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The Building of the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya Symbolizes the Recuperation of a Damaged Civilization

The Building of the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya Symbolizes the Recuperation of a Damaged Civilization

  • If India was subjugated due to its religion, its revival also needed to be religious. The form of freedom that excluded Hinduism from the public sphere in the name of secularism was only partial freedom.

The building of the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya symbolizes the recuperation of a damaged civilization. The Pran Pratishtha ceremony marks a pivotal moment when the long-silenced spirit of a nation finally gets a voice. The revival of India and the resurgence of Hinduism are intertwined. Given that nearly 80% of the population identifies as Hindu, and a significant portion of the remainder have Hindu roots, it is only fitting that the cultural expression of this civilizational revival is rooted in Hinduism.

If religion holds significant importance for 80% of non-BJP Hindu voters, it raises doubts about the Opposition’s claim of BJP blending politics with religion. The Pew Research Center’s survey on religion in India, conducted from November 2019 to March 2020, offers valuable insights into the mindset of the BJP voters in the 2019 Lok Sabha election. Let us examine the survey results based on face-to-face interviews with 29,999 adults.

What was stifled was different from the contemporary concept of India, but rather its soul and ancient spirit. Hence, true freedom would entail the resurgence of this spirit, from which countless interpretations of India could emerge, as they did before being suppressed. The celebrated diversity of India, encompassing both Vedic and non-Vedic traditions, is a testament to this past, not a boon from the conquerors. The attempt to use the concept of India to deny its spirit has proven to be misguided. If India was subjugated due to its religion, its revival also needed to be religious. The form of freedom that excluded Hinduism from the public sphere in the name of secularism was only partial freedom.

Is being a Hindu a prerequisite for being “truly” Indian? According to nearly 64% of the estimated Hindu adult population of 61.5 crores, per the 2011 census, which equates to over 39 crores of Hindus — the answer is yes. Around 80% of these Hindus, which equates to approximately 32 crores, expressed that speaking Hindi is a crucial aspect of being genuinely Indian. According to the survey, in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, 60% (or 18.91 crores) of Hindu voters who felt that being a Hindu and speaking Hindi were essential to being genuinely Indian voted for the BJP. In essence, by extrapolating the findings of the PRC survey, it can be deduced that nearly 20 out of the 23 crores of people who voted for the BJP in 2019 were Hindus who believe that being a Hindu and speaking Hindi are prerequisites for being genuinely Indian.

The building of the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya represents the recovery process of a previously injured civilization. The Pran Pratishtha ceremony is significant, marking the moment “when a long-repressed nation’s soul finally speaks out.” The rebirth of India and the revival of Hinduism are the same. In a nation where nearly 80% of the populace is Hindu, and the majority of the remaining population has Hindu ancestry, it was inevitable that the cultural language of this civilizational revival would be Hindu.

A significant majority of Indian Hindus (84%) view religion as a vital part of their lives. The South has the lowest percentage of such individuals at 69% when broken down by region. Daily prayers are observed by 59% of Hindus, with this figure dropping to 37% in the South. Among Hindu BJP voters who associate national identity with both religion and language, a staggering 95% deem religion as extremely important in their lives, and 73% of them pray daily. For other Hindu voters, 80% regard religion as very important, and 53% engage in daily prayers.

Indian Muslims are experiencing unprecedented prosperity in material and religious terms. They have never been more well-nourished, well-dressed, well-educated, and gainfully employed. With the economy on an upward trajectory and India making strides forward, Muslims are enjoying the benefits just as much as their Hindu counterparts. Above all, they have never felt safer than they do now. The era of recurring secular unrest is a thing of the past. Among the Muslim community, radical tendencies have diminished, violent impulses have been curbed, the separatist rhetoric has lost its potency, and vote-bank politics have collapsed. The emphasis has now shifted towards education and employment.

Suppose religion holds such a significant place in the lives of 84% of Hindus and even 80% of non-BJP voters. In that case, one might question the effectiveness of the Opposition leaders’ argument that the BJP is intertwining politics with religion.

