December 6 in Indian history is known for two incidents, one is the death of the father of the Indian Constitution Dr B R Ambedkar and other is the demolition of the 16th-century structure Babri Masjid in 1992.
The issue has not been settled, 26 years after the demolition of Babri Masjid. The right-wing Hindutva groups are still galvanising the Ram Janmabhoomi issue, which catalysed the demolition of Babri Masjid, to pressure the government to build a temple on the site of the masjid.
Articulation and countering the arguments over Mughal ruler Babur's construction of a masjid after destructing ancient Ram Temple in the birthplace of Lord Ram are still going on. The political party (BJP) gained from the issue is ruling the country with a brutal majority. The BJP in the run to 2014 elections had promised to build Ram Mandir in Ayodhya.
Now, this issue has again resurfaced as an agenda for upcoming general elections in 2019. Largescale protests and mass gatherings are being conducted in Ayodhya and other places to fuel the demand for the temple.
At the same time, except his followers, everyone forgot about the death anniversary of Ambedkar, who had contributed a lot to the nation.
On the 26th anniversary of Babri Masjid demolition, Deccan Herald spoke to seven youths across the country to get their responses on the dispute. We posed five questions to them and they responded with eager.
'We have to prioritise our focus to uproot social evils'
Iftikhar Hussain, 29
Ladakh, Jammu and Kashmir
Do you think Babri Masjid demolition was a turning point in Indian politics?
The Babri Masjid issue was indeed a turning point in Indian politics. Since that moment onwards, barring a few riots before that, our entire developmental consensus and policies of the political parties have revolved around religion (specifically Babri Masjid).
What is your opinion on the demolition of Babri Masjid in 1992?
The demolition of the masjid was a sad incident. We should condemn the atrocities committed by the Mughal emperors in India, but committing such crimes in a democratic country like ours, should not be promoted.
Do you think, the Hindu community has the right to build Ram Temple on Babri Masjid land?
Since the masjid was already demolished, and if the construction of a temple guarantees peace and harmony, then YES, let them build Ram Mandir. And if this is a precedent which will be repeated again to incite communal hatred in other places over other monuments/religious places, then NO.
Moreover, I vote for constructing a school, or college or any governmental setup meant to unify and uplift the underdeveloped masses in Uttar Pradesh and surrounding areas instead of temple or masjid.
Should govt bring a legislation in parliament in favour of building Ram Mandir?
That is for the Honorable Supreme Court to decide, and any political party appeasing the religious extremists should not be entertained.
What do you think the permanent solution for the Babri Masjid-Ram Janmabhoomi issue?
Poverty, malnutrition and communal riots have claimed precious lives. We, as a nation, are not in a state to prioritise the Ram Mandir or some masjid issue over other important issues those plague the society. We have to address and uproot those issues, i.e., unemployment, farmer suicides, corporatisation of higher education, gender inequality, malnutrition, proper representation of the minorities, sad situation of the agricultural sector.
'Matters regarding Babri Masjid land should be decided by judiciary'
Angana Chakrabarti, 23
Bengaluru
Do you think Babri Masjid demolition was a turning point in Indian politics?
In the 80s and 90s, the Babri Masjid case became the primary focal point of the BJP, VHP and even the Congress to rally for support from the Hindu electorate. Starting from Advani’s Ratha Yatra to the demolition, I definitely think that these trajectories of events left a mark on how elections would be fought in India, even affecting the BJP's rise to power under PM Modi despite his obvious thrust towards a communal agenda.
What is your opinion on the demolition of Babri Masjid in 1992?
It was unconstitutional and primarily driven by the right-wing Hindu parties to increase their voter base in UP. What happened was criminal and leaders like LK Advani, Uma Bharti and Murli Manohar Joshi need to be held accountable.
Do you think, the Hindu community has the right to build Ram Temple on Babri Masjid land?
No, I do not think that the call to build the Ram Temple on the land is legitimate, given that the demolition of ’92 itself was unconstitutional and that the former CJI, Dipak Misra led committee itself rejected the ’94 judgment that argued that the mosque is not integral to Islam.
