Tag Archives: ayodhya

Ram Janma Bhoomi- An Epic Saga

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On the 22nd of January 2024, Ayodhya will resonate with the euphoric chants of ‘Jai Shree Ram.’ The Pran Pratishtha ceremony leading up to the installation of the Ram Lalla idol, followed by the first Aarti will be performed by the Prime Minister-guided by Hindu Pandits- with 7000 special guests invited by the Temple Trust in attendance. The Consecration ceremony will illuminate and reverberate not only across our vast nation but also with millions of devotees across the world

Flashback. In 1885, Mahant Raghubir Das filed the first suit to build a temple on the land adjacent to the mosque. Denied permission by the District Magistrate, Faizabad. In December 1949 a Ram idol was found in the mosque and the faithful started offering prayers. The Indian Government declared the site ‘a contested area’ and locked the gates. The following year permission was granted by the Faizabad Court to conduct pooja for Sri Ram Lalla but only in the minor courtyard with the main gates remaining closed. In 1961, the UP Sunni Wakf Board filed a suit seeking possession of the Babri Masjid and demanding the removal of the Hindu idols.

It was in 1984 that the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) started the Ramjanmabhoomi movement as we know it now. BJP leader Mr LK Advani took the reins of the campaign. In 1986, the Babri Masjid Action Committee (BMAC) was formed as the opposing party. In the meantime, the Shah Bano case made headlines with the Supreme Court (SC) ruling in favour of the elderly, divorced Muslim woman- that she gets monthly maintenance from her re-married husband.  This was contrary to Muslim Personal Law and to appease the conservative elements in the community, the Mr Rajiv Gandhi government with 400+ MPs in the Lok Sabha overturned the SC judgement by amending the law itself.  In this balancing act political drama, the Government in 1986 allowed the Hindus to do Pooja and have darshan after opening the gates. A tipping point of sorts happened in November 1989 when the VHP was permitted to perform Shilanyas (lay foundation stone) near the Masjid.

On to the Rath Yatra led by Mr Advani in September 1990 from Somnath (Gujarat) to Ayodhya ( Uttar Pradesh). The movement mobilised huge public support leading to the 6th of December 1992 – when Hindu karsevaks demolished the Babri Masjid and left behind a makeshift temple. More than 50 of this violent mob were killed in police firings. Communal riots broke out in many parts of the country. More than 900 died in the Mumbai riots of December 1992 and January 1993. Culminating in the deadly Mumbai serial blasts of March 1993, orchestrated by Dawood Ibrahim from Dubai. To control a volatile situation the Congress-led government passed an ordinance to acquire the ‘contested land.’

All the suits related to the Ayodhya land title dispute had been transferred to the Allahabad High Court in 1989. The needle moves to 2003. The Court authorises the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) to excavate the land and give its findings with evidence. The 574-page report was submitted in August 2003. The only public takeaway was that ‘of a very large structure that considerably pre-dated the Babri Masjid’. In September 2010, the Lucknow bench of the Allahabad High Court split the land 3 ways- Ram Lalla Virajman, UP Sunni Wakf Board and Nirmohi Akhara (a Hindu order of warrior saints who managed many temples in the region).

Finally on the 9th September 2019, when a full bench of the Supreme Court of India ordered the Government of India to create a Trust to build the Ram Mandir and to form a Board of Trustees within 3 months. The entire 2.77 acres of disputed land was passed to the custody of the Trust. 5 acres of land was allotted to the UP Sunni Wakf Board at a suitable place within Ayodhya to construct a mosque.

The commonly accepted narrative is that the first Mughal Emperor Babur ordered the demolition of the Ayodhya temple in 1528 and got the Masjid built on its ground,( hence the Babri Masjid). During the arguments in the SC a reference to Babur’s visit to Ayodhya (as mentioned in Baburnama- a book by Babur) was brought up. However, the Advocate for the opposing side clarified that 2 pages of the Baburnama were missing (whether about the Ayodhya temple remains unclear). Kishore Kunal, former IPS officer, in his book ‘Ayodhya Revisited’, is of the firm opinion that the temple was not destroyed in 1528 but in 1660 by Fidayi Khan, a governor appointed by Emperor Aurangzeb. This timeline seems to be in sync with the accounts of English travellers William Finch (1608-11) an English merchant with the East India Company (EIC) and Captain William Hawkins (EIC Ambassador) who both landed in Surat in August 1608 and spent more than 2 years at Emperor Jahangir’s court. Finch visited the fort in Ayodhya where Hindus believed Lord Ram was born and mentions it in his accounts. Hawkins also refers to the sacred town of Ayodhya in his travelogues (William Foster’s book “ Early Travels in India’- accounts of 7 English travellers in India).

