The recent verdict on the Ayodhya issue made me take a look at what the fuss was all about. The entire nation was waiting anxiously for the verdict.All my colleagues, my room mates, my parents and almost everyone I knew were waiting for it. Even next day, my group manager, who sits in US, asked me about how the things were in Hyderabad after the Verdict. Never in my life I had seen people waiting so eagerly for a verdict. Frankly speaking, I don't really care about religious issues. But this issue intrigued me and I could not resist to explore it.
Here's what I dug up. Some X hundred years ago, Babber, supposedly, destroyed a Hindu Temple and built the Babri Masjid. Then in 1949, someone found idols of Lord Ram in the Masjid premises and filed a case in court that the land actually belonged to Hindus. Then after 40 odd years, some fanatics destroyed the Babri Masjid leading to communal riots across the nation. And then after nearly 20 years, the verdict on the Ayodhya issues came, dividing the disputed land in three equal parts.
I was talking to some of my friends regarding this and they really helped me understanding what goes on in the minds of the people regarding this issue. I asked them "What's the problem in making a temple at some distance from the disputed land?" I mean doing this can resolve this issue for once and all. If the Muslims have their Masjid over their now, let them have a land. I got some really interesting answers.
Here are some of the points that struck me the most. It was clearly wrong to destroy a temple and make a Masjid on the same land. After some 500 odd years the truth finally came out and the idols of Lord Ram were found in the Masjid premises. For the Muslims, the land does not signify any thing. Only thing is that connects them to Ayodhya is the Masjid. But for Hindus, Ayodhya has a much deeper meaning. Its the birthplace of Lord Ram. So, why don't the Muslims back off and lets us make the temple on the disputed land and they make their Masjid at some distance from the disputed land. If the Hindus back out Here (Birthplace of Lord Ram), they will, in short, declare that please come destroy our temples and make Masjids on the same land.
Their opinions did make some sense. But I was not totally convinced. They told me that it was wrong to destroy the temple and make a Masjid on top of it. I said, isn't this the same thing we tried to do in 1992? Also its not proven that Babber destroyed the temple. The temple could already be in ruins when he made Babri Masjid. I agreed to the point that Hindus have a connection with Ayodhya. But again, was Lord Ram not born in that exact place? So Hindus have a connection with Ayodhya and not the disputed land.
Now lets come to the point of Muslims backing off. I am not on anyone's side over here. People should realize that God does not want you to kill another human being, achieve victory, make a Temple/Masjid and worship him. Is a Temple/Masjid at one particular spot so important to connect with God? Let me give a very simple example. Suppose you drive over a dog by mistake (be it any reason, does not really matter). You will stop your car and at least check if you can do something for the poor soul. And anyone with a heart does this! But when is comes to religious issues, people kill each other in the name of God. What religion teaches this!
Actually, you can not say that a person fighting for this cause is wrong. There is no right or wrong here. Its just that some person can relate to the issue and fight for it and others like me don't feel so strongly about the issue. But one thing I can say for sure and it is "Whatever be your (religious)beliefs, it can not justify killing of and other human being". Its time now for us to move on from such things. We have been played with enough on this by media and politicians. Its time we all stand together and pray together on the same Holy Land of OURS.
