Mandir Vahin Banega!

I wrote about Ram Mandir/Babri Masjid dispute just before the verdict. Now that the verdict has confirm and a lot of people have given their views, I thought it warrants another post elaborating my own views on the verdict. 

First of all, I commend Supreme Court for giving an unanimous judgement on something which just a few days seemed like an impossible task. Having a clear verdict and not going the way of dividing the land gives hope of lasting peace. The Supreme Court has also done a balancing act of giving away 5 Acres of land within Ayodhya to Muslim party so that no one goes with a feeling of having 'lost the case'. 

However, the final verdict definitely seems to favor the faith of a party over the facts and the laws of the land. This doesn't seem right, but I believe it's for the greater good. Because I am dead sure giving that piece of land to Muslim Party would never bring lasting peace. Babri Masjid was razed, if another mosque would have come up now, ultimately that would have got destroyed too. It sounds harsh and unfair but that's the truth. The honorable judges have given the verdict based on a technicality that Hindu Parties presented their case better than Muslims, but I believe they would have kept this point of lasting peace in mind too. 

But all in all, this verdict seems to be more of a mediation than a final judgement on a title suit. If it had to come to this only, I just wish it could have come much much earlier by mediation between the parties themselves. So much enmity could have been avoided and our collective time and energy would have been saved. 

Asaduddin Owaisi has asked the Muslim community to refuse taking the 'compensatory' piece of land saying that they don't want 'alms' and they can themselves buy another piece if they ever wanted. I partially agree with him and can understand his sentiments. But the fact is, in these communal times people and administration in Ayodhya wouldn't allow a Grand Mosque anywhere near the vicinity of proposed temple. Now, that court has ordered this, one can hope there won't be any more trouble at the probable Mosque place. 

I hope Muslim party take the piece of land that's given to them and build a mosque or any other structure to their liking . They may not like it but asking for judicial review or refusing land will only make them look like 'evil'. 

Court and Govt should also ensure that no such disputes happen for any other place. There are so many places where Muslim structure have come up over Hindu places during Mughal period, but we have much more pressing tasks to take care of in our present rather than trying to correct the wrongs of the past. A lot of bloodshed has already happened over Ayodhya. No more Kashi and Mathura should be 'baaki' now. 

A lot of people have asked this question and I also wonder, what would have been the verdict had the Babri Masjid still been there on the site? Would court have ordered its demolition? If court says that placing of idols and demolition of mosque was an illegal act and a contempt of court, then how come it kinda validates the act by allowing the same parties (or their sympathizers) who did this act the power to build a temple? If razing of mosque was illegal, when will the accused be convicted? 

The coverage of media has been completely biased. Bringing all these Maulanas and Muslim scholars only to be bashed by anchor, the other participants and even  the audience. I was shocked to see that even before the verdict had come a few channels were covering it with Lord Ram's photo prominently on display and Ram Bhajans in the background! Either they knew what the verdict was going to come or they had made up their mind about the the 'right' verdict should be. Media persons can have their preferences but this blatant bias of Media is just not good. 

People have fought like lunatics over this Ram Temple. But if Lord Ram would themselves have been around, I am sure he would have refused such a temple. In any case, as I said at the Starting that Supreme Court has in its flawed but commendable verdict tried to pacify both parties in the hope of lasting peace. I hope that happens. 

All said and then, I will wait for both the Grand Temple and new Mosque to be built now and will visit both of them when I visit my hometown. Jai Shri Ram!

Mandir Vahin Banayenge?

If you live in India and haven't been living in a borewell, then you would know that the verdict on Ram-Mandir/Babri Masjid case will probably come on or before 17 November. Like me you might have also been reading and watching news about how the Govt and the various religious organizations are preparing themselves for the verdict, appealing for peace and appealing for maintaining communal harmony, and how the people of Ayodhya are on their toes, some even leaving their homes, fearing the worse.

This is a very dangerous topic to comment on in public, but I will take my chances. Speaking your mind, even if you are wrong or not with the popular view is very important. And like me you are also entitled for your own opinion and are free to express it, preferably in the comment section. But first hear me out. 

First of all I consider myself an agnostic, and am not an overtly religious kind. I don't muddle with anyone's religious practices and prefer not to comment on it either, because religion is a very private thing. I believe no should come between you and your God, or tell you how you should maintain relationship with your God. 

