In a momentous event that marks the culmination of a four-decade-long campaign by Hindu far-right groups, India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi has inaugurated the grand Ram Mandir in Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh. The temple, dedicated to the Hindu God Ram, is built on the land where the 16th-century Babri Masjid mosque once stood until it was demolished by a Hindu nationalist mob in 1992. This act of demolition sparked widespread Hindu-Muslim riots, resulting in the deaths of over 2,000 people, predominantly Muslims.
The roots of the dispute lie in the belief held by Hindus that the mosque was constructed on the site of a temple associated with their deity Ram during the reign of the first Mughal ruler, Babar. Muslims had been offering prayers at the mosque until 1949 when idols were allegedly placed inside by Hindu priests. In 2019, the Indian Supreme Court granted ownership of the land to a Hindu trust, paving the way for the construction of the temple.
The inauguration of the Ram temple is seen by many as a symbol of religious triumphalism, transforming India’s secular democracy into a Hindu-first nation. This development further exacerbates the already polarized political landscape and is likely to benefit the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the upcoming general elections.
The timeline of the Babri mosque-temple dispute is as follows: The Babri Mosque was built by Mughal commander Mir Baqi during the reign of Babur, the first Mughal king. A Hindu sect claims that a temple was destroyed to make way for the mosque. The British colonial administration partitioned the site, allowing Muslims to pray inside the mosque and Hindus to worship in the outer courtyard.
Over the years, the dispute escalated, leading to the formation of a committee by Hindu far-right groups, including the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP), to spearhead the construction of a Hindu temple. BJP leader Lal Krishna Advani played a prominent role in a nationwide campaign advocating for the temple’s construction. This campaign resulted in violence and riots across the country, with Advani’s arrest in Bihar.
In 1992, tens of thousands of Hindus converged in Ayodhya and demolished the mosque, triggering widespread Hindu-Muslim riots. Subsequently, the Liberhan Commission was formed to investigate the incident, and archaeologists conducted a survey to determine the presence of a Hindu temple beneath the mosque. The commission’s report, submitted 17 years after the demolition, held several BJP leaders, including Advani, responsible.
Legal proceedings followed, with the Allahabad High Court ruling that the disputed site should be shared between Hindus and Muslims. However, the Supreme Court suspended this ruling and suggested an out-of-court settlement. Conspiracy charges were revived against top BJP leaders in the mosque demolition case, and the Supreme Court formed a five-judge bench to hear the dispute.
After failed mediation efforts, the Supreme Court commenced day-to-day hearings and eventually ruled that the land should be handed over to a trust to oversee the construction of the Hindu temple, with a separate plot of land awarded to Muslim groups. A 15-member trust, the Shree Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust, was established to manage the temple’s construction and administration.
In the midst of the ongoing construction, Prime Minister Modi laid the foundation stone for the temple and unveiled its plaque. Despite some wings of the temple remaining unfinished, a consecration ceremony was held, featuring prominent figures, Hindu spiritual leaders, and Modi himself. The temple will now be open to the public and devotees.
The inauguration of the Ram temple in Ayodhya marks a significant moment in India’s history, with far-reaching implications for religious harmony, political dynamics, and the future of the country’s secular democracy. The event signals a shift towards a Hindu-first India, raising concerns about the marginalization of religious minorities and the potential for further polarization in the political landscape.