Perhaps, most significantly, Austrian Jesuit missionary Joseph Tiefenthaler suggests in his works that the Ram temple was demolished by Aurangzeb. This European geographer came to India in 1743 and visited Ayodhya in the 1760s.’ He refers to a particularly famous spot called Sita Rasoi- or table of Sita- the revered wife of Shri Ram. He states that Aurangzeb demolished the fortress and erected a mosque in its place to prevent heathens from practising their ceremonies. However, they have continued to practice their religious ceremonies knowing that they have been to the birthplace of Ram by going around it 3 times and prostrating on the ground. On the left is a square box called Bistar palana (cradle) where Ram (Vishnu) and his 3 brothers were born. In the month of Chaitra, a large number of people gather together to celebrate the birthday of Ram, extremely popular throughout India.’

The Ayodhya Kanda Recitation was recorded in writing by Mr Robert Montgomery after the 1857 Uprising or Mutiny as he calls it. He was the Chief Commissioner of Oudh or Avadh in 1858-59.

In 1975-76 Mr B B Lal, Director General ASI and his team started excavating the Archaeology of Ramayana- Ayodhya, Bharadwaj Ashram, Nandigram, Chitrakoot, Shringverapur In his 2008 book, ‘Rama- His Histrocity, Mandir and Setu’ he states that ‘attached to the piers of the Babri Masjid there were 12 stone pillars which carried not only typical Hindu motifs and mouldings but also figurines of Hindu deities. It was self-evident that the pillars were not an integral part of the Masjid but were foreign to it.’ Another eminent archaeologist Mr K K Muhammed who was part of the team reveals in his book, “An Indian I Am” that he found the remains of the temple on the western side of the mosque. The 12 pillars were constructed with Hindu symbolism including Ashtamangala signs (8 auspicious objects as per Hindu practice and astrology.) They also found terracotta figurines of humans-men and women- and animals.’ Mr Muhammed clearly states that ‘his findings were suppressed by Marxist historians like Prof Irfan Habib who was very powerful and influential with the Indian Council of Historical Research and with many leading newspapers’. Irfan Habib and his powerful supporters even spread the lie that Mr KK Muhammed had not been a part of the ASI excavation team at Ayodhya. This coterie also went all-out to tarnish the image of the ASI after they submitted their 2003 report to the Allahabad High Court. In the early 1980s also the ASI was under tremendous pressure to play down and not to reveal the excavation findings. Recommend that you read Mr Muhammed’s book as a tribute to his passion, courage and integrity as a professional and to learn about his other interesting digs and excavations.

The Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) clan led by Irfan Habib had 25 influential intellectuals including Dr Romila Thapar. They hyped up the narrative that the legendary Ayodhya of the Ramayana was a purely mythical city and was not the same as present-day Ayodhya. However, they fumbled with the name Saket which historically is one and the same as Ayodhya. Their overwhelming influence with the powers that be and the Sunni Wakf Board ensured that there could not be any out-of-court compromise solution as some moderate Muslim leaders recommended. Former Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) Chancellor Lt General (Retd) Zameeruddin Shaikh said that the Muslims should take the initiative of handing over the land to the Hindus and facilitate a harmonious out-of-court settlement. In November 2019, before the Supreme Court judgement the then AMU Chancellor and Professor Tariq Mansoor cautioned the students against false propaganda. They should accept the decision of the highest court with maturity, respect and restraint.

The Nay-Sayers and Obstructionists were in for a shock when during the demolition of the Masjid in 1992, 3 inscriptions on large stones were found. The most important was the Vishnu-Hari inscription of 20 lines in the Nagari script on a 1.10m by 0.56m stone. Shri Ajay Shastri, Chairman of the Epigraphical Society of India examined the inscriptions and observed, ‘Line 15 clearly tells us that a beautiful temple of Vishnu-Hari built with heaps of stones and beautified by golden spires, unparalleled by any other temple built by earlier kings was constructed. This wonderful temple was built in the temple city of Ayodhya situated in the Saketmandala ( Saket district). Line 19 describes God Vishnu as destroying Bali and the 10-headed personage.’ Prof Meenakshi Jain again exposes Irfan Habib who first dismissed the inscription as from a private collection and then alleged that it was stolen from the Lucknow museum and surreptitiously placed at the site. In fact, the Lucknow museum inscription was the ‘Tretha ka Thakur’ one –another Ayodhya temple demolished at Aurangzeb’s orders. The Director of the Lucknow Museum refuted the canard spread by Habib and displayed the inscription in the custody of the museum.