My only problem lies when someone is forced to participate in any religious procession when they are not inclined to, or if public gets inconvenience due to some else's religious practices. Playing loudspeakers on inhumanly hours for Azaans and Jagrans , the rowdiness of Kanwars etc. are a few good examples of it. So, now when I make a comment on this case, you probably have an idea from where I am coming from.

Here are some of my thougths...

Ram is one of our Hindu Gods and quite popular in Northern India. But I don't think any other God's name has been misused more than Ram. "Ram" is used to get votes, "Ram" is used to incite mob mentality. "Ram" is used to even start riots and justify violence and murder etc. Just have a look into this series and this documentary, which I believe have been made very objectively. If these videos don't show the full side of the picture, please do provide me with other facts. I am always willing to change my mind when presented with new facts and ideas.

But for now, based on above videos, let's be clear that Ram Janmbhoomi is a matter of faith, and has no historical proof (The ASI report only tells there was a Hindu Temple or a structure similar to it, but no evidence on which God ). Where exactly Ram as a human was born, no one can tell. Heck, most of us can't tell exactly where we were born ( in which bed of which room of which hospital?) .  So, if this piece of land has to be given for building a Ram Temple, it would be only to pander the sentiments of the Majority Hindu group. Those same sentiments which have been cleverly and consistently stoked by certain religious organizations for their own gains and purposes.  If Ram Temple was such a big issue, it should have been on national imagination from the starting and not from the late 80s when the infamous Rath Yatras were organized.

I accept Mughals were cruel. I accept they would have done numerous atrocities on the people of that time. I agree numerous temples have been broken under there watch (but no one knows how many). But does this justify hating today's Muslims calling them the descendants of those Muslim Rulers of past? Is it required to break down the structures of those times to ensure we get "justice" ? Well if we do have to do it, then  Britishers didn't do any less atrocities on us and looted our wealth too (Mughals at least didn't take it away). So, why don't we start hating all the historical structures of British period also, let's start with boycotting English language itself!

Let's for a moment consider there really was a Ram Temple there. But still the acts of installing the Ram Idols by breaking locks or pulling down Babri Masjid etc. both against the orders of court, does it really heed well for us as a society or Hindu Culture?  Even after over 25 years of breaking the Babri Masjid no one has been able to make a Temple there and we have to wait for court order only.  Even today's Modi Govt. always mentioning the Ram Temple its manifesto always says let's wait for court order. If we ultimately had turn to courts only for final order then why do contempt of their orders in the first place?

A note to the Muslim community leaders too, especially the ones fighting this case in court. I heard some rumors of an out of court settlement too. I agree bringing down Babri Masjid was a crime and everyone involved in it should get appropriate punishment. But wasn't there any chances of you guys softening your position over these years? Was Babri Masjid even more important than the lives of fellow Hindus and Muslims who have been killed brutally in multiple riots? From the way sentiments have been flamed, I am sure this issue won't stop even if Court gives final verdict in Muslim side favor. I can clearly see that, but why can't you? Yes, it requires sacrifice from your side, but bringing long lasting peace by resolving this issue isn't worth it? If you are afraid this will give impetus to Mandir demands at other places, then why don't you resolve all such issues together, probably asking for Masjid protection at other places in lieu of giving up this title. Yes, you can say that why only Muslims have to make sacrifice, but sometimes we also need to be practical about situations. 

I personally don't care if Ram Temple doesn't get built there (agnostic remember). But if it does get built, it would definitely be huge relief for me. At least we Indians will get over our fixation of this issue and hopefully start caring about more pressing issues like our poverty, climate change, pollution, water scarcity, abysmal infrastructure, poor education, malnutrition, lack of jobs and opportunities etc. Ultimately whatever verdict comes out in this case, I also hope all these religious organizations and Govt etc. actually respect the verdict and even if it needs challenging, it be done within constitutional framework. 

We are going through a delicate phase with the economy being "khatre me" and lots of unemployed frustrated youth waiting for an opportunity to vent out their anger somehow. I hope Lord Ram blesses us with a better senses and cooler heads. More than Ram Temple we need Ram in our temple. Jai Shri Ram!!