RAM MANDIR

RAM MANDIR

04.04.17

 

 

I had gone through the article written by Chetan Bhagat( Times of India dated 02/04/17) batting for building of a Ram Mandir at Ayodhya at the disputed site where a mosque stood and was demolished by goons of the Sangh Parivar. The article is basically not worth the paper on which it is written. It is a childish attempt to trivialize a issue whose outcome would have a large scale effect on the future of our republic. It will decide whether we are a civilised society believing in laws and the constitution or a banana republic which runs on whims and fancies and religious sentiments. It will decide whether the country is to be run by majoritarianism dictates which bull dozes the respect and honor of the minority communities and pushes them into second rate citizens. It is clearly not a issue of building a temple. It is a political issue for the Sangh Parivar and a step toward realising the dream of the RSS in making India a Hindu Rashtra. All this talk about Hindu sentiments is a facade to hide the intentions of the right wing Hindutva sections of our society to destroy the cultural harmony of our multicultural heritage. There is no doubt that this Chetan Bhagat is a important link of this network of sick minds who rides the Hindu religious wagon in pursuance of a goal which has nothing to do with development. Nevertheless he has a right to his views no matter how obnoxious it is. In this particular article he has given three arguments against building of the Ram temple ( Though there are many more ) and then proceeds to demolish them. Let us examine his logic ,if there is any, since he relies more on sentiments.

 1. Why disturb the status quo ?

 If you see the video footage of the demolishing of the Babri Masjid any civilized person would be shaken at the goondaism which was openly  perpetuated under the leadership of senior leaders of the BJP. It was a matter of destroying a place of workship. More than that it was intended to hurt the psyche of the Muslim community and to show them their place. Instill in them fear and make them realise that they have no place in this country. It was all pre planned including the plan to say sorry when the mission was accomplished. I don't see any parallel of such brutality against a place of worship anywhere in the world. And please don't quote Pakistan since we are not Pakistan. Saying sorry afterwords  with a glee is like rubbing salt in the wounds. The right thing would have been to build the Masjid again. This would have served the end of justice. The Hindutva right wing instead of repenting for its deeds is now demanding that the Muslims should forget and voluntarily hand over the land for building the temple. First you break their mosque and them have the temerity to ask for handing over the land for building the temple. In the name of harmony between communities !! If tomorrow Mr Chetan Bhagat house is razed to the ground by some land mafia and then they demand the land to be handed over for building a plaza would he agree. Certainly not. He would demand his property to be restored and his house built again. That is what justice demands. But in this case Mr Chetan cleverly circumvents justice by taking the sentimental path. He claims that there is proof that there was a temple below the masjid and Ram was born exactly at the same place. Even the Allahabad High court did not consider this claim while issuing its verdict. There is no historical evidence to substantiate this argument. The Babarnama (Chronicles of Babur) does not mention either the mosque or the destruction of a temple. Tulsidas, who began writing the Ramcharit Manas in Ayodhya on Rama's birthday in 1574 (coming there from his normal residence in Varanasi) mentioned the "great birthday festival" in Ayodhya but made no mention of a mosque at Rama's birthplace. Abu'l-Fazl ibn Mubarak (1551–1602), who wrote Akbarnama, completing the third volume Ain-i Akbari in 1598, described the birthday festival in Ayodhya, the "residence of Rama" and the "holiest place of antiquity", but made no mention of a mosque. The fact is that Ayodhya is the birth place of Lord Rama as ancient books and scriptures mention. To say that that Lord Ram was born exactly where the Babri Masjid stood is mischievous. Ram mandir can be built and that too a grand one at any place in Ayodhya and this would not reduce its majesty or lessen the faith of the believers.

Mr Chetan writes that there are thousands of mosques build over temples by the Mughals. How does Mr Chetan knows this? Has he any evidence or is he fanning communal hatred? This seems to be a veiled threat. Surrender or they may also become target of the Hindutva demolishing squad. It is sad that a educated person who has written books ( Which nobody reads) behaving like a street ruffian. Go one step ahead and he is offering a grand Masjid in lieu of the demolished one. I mean how childish a person can become. Offering toys in return for surrendering ones honour. The contention of Mr Chetan that  this is the demand of all Hindus in India which are nearly 100 crores is entirely misleading. As a Hindu I can vouch that majority of Hindus are secular and respect all religions. They never want a Mandir after breaking a mosque. Their faith just not allows this. After all then what difference will remain between a group of blood thirsty marauders and a civilised,law abiding people. It would be better if Mr Chetan refrain from self appointing himself as the leader of all the Hindus in this country.