After the Supreme Court judgement, it was decided by the Sunni Wakf Board and the Management Committee that the mosque would be constructed on a 5-acre land at Dhannipur, around 25 km from the temple. It will be named after the Holy Prophet of Islam- Mohammed Bin Abdullah Masjid. Top clerics from several countries would be invited including the Honourable Imam, who leads the prayers at the Grand Mosque of Mecca. It will be the largest mosque in India and will have the world’s biggest Quran- measuring 21ft high and 36ft wide.

It is imperative to see the Ram Janmabhoomi saga in the global context. In 2020, the Erdogan-led government in Turkiye converted the famous UNESCO-declared heritage site and cultural museum, Hagia Sophia, into a mosque. It had earlier been a Christian Orthodox Church and Mosque and a Museum since 1934. The Icons of the Virgin Mary and the Infant Christ were covered by fabric curtains. Since 2017, the authoritarian Chinese Communist Party has destroyed or closed down hundreds of mosques in Xinjiang province (North-West) and Ningxia and Gansu provinces in the North – where the majority of the Muslim populace live. Total silence from our Comrade intellectuals. Going back to 1490- the Spanish Crown ordered all the Muslims to convert to Christianity. Over the next 100 years 3 million Muslims fled from Spain to North Africa. The last of the Moors adhering to Islam were expelled in 1610. The Iconic Cathedral of Cordoba, dedicated to Santa Maria, had been a mosque till the 13th century. Unfortunately, world history is replete with such events. Hark back to the cautionary words attributed to Spanish-American philosopher George Santayana,’ those who don’t learn from history are doomed to repeat it.’ Discussion, Reconciliation and even some Compromise may be the only way out through difficult, divisive situations.

So on the 22nd of January, Ayodhyanagari will rejoice to the traditional sound of the conches and bells; the melodious bhajans and kirtans; the overwhelming fragrance of fresh flowers and incense. At night time, there will be thousands of lamps on the banks of the river Sarayu. In the months after the temple inauguration, around 1 lakh pilgrims each day are expected at Ayodhya.  Hotels, Hostels and homestays will be full to capacity and beyond. Buses and cabs will be on demand 24/7. Restaurants will have stand-and-eat tables and nukkad chai shops will struggle to keep pace with the relentless sipping of the beverage. Flower sellers and general merchants will be constantly stocking up their wares. The ancient town of Ayodhya, whilst retaining its spiritual core, will transform into a bustling city with a classic airport and railway station and with all the amenities.

The economic boom will be humongous for lakhs of local people in the city and the neighbourhood- transcending religion and communities.

India Positive

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Photo by Naveed Ahmed on Unsplash

Rainbow Nation was a phrase coined by Archbishop Desmond Tutu to describe post-apartheid South Africa after the 1994 elections as the country peacefully and remarkably transitioned into a democracy.  This was to bolster the blending of diverse cultures and traditions to create a colorful and vibrant society. India with its huge geography and 140 crores + population defies any such paradigm. Just consider this. 122 languages adding up to 234 including dialects. Hindi is said to be spoken by a major segment of the populace. If you count dialects like Awadhi and Bhojpuri… and even the tapori slang of the Mumbaikars and the Hyderabadi lingo’s twist and flavor. 6 recognized religions (Christianity, Islam) & including 4 great faiths born in India- Hinduism, Sikhism, Buddhism, and Jainism. Add the small Parsee community of Zoroastrian tradition and Jews who sought refuge in India from persecution elsewhere. An ancient civilization that dates back to 6000-7500 years ( historian Tim Dyson).

Today’s India has truly started to churn as a melting pot. This cultural acceptance is being fostered by the job opportunities and economic interdependence of ordinary Indians which has led to mass relocations, which in turn is driving the wheels of commerce. Travel and tourism have led to millions of Indians discovering new sub-cultures and traditions and even taking a liking to their food and apparel habits. INDIA POSITIVE- a story not following the script of the divisive politicians and their acolyte media influencers.     