Should govt bring a legislation in parliament in favour of building Ram Mandir?
Given the vested interests that the present BJP-led government might have, all matters regarding the Babri Masjid land should be decided by the judiciary. Any legislation regarding the case should not be brought up until the case has been successfully resolved by the Supreme Court.
What do you think the permanent solution for the Babri Masjid-Ram Janmabhoomi issue?
Given that the issue has already created a massive rift between the Hindu Muslim communities in Ayodhya, I think the solution lies along the lines of what the Allahabad High Court had ruled in 2010, to divide the land into three parts. However, I think that this should be approached through a process of mediation and negotiation with all the parties involved.
'Babri Masjid demolition was a humanitarian crisis like Parliament attack'
Abdul Baseer 31
Latur, Maharashtra
Do you think Babri Masjid demolition was a turning point in Indian politics?
No, the demolition was only the fallout of a nosedive made with a mischievous overnight installation of alleged 'Ram-Lulla' in 1949 near the Masjid courtyard. Casting the Niraakar (formless) & pagan myth into a political goal or a deity capable of playing nationwide 'Ram-Lullabies' through advancing 'Rath Yatra' required a plan that made turns with every paragraph and on every page.
What is your opinion on the demolition of Babri Masjid in 1992?
Although the then existing structure of Babri Masjid in 1992 has since been rendered to look like a frantically vandalised historical monument, the place once declared masjid continues to inspire worship of Allah alone beyond the boundaries restricting entries to such site, and it awakens Muslims of all ranks (not necessarily against Hindus) more extensively than a 'complete myth' of Ram could ever unite learned Hindus.
Secondly, the rift in Hindu society caused by masjid demolition and the suspicions on India's potential to progress brought by it is less likely to be healed by erecting an unjust temple than by rebuilding just masjid.
Moreover, I see the demolition of Babri Masjid as a deeply humanitarian crisis (like an attack on the parliament) rather than as a communal problem (like Sabarimala).
Do you think, the Hindu community has the right to build Ram Temple on Babri Masjid land?
It's not based on my thinking, your thinking or a third party's thinking about what, if at all, is to be built on Babri Masjid land would be finally decided. As this is purely a civilian title dispute, about land ownership and how the property can be dutifully restored to the rightful owners.
Questions about what, why & when to build something in place of torn Babri Masjid is neither for us nor for Mass-media to declare. If the rightful owners of the land are willing to rebuild the Masjid to restore the secular character of India, then we'd have to rebuild the Masjid.
Should govt bring a legislation in parliament in favour of building Ram Mandir?
With rule of law beginning to end, such legislation wouldn't be justifiable or effective. Besides, the legislation would have to pass the challenges of pleasing various sections of devotees and the judiciary against the risk of judicial paralysis or institutional decay. Gov't delaying this matter in the last four years has a lot to explain.
What do you think the permanent solution for the Babri Masjid-Ram Janmabhoomi issue?
On this question, my opinion is pretty much the same as Dr Subramaniam Swami's stand. In a 1993 article, he asked the then prime minister, Narasimha Rao, to desecrate the structure erected on the Babri Masjid land as that was against Hindu Dharma. Also, he recommended prime minister to designate a commission of enquiry to prove and disprove whether any temple was there before Babri Masjid and accordingly build a masjid or temple on the disputed land.
READ: A now or never moment?
'Judiciary is the permanent solution'
Abdurrahman, 31
Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh
Do you think Babri Masjid demolition was a turning point in Indian politics?
Babri Masjid demolition was a point but not turning point indeed.
What is your opinion on the demolition of Babri Masjid in 1992?
Babri Masjid demolition was an attempt to destabilise democracy in India. Now it is being used to maintain the monopoly of pandits on Hindus.
Do you think, the Hindu community has the right to build Ram Temple on Babri Masjid land?
In a democratic setup like India, I say, a big No.
Should govt bring a legislation in parliament in favour of building Ram Mandir?
The government should not bring any legislation on this matter.
