A Black Day Revisited
Today 6th Dec, is a black day (a real black one...indeed) in the history of india. On this very date, 14 years ago a historical monument (about 300 yrs old) was grazed to dust. The monument I am talking about is called Babri Masjid. It was alleged that about 300 yrs ago, the same place where the Babri Masjid was standing, a Ram temple was present. This Ram temple was destroyed and upon which the Babri Masjid was built, by the then Babur`s commander in chief Mir Baki.
This was not a concern at all for the people of India as they lived in harmoniously for the next 300 yrs. Then an important event occured in the Indian History, the freedom from the British Raj. An event which was marked by huge bloodshed, due to the partitioning (the causes for which are still not publically known, but a large debate rages on). Many parties mushroomed up for control of state and centre, in the due course of time. These parties started playing on casteism too. They began to garner votes by saying they represent a particular caste. They plied on the innoced minds and began to influence them as to what should be done.
This led to the Babri Masjid issue being revisted. People dont know exactly what led them to think that this very place was a place where a Ram temple stood 300 yrs ago. These parties, with vested interests, mesmerized people saying that the Mosque must be demolished and in that very same place, a Ram temple must be built. A very big politician, who could not come to power for very long time, thought this could be his truimph card to the throne, instituted a Yatra (a walk to garner support). And many people, mainly the uneducated, who were duped by him into joining the rally. This ultimately led a very large gathering of people who were bent on destroying the mosque and in its place to build a temple.
This culminated in the destruction of the mosque on 6th Dec, 1992. This incident is still freshly etched in people`s mind. So, what if there was a temple there previously? There are many other places where we can go and pray. It doesnt mean that there has to be a temple at the same place, only where we can offer our prayers to god. Our Hindu religion is the only one which allows of acceptance. Its main goal is the philosophy of oneness, without any violence. Fanatism does not have any place in original scripts of the Hindu religion. The political power game played by them lead to the destruction of an age old monument.
As, we dwell on the past, which has occured and cannot be changed. The people of India, arise above the petty politics. This can be only done by education, which is still a distant dream to many. The politicians dont want to educate the masses fearing questioning and also jeopardising their position as the saviour of the people.
Let this incident be etched in people`s mind, for to which amount can politicians corrupt minds of the people. The monument was an architectural beauty which was lost forever.
Finally, god is in everybody`s heart. A shrine is a congregation of like minded people so that they can share their insights. It can be even in our own homes.
posted by Arun Narasimhan @ 10:08 PM
4 Comments:
Every country had its own share of religious conflict, that has been fuelled by the shrewd politician for there own personal benefit.
As its so well known that Religion is the opium for the common masses, which is always exploited by every powerfull man.
So i personally believe there is never going to be and end to such violence, untill we have such people on top brass.
Manu, this conflict can be only resolved by educating the people. The world is growing into a smaller place with lots of interaction between the people of various nations. But we educated ones are not doing anything in that regards. We are abstaining from voting also. Something must be done.
I agree, it did not matter as long as it was a place of worship. Growing up in the western suburbs of Bombay (Mumbai). We had an ancient shiva temple temple (sorta inside a cave and in ruins) and a church had been built sharing the same wall on the side.
The talk was that the church was built on the temple land demolishing part of the Shiva temple. In my 23 yrs of growing up, we saw that the Church fair and the Mahashivaratri take place on the same grounds and with the same zest.
It all lies in the minds of teh beholder on what we choose to see, a harmony between the temple and church authorities or the know how on how the churh came to exist there
I completely agree with the comments of "An Iengar Chick ....". All this is a complete exploitation by the politicians, who are turning people away from the main issues in hand by creating a diversion with which they can play the dirty game of politics.
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