Food for Thought. Whether the sweet delicacy Rasgulla originated in Puri as an offering to Lord Jagannath or in the State of Bengal does not really matter; as also whether the original recipe of Sambhar can be traced to the royal kitchens of Maratha ruler Sambhaji Maharaj or is a Southern India concoction as considered today. Whether the famous Idli dish originated in Tamil Nadu or Karnataka or as Kedli by the cooks of the Indonesian Hindu kings more than 1000 years ago also does not matter. Today be it Punjabis, Gujaratis and Bengalis are drooling over some delicious variants of the Idli & Sambhar or the Dosa, Uthappam, or Appam. The Rasgulla is a must at large corporate events and weddings as a preferred dessert. The Lucknawi or Hyderabadi servings of the biryani or kebab are hot-sellers across the country. The Chola Bhatura, Aloo Paratha, and Rajma Chawal from up North are the stuff of thousands of Swiggy orders every day down South. The Bengali Doi Maach, Goan, and Kerala fish curries are culinary bestsellers. The very thought of farsan items like the Dhokla Khaman virtually transports us to Gujarat as does Daal-Baati-Churma to Rajasthan.  The delicious Momo –a staple in Leh-Ladakh, Sikkim, and Arunachal Pradesh – has spread its food-print all over.  A visit to Indore is not complete if you do not sample the fare at Chhapan Bhog (the 56 eateries’ food lane) or taste the night offerings at the Sarafa bazaar.

During a recent visit to Chennai, I was struck by the number of Tea Shop chains across the city- Chai Kings, Chai Waala, and Chai Galli. Although the aroma of filter coffee still fills the metropolis the young Chennai crowd is having their sips of the other beverage also. A young woman from Chattisgarh was attending the order desk and language was hardly a barrier in handling local customers and the delivery boys. At one such crowded joint, I noticed the ubiquitous Mumbai fast food Vada Pav selling like hot cakes.

During a 2-day hotel stay in Chennai, I learned that the Supervisor and the entire Housekeeping staff were from Tripura. Disciplined, polite, and making an honest living a long way away from home. At a reputed South Indian restaurant chain, the entire waiter service staff was from Bihar and spoke the Maithili dialect. One of them told me that he had been working for them for the last 5 years and that he and his buddies were decently looked after.  Other than the specialities the restaurant is known for they had expanded the Menu items to Naan, Paneer Kulcha, and Rajma Chawal. For me, Chennai is the Bellwether of cultural shift and change.

More than 13 million domestic tourists have visited the Kashmir valley this year with 3 months of the season still to go. The hotels and guest houses are full as are the cabs, buses, and Shikaras.  Some of my friends who have returned after a memorable vacation are not just full of the beautiful scenery but also about the warm hospitality from the locals. Travel is good education. It changes perspectives and dismisses prejudices. The North East is now firmly on the Indian traveler’s map and as I have been there multiple times it is an experience to cherish. The backwaters of Kerala, the coffee hills of Coorg, the beaches of Goa and Puducherry, the wildlife sanctuaries, and the tranquil spots of Himachal and Uttarakhand are already attracting hordes. The less visited spots of the tribal hills of Araku (Andhra Pradesh) or the lush forests, icy lakes, and monasteries of Sikkim will soon turn into attractive tourist destinations. Odisha will not remain “ India’s best-kept secret’ for long and with the Governments of Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and Gujarat putting their weight behind scaling up the tourism economy good times are ahead for the tent stay in the Rann of Kutch, the Jaisalmer desert festival and the Kanha Tiger Reserve Park. The younger generation is on the move and they are seeing and finding the Real India. Their passion for long trips by car or bike and for trekking and adventure sports is a good omen.

When one does the ‘Matha Tekna’ at the Golden Temple in Amritsar one is bowing down to show respect to the message of the Gurbani. Then there is the heart-warming concept of the Langar. In Sikhism, the Langar is the community kitchen of the Gurudwara which serves free meals to all irrespective of caste, creed, gender, or economic status. During the Covid lockdown, the Langar was God sent for lakhs of migrant workers and the jobless and the destitute. Putting a Chadar at the Ajmer Sharif Dargah is on the wish list of millions of Indians cutting across faiths.  The Sufi saint and philosopher Moinuddin Chisti is celebrated in the A R Rahman song,’ Khwaja Mere Khwaja’ in the 2008 film ‘ Jodha Akbar’.  The Sai Baba temple at Shirdi attracts millions of devotees every year and is second only to the multitudes that pay respects at the Lord Balaji temple at Tirupati. Just imagine the seismic effects when the Ayodhya temple of Shri Ram is opened to the public. Crores of faithful will line up for darshan. But it will also do wonders for the local and neighborhood economy and will serve the Greater Good. The Buddhist and Jain circuits in Bihar are testimony to India’s rich spiritual heritage. A look at the beautiful paintings at the Jain temple in Mount Abu or the pristine sculpture work at the Meenakshi temple in Madurai gives us a glimpse of who we are as a people. The St Thomas Church in Palayoor Kerala is believed to have been established by the Saint himself as far back as 52AD. The celebration of Merry Christmas in India is not confined to the lighted-up and decorated churches and the Midnight Mass. That Santa Claus caps and little glittering Christmas trees are sold at the city traffic lights a week before the Big Day speaks of the festive spirit which has taken over.