In the political sphere, thanks to universal adult suffrage in an increasingly robust democracy, Muslims are more enfranchised and empowered than in any Muslim-majority nation. Muslim women have been protected from the menace of Triple Talaq, and they are soon expected to enjoy equal rights with men under the Uniform Civil Code. As for the religious prosperity of Muslims, the rapidly multiplying madrasas, expanding mosques, resonating azans, skylines dominated by minarets, the hundreds of thousands making pilgrimages for Hajj and Umrah, and the distinct religious attire and appearance of Muslim men and women serve as ample evidence.

Is being a Hindu a prerequisite for being “truly” Indian? According to nearly 64% of the estimated Hindu adult population of 61.5 crores, per the 2011 census, which equates to over 39 crores of Hindus — the answer is yes.

Through its pioneering investigative journalism, The Financial Times has unveiled a disconcerting truth in China – the systematic elimination of Muslim identity and culture. The government is actively substituting Islamic architectural elements with symbols that echo Chinese ideology. An astonishing number of 2,312 mosques in the country have reportedly been demolished or altered since 2018. This alarming eradication not only raises eyebrows but also prompts an essential question: Why is the Muslim world conspicuously quiet amidst such overt cultural and religious oppression?

The complex interplay between political ideologies and religious affiliations becomes more perplexing in the context of India. Some individuals are actively promoting narratives that depict India as a suppressor of Muslims. However, the actual situation contradicts these claims. Various forms of Islam flourish in India, where Hindus form the majority. Contrary to the situation in Saudi Arabia, Iran, Pakistan, or Indonesia, all Islamic sects in this democratic, secular republic enjoy complete religious freedom, safety, and prosperity.

The emergence of Indian Muslims under the influence of Hindutva is most notably seen in the rise of the Pasmandas, ‘lower caste’ Muslims of Hindu lineage who make up a significant portion of India’s Muslim population. During secular rule, the indigenous Pasmanda formed the majority, while Ashraaf Muslims of foreign origin held the leadership. In the 1990s, when the backward castes of Hindus made their political presence felt, their Pasmanda Muslim counterparts remained unseen and unacknowledged due to their sole identification as Muslims. The Ashraf leadership, who were essentially clients of the so-called secular parties, seized the rightful position of the Pasmandas.

Interestingly, intellectual factions with Islamist and communist leanings, while reaping the benefits of a thriving democracy, engage in a double-dealing game in line with foreign interests. It is a unique situation where both communists and Islamists, within the diverse mosaic of Indian society, unite to question the nation’s religious foundation and territorial sovereignty, relishing the liberty to voice opinions that frequently challenge the very core of the nation. Such freedom would be unthinkable in China, where communists suppress dissent ruthlessly. This highlights the delicate equilibrium that India upholds amidst contrasting ideologies.

The rise of the Pasmandas is a part of the broader upliftment of marginalized Indians. This process would not have been possible without the relentless self-examination by Hindu intellectuals and the ongoing reform and rejuvenation over the past 200 years. From Raja Rammohan Roy to Dayanand Saraswati and Swami Vivekananda, and from Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi and Bhimrao Ambedkar to Vinayak Damodar Savarkar and Narendra Modi, there has been a consistent progression of Hindu social reform. The resurgence of India is a direct result of these reform movements, which centered on eradicating caste and gender disparities.

The silence of the Islamic world regarding China may be a strategic move, as their primary focus seems to be on combating what they view as familiar foes—India with its Hindu majority, Israel with its Jewish majority, and the West with its Christian majority. In this intricate geopolitical scenario, allying with Communist China could temporarily aid them in challenging these three groups. If they overcome these perceived opponents, the subsequent stage would entail a face-off with their temporary allies, the communists. This strategic navigation unveils a complex diplomatic strategy, where alliances are established based on immediate goals, resulting in an uncertain geopolitical chess game with an endgame.

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Muslims have not lost anything but have instead benefited from India’s prosperity. If they still perceive themselves as victims, it is a psychological distortion fostered by agenda-driven storytellers — the Hindu liberals and their Muslim associates. All they need is clarity to rid themselves of this sense of victimhood. Just as priests and the shastras do not dictate India’s state policy, it will not be influenced by the tenets of Islamic law and the sentiments of the Ashraaf.

