Yesterday, 22nd January 2024 was the most memorable day for most Hindus across the world, as it was the occasion when the consecration of the Ram Temple was performed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi with full devotion. Now you will be wondering why I have written most of the Hindus instead of all the Hindus because there are certain sections of Hindus who are not happy with this consecration. These Hindus are mostly with leftist ideology, Hindus who are followers of DMK or Dravidian movement of the Southern part of India, and Hindus who followed the ideology propagated by the scion of the Nehru/Gandhi family of the Congress party.
The restoration of the statue of Ram Lalla in the new Ram Temple built at Ayodhya was a historic event in modern Indian history. The original Ram Mandir was destroyed by the Mughal emperor Babur and the Babri Masjid was built in the same place, and this happened about 5 centuries back. So after fighting many battles, including the legal one after the independence, and after winning the legal battle this historic event took place, which gave tremendous joy to Hindus across the world.
People like me who were born after the independence were not made aware of this fact, either by education or by the media, that there was a Ram Temple at Ayodhya, the birthplace of Bhagwan Ram, and it was demolished by Babur and Babri Masjid was built at the same place. Personally, I came to know about this in March 1984, when I had gone to Faizabad town (near Ayodhya) for some official work. So I thought of visiting Ayodhya, the birthplace of Bhagwan Ram. The person with whom I visited Ayodhya, then showed me Babri Masjid, the gate of which was locked, and inside near the gate there was a small Ram temple. I was then told it is a disputed site, as Hindus are claiming this to be the birthplace of Bhagwan Ram, and Muslims are claiming this place/structure as Babri Masjid, and hence by the government order the place is out of bounds for both the communities.
From 1949, when the government closed the gates, to April 1984 nothing much happened on this issue, given below are some of the major events which took place:
1 In the first week of April 1984 Dharam Sansad in Delhi raises the question of Ran Janambhoomi liberation.
2 Between June and October 1984 Ram Janambhoomi Mukti Yagya Samiti was formed with Mahant Avaidyanath as its Chairman and Mahant Nritya Gopal Das as its vice-chairman, and this Samiti started taking out morchas for the cause of freeing Ram Janambhoomi.
3 In September Sri Ram Janambhoomi Nyas is formed under Jagadguru RS Ramcharya. Vishwa Hindu Parishad’s (VHP) Ashok Singhal is appointed convenor.
4 On 1st Feb 1986, a district judge ordered opening the locks of the disputed site for Hindu worshippers. One Hashim Ansari moved the High Court, pleading that the order was passed without hearing the Muslim side. Immediately Babri Masjid Action Committee (BMAC) is formed. On 22nd May 1988, BMAC announces a march to the disputed site to perform namaz.
5 On 9th June 1989, the BJP announces to join the temple movement.
6 PM Rajiv Gandhi, and UP CM ND Tiwari decided to do Shila Nyas, and the VHP functionary also laid the first brick at a different place nearby.
7 BJP chief LK Advani starts Rath Yatra on 19th October 1990 from Somnath to Ayodhya to awaken people on the Ram Janambhoomi issue. Bihar CM Lalu Prasad on 23rd October gets LK Advani arrested in Samastipur in Bihar.
8 Between 30th Oct and 2nd Nov 1990 lakhs of Kar Sevak reach Ayodhya to start the temple construction work. They partially damage the masjid as well. UP CM Mulayam Singh Yadav orders police firing to control the mob. 17 Kar Sevaks are killed, VHP claims the number is much higher.
9 As BJP withdrew support to VP Singh’s government at center, the government fell and a few days later Chandrashekhar became PM with outside support of Congress.
10 After this there are lots of negotiations at government levels to sort out this issue, but nothing happens.
11 The Next major event was on 30th October 1992, when Dharam Sansad announced to resume of Kar Seva on 6th December.
12 Lakhs of Kar Sevak assembled at Ayodhya on 6th December, despite all the assurances of the central government of Narsimharao (Congress) and the state government of Kalyan Singh (BJP), the disputed site was razed leading to nationwide communal riots leaving over 2000 dead.
13 In Feb 2002, VHP fixed 15th March as the date for resuming construction. Kar Sevaks reach Ayodhya. SP govt allows symbolic Shila pujan. Then Sabarmati Express is burnt down at Godhra station in Gujarat, leading the communal riots in Gujarat.
14 After this legal battle starts in Allahabad High Court.
15 On 30th September 2010, HC delivers its verdict. Orders to divide the property into three parts- one part each to Ram Lalla Virajman, represented by Hindu Mahasabha, Nirmohi Akhara, and Sunni Central Waqf Board.
16 Hindu Mahasabha and Waqf Board challenge the verdict in SC.
17 Lastly on 9th November 2019, in a historic unanimous judgment, SC identified the disputed site as the birthplace of Bhagwan Ram and handed over 2.77 acres of land to Ram Lalla Virajman, and asked the center to form trust within 3 months for the construction of the temple, asks UP govt to give 5-acre land to Sunni board in Ayodhya for construction of masjid (mosque), says the structure below the disputed site is not an Islamic structure, says the faith of Hindus that Bhagwan Ram was born at disputed site where Bari masjid once stood can not be disputed, sys the demolition of the masjid was a violation of law, and Rejects claims of Nirmohi Akhara, which was seeking control of disputed land saying they are the custodian of the land.
Friends, you must remember Congress as the political party tried all the tricks available to them to stall the proceedings of the courts, supporting the claim of BMAC, and fielding their best legal brains like Kapil Sibal, Abhishek Manu Singhvi, and others to oppose the claims of Ram Janambhoomi group in the courts, but in the end justice prevailed.
This was the first news that made Hindus jubilant, knowing that all the hurdles were over now for the construction of the new Ram mandir.
Then the BJP government led by PM Narendra Modi took the lead and formed the trust as directed by the SC, and what they all said REST IS NOW HISTORY, with the date of 22nd January 2024 got etched in every Hindu’s mind.
And lastly JAI SHRI RAM.
Waiting for your feedback on this blog.
Anil Malik
Mumbai, India
23rd January 2024
Pradeep Nadkarny
Anil, very well chronologically made events leading to be 22nd January’24 as the historic day.Thanks for your great study and putting 500 years history in few sentences.Very happy to read. Jai Shri Ram.