Allahabad verdict: Paving way for dawn of an era

More than one billion people live in a country like ours which is often referred to as a sub-continent. In a situation where thousands of sub-sects and castes prevail, misunderstandings and conflicts between sects are inevitable. Many of the conflicts are resolved with damage or loss of lives, but the plaguing tensions between Hindus and Islamic faiths should not kill Indians anymore.

As the deadline of 4 pm came closer on September 3rd, 2010, Hindus and Muslims across the nation were glued to their Television sets anxiously. But once the verdict was announced as sense of relief and harmony gripped the nation. As the security forces in all villages, towns and cities kept a vigil the historic judgment did not result in any form of physical harm or evil tensions anywhere in the nation. The port city of Mangalore was also a symbol of communal harmony, however citizens chose to stay indoors after the verdict was announced. What looked like any normal day in the morning was suddenly gripped in an uneasy calm as shops and commercial establishments shut down as a symbol of precaution.

For so many decades now, the Hindus and Muslims battled it out in the court which had to decide who the structure belonged to. Outside the court many (Over 2000) lives were lost as riots plagued the nation in 1992. Finally, in an attempt to end all this uneasy violence September 30, 2010 will be remembered as a red letter day in Indian history as the Ayodhya verdict is pronounced. The judgment is neither in favour of the Hindus nor Muslims as the 2.77 acre land is proved to be the birth- place of Lord Ram and the presence of the deities there will remain. Further, the land will be trifurcated amongst Hindus, Sunni Waqf and Nirmohi Akhara after a three month gap. Trifurcation of the disputed site has proved that the interests of both faiths have been held high with an option of “minor adjustments”.

It’s not because people of these two religions do not want to live in harmony but retrospecting on the incidents that have occurred for the past 60 years, it seems as though the very belief about the origins of the two faiths have created tension. Standing as a testimony and epicenter of the conflict is the Ram-Janmabhoomi/Babri Masjid structure at Ayodhya. This disputed structure which was in conflict ever since the British Raj as to who should worship at the location was temporarily resolved in 1859. British rulers allowed Muslims to worship at the inner court and Hindus at outer courts. But, trouble and hatred had just begun as the issue gradually gained momentum and tensions mounted between Indians. The gradual hatred and violence reached its peak when thousands of Hindu kar-sevaks demolished the mosque on December 6, 1992. Riots spread like fire in all parts of the country resulting in bloodshed. But two decades later, now once the judgment has been passed it seems as though our nation is waking up to an era of reconciliation and preventing loss of lives. Having come of age through maturity we now understand ideas of peace and harmony. With this verdict, most of the unanswered questions which might have led to violence in the past, seems to have been answered. However, only time will answer whether the Ayodhya verdict has meant a new beginning in the quest for reconciliation between Indians. This might just be the dawn of an era where we put India first rather than giving importance to our Hindu or Islamic faiths.

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