The verdict is finally here after 19 years, the judges and the court have done what must have done very early. Now, the ball is in the court of India and its citizens, can a temple and a mosque can stand side-by-side? In a way, the reaction of people to the Ayodhya judgement will be a test for the indian soul, essence and their way of thinking, the consequences of the coming few days will decide the fate of india – will this simple idea be committed to a vibrant beginning or shut down as a hollow end. Any gesture or shrillness, either of victory or defeat from the political parties or the religious leaders will be a clarion call for the lunatic fringe in either group to stir up trouble.
As it is, the Sunni Waqf Board and the Hindu Mahasabha have gone on record to say that they will challenge the judgement of the Allahabad High Court in the Supreme Court, given these conditions there will never be a state in which a result can be appreciated by both of parties. The judges will always provide a judgement which will be indecisive in solving this ambiguity, given the time usually taken for these issues to be sorted; one can safely say that the final decision in this dispute will take time and come about in years, 19 years for the first verdict 19 more years for the second verdict.
The High Court judgement, as the Union Home Ministry recently pointed out is just the Round 1. Until then, is depends on Indian citizens and the political and religious leaders in the country to guarantee that they wait till the final decision is played out before issuing calls for building mosques or rebuilding temples. For that, they will have to dissociate the dispute and the verdict from the past history and look into future, for the sake of India; especially the younger generation who have been changing the world’s tune as increasingly confident global citizens. That is why, even a distant attempt to cover the issue as a zero sum game - where one or the either idea has won - will be destroying the dreams and aspirations of the New India.
I am an Indian Hindu. I am proud to be an Indian. I respect my country and the people. It’s a well-balanced verdict. Let’s be true Indian and have a Mandir and a Masjid built together and show what is being a true Indian. Just for the verdict, our country was set on high alert, Why? Why do we fight when we see around ourselves? Aren’t Hindus and Muslims living peacefully together? Enjoying each other’s festivals, food and family occasions. Please all of us come together and bridge the gap. Whatever damage to be done has been done. Why waste the government fund and fight in the name of religion, why fight in the name of god. We do not decide that we will be born in a Hindu, Muslim or any other family, then why these differences, god is one, there are just different ways to express our patronage and devotion to him. Lets be united and secular, act wise and live in peace and harmony.
Kaveesh