Indian Muslims should recognize that most democratic countries, predominantly established by non-Muslims, provide the optimal conditions for them to live with respect, maintain their identity, and experience liberty. On the other hand, certain Muslim-majority nations, as well as communist regimes, might not offer the same degree of religious freedom for individuals to practice their faith as they wish.

As the Pran Pratishtha ceremony of the Ram Temple took place, Iqbal Ansari, the son of Hashim Ansari, who was previously involved in the Ayodhya land dispute, stated that the issue surrounding the Ram Temple had been settled, bringing joy to everyone. He highlighted Ayodhya as a city where the divine entities of all religions live in harmony and extended a warm welcome to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the momentous occasion. When asked about politics and the forthcoming elections, Ansari underscored the importance of concentrating on social work over political involvement and that Ayodhya should persist in its journey of growth and unity, regardless of political shifts. “Ayodhya represents a beacon of unity, where progress is not merely a physical metamorphosis but a manifestation of shared values and cultural wealth,” Ansari further elaborated.

K.K. Mohammad, the retired Regional Director of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), has suggested that Muslims should relinquish the contested Gyanvapi and Shahi Idgah land to Hindus. In an interview with IANS, the esteemed archaeologist expressed that transferring the land mentioned above to Hindus is the sole resolution to this conflict. K.K. Mohammad stated that leaders of all religions should come together and transfer the Gyanvapi and Krishna Janmabhoomi structures to the Hindu community. “Kashi, Mathura, and Ayodhya hold a unique significance for Hindus as they are linked with the lives of Bhagwan Shiva, Bhagwan Krishna, and Bhagwan Ram. Muslims do not have emotional attachments to the mosques constructed here,” he is reported to have said.

The narrative of the Ram Mandir also chronicles the missteps and errors made by the purported secular establishment, academia, and activists over the past half-century. Two potential scenarios could have unfolded at this juncture (1988/89). Firstly, the government could have involved Muslims in the process, relocated the Babri Masjid slightly to allow the resumption of Namaz, and transformed the new temple’s construction into a grand national project. If the construction had become a national initiative, it would have been straightforward to marginalize the BJP. Muslim liberals could have participated in the project, and Hindus could have assisted with the reopening of the Babri Masjid. At that time, the Congress held power in UP, and many of the Ayodhya sadhus were pro-Congress. It was an ideal opportunity to demonstrate secular unity. Now it is too late to cry wolf and play the victim card.

(Photos, Narendra Modi/Facebook)


Abhijit Bagal is the Legal Director for Castefiles.com and a HealthCare Analytics Professional.

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View Comments (3)
  • They have never been more well-nourished, well-dressed, well-educated, and gainfully employed. With the economy on an upward trajectory and India making strides forward, Muslims are enjoying the benefits just as much as their Hindu counterparts.

    How patronizing! I tried to give this perspective a fair read but cannot see it anything other than propagandist.

    Why is the Muslim world conspicuously quiet amidst such overt cultural and religious oppression? – So, India and Hinduism baseline standard to compare to is China. And even if it is China, what the heck does that have to do with what we want to achieve?

    Standard play is to compare to the worst outcome and congratulate self that we much better off. If that were the case, there are far worse nations in poverty and crime and unemployment and …….India must be in the land of milk and honey. Let’s all go to sleep content with the world we live in.

  • The civilization should always be identified as “Ancient Hindu civilization”. of India, for readers to take note of basic concept of Hindu civilization that has still under ongoing attacks from new born religions. only 20% of original civilization land and people are surviving now. The modern humanity has responsibility to stop slow death ancient Hindu civilization in India.

  • The Supreme Court of Infia unanimously decreed that the land belongs to the temple . The disputed land is only 2.77 acres. They also ruled that 5 acres be handed over for a masjid to be built somewhere else. No mention of this was made in the article.
    Who is funding these people that are so against Modi, what is in it for them?

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