The Holy Land

Saturday, February 24, 2007
The Holy Land
The Holy Land?
The Mandir-Masjid issue, as it is better known, has been the focal point of India’s internal religious flare ups time and again, since we found our place on the world map as a nation, and before.
The Babri Masjid
The Babri Masjid was built in Ayodhya, sometime in the 16th century AD, by the first Mughal emperor, Zahir ud Din Babur. There have been a number of mosques built by Babur, and many other Muslim rulers of the country. Many a times, the construction of these mosques, had a history of razing down structures, which stood in those places before. These structures were often places of worship of people of other faiths, especially the Hindus.
The Babri Masjid is said to have a similar history. One would then wonder, why the sensitivity?
Ram Janma Bhoomi
The Hindu epic Ramayan has in it that, Ram, the reincarnation of the Hindu god Vishnu, was born in Ayodhya, to the then ruler of the kingdom, Dashrath. Ram was also the ruler of Ayodhya thereafter. His status in the Hindu religion is nothing less than that of lord Vishnu himself. Ayodhya thus, is called Ram Janma Bhoomi, or simply Ram’s birthplace.
The issue
The Babri Masjid is said to have been built, by razing down a temple dedicated to Ram, which, as legend has it, stood at the very place where Ram was born.
The hard line Hindus have ever since, protested the construction of the mosque, and have advocated the demolishing of the same, and the rebuilding of another Ram temple there.
The same has been a reason for many inter-communal riots, ever since the building of the mosque, some four hundred years ago.
The Hindu hard liners finally had it their way in 1992. On December 6 1992, these Hindu hard liners, entered the mosque premises in hordes of thousands, and did what Babur’s men did four hundred years ago. They demolished the structure, as the law enforcement and government of the world’s largest democracy watched in a dangerous silence, which would be the reason behind some of the bloodiest days the country would witness in the future.
I personally believe, that such an incident might have been acceptable four hundred years ago. But, it is does put serious question marks on as to whether we, have changed at all since.
This just showed how, we Indians knew the meaning of democracy to such a profound depth, that we could abuse it to its fullest.
It just showed, how we Indians believed so strongly in “freedom of expression”, that the nine letter word democracy, would justify actions, which would put to shame, those of some of the world’s most despotic regimes. The riots and backlashes that followed have only strengthened my opinion on this further.
This incident has left a permanent scar on both communities. It has been a catalyst to the production of the home grown Indian Jihad.
The fire still rages in the form of a question, as to whether there should be a Ram Mandir built on the Ram Janma Bhoomi, or, should there be the restoration of the mosque. The solutions presented till date, have not been unanimously acceptable. The Hindus and Muslims in India are Indians, and share the same psyche. They also share the same trend of not evolving mentally over the past four hundred years at least, as is seen in our unfortunate history.
So the question Gautam asks here is, that what is the guarantee that a religious structure built here, would not be demolished in the future, by our people? Can the government assure the people who build it, that they won’t be mute spectators to another abuse of our freedom of expression by us?
Gautam’s final solution
I have not got a “yes” for an answer to any of the above questions.
In such a case, I believe, my solution would ensure an end to this long drawn dispute over a land, which I would love to consider holy.
No Mandir, no Masjid, build a state-owned Cancer/ AIDS research institute, coupled with a hospital, over this land and return its sanctity.
The effects of such a step, if any, would only heal these wounds.
They would only show, to our generations to come, that it took us four centuries alright, but we learnt….
Gautam Ramaswamy (Viperov)
7:14:01 PM
Posted By Gautam Ramaswamy Comments (3) Politics
Comments
rationalbeing Saturday, February 24, 2007 7:30:05 PM
hindu hard liners including the congress all are responsible,it is true that we are all indian but look at the so called secularist parties who tell about minority and majority,also they are involved in pampering of minorities for their votebank,if you speak anything for hindu u r communal,but if u speak for minority u r secular.we should not allow babri masjid demolition as well as the pseudo secularist mindsets which are also dangerous for country's harmony
viperov Saturday, February 24, 2007 7:39:26 PM
To keep this matter as far from religion and politics is what I am suggesting. That is the only way out. I am not talking about our political parties at all. It is in the country's best interst to keep them ALL out of this....Viperov
K.Venugopal Saturday, February 24, 2007 9:16:19 PM
Dear Gautam, I find your blog thought-provoking. As I could not paste my comments here, I have written a separate blog "As in Mecca, so in Ayodhya." Please read.

viperov Sunday, February 25, 2007 5:44:17 AM
Dear Mr. venugopal,I have been looking for your blog, with little luck. Could you guide me in the same, as I am new to the whole concept of blogging. I believe, a link should do the job.Thanks a mil,Viperov
K.Venugopal Sunday, February 25, 2007 3:44:16 PM
Blog was posted on Saturday February 24 at 9:27:33 PM.