What do you think the permanent solution for the Babri Masjid-Ram Janmabhoomi issue?
Only the judiciary can bring a final and permanent solution to this issue.
'Babri demolition polarised our political landscape'
Abdul Basit, 27
Malappuram, Kerala
Do you think Babri Masjid demolition was a turning point in Indian politics?
Yes, I think so. This incident has changed our political landscape and polarised the society communally.
What is your opinion on the demolition of Babri Masjid in 1992?
I strongly believe, the demolition was a well-planned execution by Sangh Pariwar to ignite the Hindutva agenda in the name of Ram temple. Both central and state governments didn't take any action to stop that, even they were having solid intelligence report on planning to demolish the structure.
Do you think, the Hindu community has the right to build Ram Temple on Babri Masjid land?
I can't comment on that, it is under consideration of the Supreme Court, they have to decide on the land dispute.
Should govt bring a legislation in parliament in favour of building Ram Mandir?
No, the government shouldn't bring any legislation to build the Ram Mandir.
What do you think the permanent solution for the Babri Masjid-Ram Janmabhoomi issue?
The permanent solution will be bit utopian: let both parties build temple and masjid. This would be hard to extremists on both sides to accept.
'We need to promote harmony among citizens'
Siddharth Kashyap, 28
Delhi
Do you think Babri Masjid demolition was a turning point in Indian politics?
Yes, it was a turning point for Indian politics and the weakest and saddest day for Indian democracy. It was a murder of religious freedom which our great nation provides to its citizen. You cannot burn down someone's house in a pretence of something else existed there 5000-7000 years ago.. weakness and illness to our nation they are.
What is your opinion on the demolition of Babri Masjid in 1992?
Death of democracy and murder of the democratic rights of the citizens. A cowardly act by the then govt in power or I can say the result of ongoing tension between to communities since partition in 1947.
Do you think, the Hindu community has the right to build Ram Temple on Babri Masjid land?
If it's about defacing the history of our country then big NO. Demolitions of Babri Masjid was just a political agenda. There are many structures in this whole country built on relics of the ancient structures, for example, Qutub Minar in Delhi, but that's all past. Incidentally, that poor structure (Babri Masjid) happened to be in Ayodhya.
Hindus have the right to build their temples wherever they want, so are the Sikhs, Muslims and all the religions but not disrupting the religious harmony of the country.
Should govt bring a legislation in parliament in favour of building Ram Mandir?
NOT AT ALL. Instead of making a religious mall there the government can construct a hospital or a school, anything but temples or mosques.
What do you think the permanent solution for the Babri Masjid-Ram Janmabhoomi issue?
Give that place to some organization who don't have any political or religious agenda. So that the place can become a symbol of unity rather than disunity. We need to promote harmony among citizens.
'Destruction of the Babri Masjid is equal to destroying rich history'
Duangmlung Gangmei, 28
Noney, Manipur
Do you think Babri Masjid demolition was a turning point in Indian politics?
As diverse nation like India, 'communalism and communal politics' seems always a predominant part of our national politics. And this is eminent from the prevalent of today's two major national political parties: centre-left Indian National Congress alliance and the Bharatiya Janata Party - a right-wing party with close ideological and organisational links to the Hindu nationalist RSS.
So, yes, the demolition of Babri Masjid did mark the turning point that incited the communalism in the country.
What is your opinion on the demolition of Babri Masjid in 1992?
India is known for its rich cultural heritage and should be preserved and be protected with utmost care and importance, either be of forts, sites, temple, mosque, churches, gurudwara, despite the person who built it. The destruction or demolition of such structures is equal to destroying its history of richness.
Do you think, the Hindu community has the right to build Ram Temple on Babri Masjid land?
No
Should govt bring a legislation in parliament in favour of building Ram Mandir?
Never
What do you think the permanent solution for the Babri Masjid-Ram Janmabhoomi issue?
And India being a secular state, it's the utmost duty of every citizen and its government to maintain communal peace and harmony. And preserve its richness of diversity.