The occasion of the groundbreaking ceremony for the establishment of a grand temple for Lord Sri Ram in Ayodhya on Wednesday, 5th of August engrossed all the news channels and social media all day long. Though the incident can be interpreted in various ways, it was initially considered to bring all the Indians within the same umbrella and what they conclude from it.
The Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi along with UP Governor Anandiben Patel, Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh Yogi Aditya Nath, and others performed Bhumi Pujan. No religious leaders were included except the nine priests. Guest lists had to cut to avoid social gatherings due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“I am grateful to the Trust for inviting me here”-said Narendra Modi.
But not surprisingly a storm of controversy was swirling around the country even before the ceremony. One view is that rising a Ram temple in Ayodhya which is also the birthplace of Lord Sri Ramchandra signifies the end of all oppression on the Hindus. On the other perspective, it can be a new phase of political ascendency that may curtail the theory of secularism. Some parts of cybernauts believe that it is completely misused of money during this crisis but some have conceded as the historical revolution even after decades.
Ayodhya dispute is not an unknown fact for all citizens. This was started in the year 1527, the reign of the Mughal emperor, Babur constructed the Babri mosque in Ayodhya, located on the banks of the river Saryu.
In Hindu mythology, the city of Ayodhya is the birthplace of Sri Ramchandra. The Archaeological Survey of India stated that the Babri mosque was built on the land of non-Islamic structures and from where the problem arose. There were several cases filed by both Hindus and Muslims against each other. Even the British rulers tried to settle down the issue by dividing the land but all went in vain. In 1949, the Hindu Mahasabha placed an idol of Ram inside the Babri mosque, after which the Indian government ceased the building to avoid a further clash.
Lastly, in 1992, the 6th of December a group of Hindu activists (Kar sevaks) who were belonging to Hindu Mahasabha showed their brutality and demolished the Babri mosque and pushed the whole country towards Hindu-Muslim riots. The aftermath of the Babri mosque demolition was distressing for the Indians. Religious hatred was not only confined in Ayodhya, but it was unfurled over the country. Thousands of people died in that violence.
From the year 1980, the Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) set out for a campaign for the construction of Ram temple in Ayodhya but that was executed on Wednesday after so long period.
Novel coronavirus has spread all across the world which affected India massively. Social distancing can be the only to stop the transmission of coronavirus. The scientists are sinking their brains to discover vaccines.
The Indian economy has already broken down due to worldwide lockdown.
Standing in this vulnerable condition, the inauguration of Ram temple in Ayodhya may wash out all the hatred of the before ages and the beginning of a new, harmonious era.
According to the Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the construction of Ram temple in Ayodhya is the logical outcome of the Supreme Court verdict. The temple itself manifested the various possibilities soon. And the government must look forward to developing a modern democratic and secular country leaving behind all the religious issues.
Citing Lord Sri Ram’s quote, Narendra Modi said powerful India gets, the more it will be loved and peaceful.
“social harmony was the core principle of Lord Ram’s governance,”- he added.
-Saswati Chattopadhyay.