impatiently awaiting this decision to be delivered by The Lucknow bench of the Allahabad High Court at 3.30 PM tomorrow that is 30^th September, 2010 the Thursday.

The Entire Movement surrounding Ayodhya - the demand by the Hindus for the liberation of the birth place of Lord Rama, from the construction of a Mosque made arguably on the commands of the Mughal Emperor – Babar somewhere in 1526 AD, is clear and vivid in my memory and in the memories of many a people of my age group and my seniors. The emotions it evoked among the devout and zealot Hindus, in the late 80s and early 90s, many times, almost bordered on Fanaticism, and being enforced with elements of Fundamentalism and strong anti-Muslim hatred. Whatever justification the Sangh Parivar and other elements of the Saffron Brotherhood may give for this aggressive movement which culminated in the demolition of the Babri Mosque, but the fact remains that it was the single largest Mobilisation of the Hindus for Hinduism, and this Communal Storm created serious problems for India as a whole, and in particular the relations between the Hindus and the Muslims got seriously strained.

THE ANALYSIS -:  Long Before the Demolition and the controversy, the Babri structure was a unique religious spot. It was a functioning temple housed in the structure of a mosque. The Idols of Lord Rama existed inside the Mosque and puja was performed there. To use IT savy language, It was the Software of a Temple housed inside the Hardware of a Mosque. No namaz was being read inside and long back it was also known as Masjid-E-Janmsthan (The Mosque of the Birthplace (of Lord Rama)). Thus it symbolized the Unique Hindu-Islamic syncretic form of worship. It is this fact which the High Court must keep in serious consideration.

WHAT THE VERDICT OUGHT TO BE LIKE (AND POSSIBLY IT WILL BE LIKE THIS) -: Hindus have a claim over this spot of land, for as a matter of faith, it is the Birthplace of Lord Rama, the Hindu God of epitome of Idealism. Certain Archaelogical works and other clues hint at this. However Muslims have a claim over this spot, which is as strong, if not stronger than that of Hindus’. It is not clearly proved whether a temple existed there about approx 500 years ago or not, but certainly there was a mosque for so many years. The Court must restore the pre-1992 status there, it can do these-:

1)      Build a Mosque like structure which would house Lord Rama idols and Hindus would have the right to do puja there. Certain level of Muslim Ownership would be allowed, like they can say prayers on some special occasions.

2)      Build both Mosque and Temple, but with a little bit favour towards Muslims, like the Mosque can be built at the exact spot where it stood and temple can come up a little away.

3)      This small little preference to Muslims, because they have suffered in the entire episode and Hindu organizations have acted against them with aggression, thus with a sense of retribution. We got to see the picture in it’s totality.

4)      Basically the New Construction should reflect the Syncretic Hindu-Muslim, Ganga-Jamuna Tehzeeb (Culture), the heritage of Nothern India.

5)      Or it can be any other solution, but the basic intent should be that both Hindu Mahasabha and Sunni Wakf Board are given joint ownership of the land and then they decide how to go about it, but basically it should satisfy both, reclaim the Muslim Mosque and restore the Hindu Devotion on the Birthplace of Lord Rama. Indeed, Lord Rama, Maryada Purushottam, would be the happiest if HE SEES THE MARRIAGE OF HINDUISM AND ISLAM TAKING PLACE ON HIS BIRTPLACE.

(WRITTEN BY NISHKARSH PANDEY BETWEEN 10.10 PM AND 11.15 PM ON 29^TH SEPTEMBER 2010)

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