 Does it behoves us to dig in the past and come out with bits of information about so called atrocities committed by the Muslims to substantiate our efforts to build a Hindu Rashtra

We are living in the 21st century with a strong and vibrant India. Let us not live in the past and waste our time in trying to restore past glory of bygone centuries. We have to make our future strong by building strong technology and not by building Mandirs on imaginary disputed sites.

 Apart from above Mr Chetan forgets that this is a dispute pending in the Supreme Court. A criminal act has been performed and the culprits have to be punished according to the laws of the land. It is a title dispute and the real owners have to decided. The Muslim community has already given its commitment to abide with whatever decision is given by the court. But Mr Chetan does not want the status quo but wants to usurp the powers of the Highest Court. Perhaps he senses that his case is weak and so he brings in sentiments and faith to strengthen his unfounded claims on the Babri Masjid land. He may please note that only a fascist nation rules by sentiments of the majority. The status quo has to remain till the SC gives its decision.

 2. Build a hospital instead

Yes why not ? Infact this is the most sensible suggestion. Here Mr Chetan just repeat his illogical contention that the Mandir has to be built exactly at the same spot. We have seen above that there is no sustainable evidence that Lord Ram was born there. So a grand Lord Ram Mandir can be built anywhere in Ayodhya. Moreover a Mandir built where a Masjid stood once somehow robs its purity and sanctity. Building a modern hospital in the service of humanity would not only serve a higher purpose but would be a shining example of India's secular credentials.

 3. But God is everywhere , so why here

Here Mr Chetan accepts that there is no proof about Lord Ram birth place. Then what is the hue and cry about ? The matter should have ended. But since Mr Chetan wants to inflame the situation he insist that excavation has shown that there was a temple below. He has at least climbed down from Ram temple exists to only a temple. By the way the many eminent archaeologist have disputed the 2003 ASI report. They have alleged that the report was tailored to suit the claims of the saffron brigade.

" But even well-known archaeologists involved in the excavation are doubtful about the findings. Says Sita Ram Rai, former director of the Bihar Archaeology Department who spent a fortnight during the excavation in Ayodhya: "The ASI has carved pillars out of the excavated floor to draw some inaccurate conclusions.
It has released its report with motivated suggestions and willful omissions, making it clear that its saffronised heart is in the right place." Rai, who was summoned by the Allahabad High Court bench (where the ASI report was opened) to make his observations, said no structure had been demolished before the construction of the mosque.
He and three other archaeologists, who made a detailed study of the method of excavation and the artefacts recovered from the site, believe that there was no temple at Ayodhya. Clearly, neither the VHP nor its vocal supporters are listening. "

It is therefore still disputed that there was a temple below the Babri Masjid. To insist that the Ram Mandir should be built there only is motivated by mischievous designs. By the way what is wrong in stating that God resides everywhere. It seems that Mr Chetan sees God only on that particular spot where Babri Masjid stood. If this is the behavior of a educated person then there is seriously something wrong with our education system. The Hindu always sees God even in a particle. And I assume that Mr Chetan is a Hindu. I mean the right type not the fanatic type.

 In the end I would only add that India is a vibrant multi cultured society encompassing several religions and languages. Those who are creating a rift between communities and trying to impose majoritarianism is doing a great disservice to the nation. They are neither patriots and neither nationalist. They are only rats nibbling away the great pluralistic traditions of this ancient country. Ram mandir has become a tool for retaining political power by such unscrupulous persons. I hope Mr Chetan direct his energies towards more productive purposes. Like learning to write good books so that people start reading them.

Meanwhile just allow Ram mandir to rest till the SC gives its decision in the matter or build a hospital there.

 

ASHOK KUMAR