The Soft Power of Indian films, music, and dance has reverberated across Asia, Africa, the Middle East, South America, and Europe and is now making waves in North America. Dangal has been a huge blockbuster in China. The ‘Naatu Naatu’ dance sequence from RRR has captivated the world. But now in India Bollywood no longer rules the roost. Bahubali 1 & Bahubali 2 did huge business in the original Telugu and other South Indian languages but the Hindi dubbed versions broke all box-office records. Paving the way for the big success of Pushpa & RRR (Telugu) & KGF & Kantara (Kannada) in the Hindi heartlands.  Southern stars like Yash, Prabhas & Vijay Deverakonda are now well accepted and applauded by Hindi film audiences. So much so that many Bollywood biggies do not release their films when a mega South film is about to hit the cinema theatres. The Covid lockdown and the streaming channels also have played a big role in the breakdown of these regional film barriers. Audience tastes are now conditioned to the quality content and performances from Malayalam, Tamil, Bengali, and Marathi films.  Tumbbad is a stellar example of a classic Marathi movie. Vijay Sethupathi (Tamil) and Fahadh Faasil (Malayalam) have developed a fan following of their own beyond South India. I was not surprised when on a trip to Kochi I saw a corporate gathering at a hotel grooving to the beats of ‘Zingaat’ (Sairat, a Marathi blockbuster). Nor was I surprised when I saw baraatis at a traditional Maharashtrian wedding in Pune doing the rousing Bhangra. People are now opening up to other cultural influences.

 Rabindra Sangeet strikes a popular chord much beyond Bengal with its distinctive rendition whilst singing. But the music is a fusion of Bengali folk music, Carnatic music, Hindustani classical music, and the occasional Western note. Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore created a pan India scores much before Independence. More than 100 years later we are still understanding the notes.

For the last 2 decades, many of India’s top cricketers have come from India’s smaller towns. Dhoni (Ranchi), Jadeja (Jamnagar), Shami (Saharpur-UP), and Bhuvaneshwar Kumar (Meerut) to name a few. India’s most popular sport is no longer about the metros. And for the fervent fan of the Men in Blue, it does not matter if the winning runs are scored by Kohli, Gill, or Sanju Samson or if Mohd Siraj or Ashwin wins the match with the ball. That a man from Jharkhand is anointed as Thala (Leader) by the Chennai Super Kings fans and is embraced as one of their own is a potent, emotional story. Mr. Naveen Patnaik’s Odisha government sponsoring and supporting both the men’s and women’s hockey teams has resonated well with sports buffs across India.  These impactful undercurrents are not restricted to big sports. A Pro Kabbadi League (an indigenous sport with the scent of our desi soil) was launched in 2014 and attracts full stadiums and a good viewership on Star Sports. It has brought into prominence Indian stars like Maninder Singh from Dasuya, Punjab; Nitin Tomar from Malakpur in UP; Kashiling Adake from Sangli, Maharashtra. Plus professionals from countries like Iran & South Korea. Times are changing.

The gender barrier is falling on all fronts. Sticking to the sports narrative we have medal-winning woman wrestlers from conservative Haryana. Mary Kom (Boxer- Manipur) & Deepika Kumari (Archer from Jharkhand) who both have tribal backgrounds are now pan-India sporting ICONS. Mary Kom has had a successful Bollywood film made about her life and achievements. PV Sindhu & Saina Nehwal (Badminton) and Sania Mirza (Tennis) are household names and brand ambassadors for many products and services. Earlier this year the lucrative and glamorous Indian Premier League for women’s cricket was launched and the first season had good audiences and good TV ratings. Some of the Indian women cricketers are already celebrities on social media.  Top women corporate and business leaders are no longer outliers; many successful start-ups are being driven by women entrepreneurs. It’s still a work in progress but with the tipping point in the not-too-distant future.

In a sense, this can be seen as the quiet confluence of India’s mighty rivers, criss-crossing across our vast land. The Brahmaputra, the Ganga, the Indus, the Narmada, the Godavari, the Tapti, the Krishna, and the Cauvery and their tributaries flow into and merge into the other with the mythical and hidden Saraswati beneath the surface. A myriad of sub-cultures reach out to understand, appreciate, and live with each other. This is not wishful thinking, being naïve, or misplaced idealism. The story of India Positive-around the Idea of India-is not making any headlines but has started happening. It is gradually enriching and reinforcing the national ethos. Just let people be.