By Khushboo Khan for Twocircles.net
On December 6 1992, thousands of bitter memories were finely knitted in Indian history when a mob of fundamentalists (Kar Sevaks) demolished the 400-year-old historical mosque in Ayodhya, claiming it to be the birthplace of Ram (Hindu mythological God).
The kar sevaks had intention to built Ram Mandir at the very site, but the event was followed by massive clashes which erupted in different parts of India and extended to the neighboring countries where more than two thousand people lost their lives, among which 900 died during the Mumbai riots. The 1993 Mumbai bomb blasts are also considered as a consequence of demolition.
The Babri masjid demolition has extensively disrupted the communal harmony and invisibly drawn a line between both the communities. The Hindu fanatics strongly believe that the Babri masjid was originally built on the order of First Mughal Emperor Babar, after demolishing the pre-existing Hindu Ram Mandir; while the Muslims, and several eminent historians have denied any such claims.
The event occurred on unconstitutional grounds and raised a huge question mark on Indian democratic structure, which has historically ensured several fundamental rights to the minorities including the freedom of religion.
The legal history of Babri dispute could be traced to 1857, when a ‘Chabutara’ was constituted inside the mosque premises with a claim of Ram Janmsthaan, following which the Nawab of Awadh allowed both the community to worship in separate hours. The legal dispute came into existence on January 1885 when the head priest (Mahant) filed a civil suit in the court of Sub-Judge of Faizabad seeking permission to build a temple on chabutra, but the plea was rejected on which the priest submitted an appeal in 1886 to the District Court, which also dismissed after the inspection of mosque.
In post independence era the issue again caught fire and the process of legal battle began. The statue of Ram, Sita and laxman was kept inside the mosque premises, and a large mob assembled to hack the glimpse of deities. The court decided to maintain the status quo and locked the gates of disputed land. Later when it was reopened in 1986; the Sunni Waqf board filed a fresh petition against the court order and the Lucknow Bench of Allahabad High Court issued an interim direction to maintain status quo regarding the disputed land.
Fresh turmoil began with the setup of foundation stone of Ram mandir by Hindu fundamentalists on 9 November 1989, and that was the beginning of Kar Sewa which finished with the demolition of Babri Masjid.
Unfortunately, even after 24 years, not even a single culprit is behind the bars even though the event killed hundred of innocent lives in the name of religion. The government of PV Narasimha Rao formed the Liberhan Commission to look into the entire event, but after 16 years of investigation and wastage of a hefty amount, the culprits were easily able to get a clean chit.
The final judgment from the Allahabad court came on 30 September 2010, where the court ruled that the disputed land would be divided into three parts, one third going to the Hindu Mahasabha which represented the Hindu god Ram, one third to Sunni Waqf Board and the rest to Nirmohi Akhada including Ram Chabutara and Sita ki Rasoi. The judgment is considered as totally biased and one sided in favor of Hindus.
Since 1992, every year Indian Muslims peacefully mourn and observe 6 December as “Black day” to show their grief and anger through wearing black bands on their heads and hoisting black flags, while the Hindu Right wing celebrate 6 December as “Shourya Divas” (victory day) with a notion to present the opposition and to urge religious sentiments.
The Babri Masjid Demolition was no less than an anathema to Indian social integrity, and the poisonous seeds were originally sown by few fanatics but reaped by thousands of innocent families who are still living in mental distress and bearing the pain of bitter memories. In hope of justice few plaintiff of Babri masjid passed away, while others continue to wait desperately for the final verdict.