Ref: – Great implications of Ram Setu controversy on Babri Masjid dispute & on future of SAARC.
Dear Sir
When in late eighties Ram Janmbhoomi – Babri Masjid (RJBM) dispute came to the fore, Hindus (motivated / persuaded also by their Saints) in great numbers joined this movement in favor of retrieving Babri Masjid site to built a Ram Mandir over there which is claimed to be the birth place of Lord Rama. Many Hindus in great numbers also joined Hindutva political parties BJP (a member of Sangh Parivar comprising RSS, Vishwa Hindu Parishad etc.) and Shiv Sena in order to contribute politically for the realization of this mission.
Without going in to the merit of sub-judice matter whether or not the Babri Masjid is – the birth place of Lord Rama / constructed over demolished Rama temple, this RJBM dispute powerfully struck a chord in most of the Hindus because Muslims (under their past invaders and rulers) have been widely portrayed in Hindu psyche as demolishers of large numbers of Hindu temples (including of Jains) and committers of huge violence and cruelty to Hindus.
This grudge of Hindus is further compounded by widely held Hindu belief that: –
(a)- Muslims were (as always, as per Hindu’s belief) already on the run by the time of early eighteen century (end of Aurangzeb era) and but for the intervention of Britishers Hindus would have driven out most of the offending Muslims and their rulers from India.
(b)- The only mother land of Hindus (India) was partitioned in 1947 by Muslim.
Therefore also in view of the section 5 of The Places of Worship (Special Provision) Act 1991, where the status quo (as on August 15, 1947) of all religious places is to be maintained except of sub-judice RJBM, Hindus (including Jains) saw in RJBM dispute (and in Mandir movement) an opportunity to symbolically and non-violently take a revenge (retributive justice) against the said historic excesses of Muslims (by reconstructing Ram Mandir over there by getting Babri Masjid demolished through the due process of law).
In this Mandir movement it was given to understand that if judiciary does not grant Babri Masjid to Hindus for making Ram Mandir over there then Hindus would resort to legitimate political remedy of filling the jails in millions in order to secure (through Parliament) this relief (similarly as Gandhiji filled jails non-violently in order to secure India’s independence from Britain).
Here it is in context to add that this non-violent approach was adopted also due the realization that the Muslims of contemporary India has nothing to do with the historical excess of Muslim rulers and invaders. Therefore symbolic revenge was considered to be enough to heal the deep emotional scars of Hindus inflicted by Muslims of yore.
It became increasingly clear by 2001 that judicial relief is not forthcoming at least in foreseeable future. Hence people of India [who brought Hindutva parties of NDA which were responsible for unethical demolition of Babri Masjid in 1992 (triggering Mumbai riots & other riots 1992-93 and Mumbai blast 1993) in power at center on Mandir movement] stared pressurizing Hindutva parties for filling the jails in millions as envisaged & promised.
But Sangh Parivar being comfort loving and anti State declined to do so and instead started relying on illegal & unethical methods which not only did not bring any relief to the protagonists of Mandir movement but also culminated in Godhra carnage & Gujarat pogrom 2002 in which about hundred of innocent Hindus and thousands of innocent Muslims were killed. (Here it is in context to mention that whether a political party is pro or anti State is decided not so much by its behavior when it is in opposition but mainly when it is in power).
The amount of sufferings and dishonor undergone by the people (who got associated with this Mandir movement) due to this betrayal of Hindutva political parties (which shirked from non-violent political approach of filling the jails in millions) can be gauged by only those who have experienced it.
Therefore now in this Ram Setu controversy (where Supreme Court has granted three months time to Government of India to file fresh affidavit) and where Sangh Parivar is again whipping up the religious sentiments of Hindus, it should be ensured by people of India that: –
(1)- Sangh Parivar ask Hindus to apply at appropriate authority to claim Ram Setu as their religious place and Hindus should maintain and control it as such (in case this prayer is not granted then Sangh Parivar can fill up the jails in millions in order to get the intended relief from Parliament).
(2)- Without either Hindus getting Ram Setu as their religious place or Government of India declaring it as Protected & Ancient monument, Secular Indian State should not allow Hindu religious frenzy to dictate its decisions, conduct and behavior while deciding Setu Samudram project (navigation canal) between India and Sri Lanka.
Supreme Court of Hindu majority ‘secular’ India has already burnt its fingers in RJBM dispute where it’s secular credentials is widely perceived to have been compromised seriously (whether, despite Article 141, 142 & 144 of The Constitution, it is the failure of restoration of status-quo-ante of Babri Masjid which was demolished in presence of Supreme Court’s observer or partiality in favor of Hindus against Muslims in prosecuting accused of (post Babri Masjid demolition) Mumbai riots vis-à-vis Mumbai blast or inordinate delay in ensuring the judgment of the title suit in RJBM dispute or in punishing the accused of Babri Masjid demolition etc.)
Therefore in this Ram Setu controversy, which has great implications also on: –
(i)- Sub-judice RJBM dispute.
(ii)- Future of “Federation / United States of Democratic Secular SAARC countries” which is bound to become a reality sooner than later in view of the great strategic interest being taken by powerful international community in South Asia in the back drop of – growing economic importance of this region, political problems / instability going on in most of the SAARC countries around India and unresolved Kashmir problem between contending nuclear powers.
– It is leally expected that Supreme Court of India (which took suo-motto cognizance of widely televised mass agitation, led three months back by Gujjar community, demanding their reservation in Schedule Tribe category) will also take suo-motto cognizance of widely televised larger mass agitation led by Sangh Parivar on September 12, 2007 which was primarily meant to pressurize Indian State to jettison constitutionally mandated secularism and to acquiesce to communal pressures of Sangh Parivar.
Yours truly
Hem Raj Jain
208, Supriya, Plot # 20, Sector – 10, Dwarka,
New Delhi -110075, INDIA.
Ph: – +91 11 32940177, Mob: 09871194983