Ram Mandir Inauguration: A Historic Moment for India and its Tourism

The Ram Mandir, a Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Ram, is set to be inaugurated on January 22, 2024, in Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh, by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The temple, which is built on the site of the demolished Babri Masjid, a 16th century mosque, has been a source of religious and political controversy and conflict for centuries. The dispute over the ownership and status of the site has sparked communal riots, legal battles, political campaigns, and social movements, affecting the lives and sentiments of millions of people in India and beyond. This article traces the history of the controversy and conflict surrounding the Ram Mandir Ayodhya, from its origins to its resolution.

History

Origins of the Controversy

The controversy over the Ram Mandir Ayodhya dates back to the 16th century, when the Mughal emperor Babur allegedly ordered the demolition of a temple dedicated to Lord Ram, believed to be his birthplace, and the construction of a mosque, known as the Babri Masjid, in its place. The historical evidence for this claim is disputed, as some sources suggest that the temple was destroyed by an earlier invader, or that the mosque was built on a vacant land. However, the popular belief among the Hindus is that the mosque was built after destroying the temple, and that the site is sacred to them.

The first recorded instance of a dispute over the site occurred in 1853, when a group of Hindu ascetics, known as Nirmohis, claimed the ownership of the site and clashed with the Muslims. The British colonial administration intervened and erected a fence to separate the inner and outer courtyards of the mosque, allowing the Muslims to pray inside the mosque and the Hindus to worship outside, on a platform called Ramchabutra. The situation remained relatively calm until 1949, when a group of Hindu activists secretly placed an idol of Ram Lalla, the infant form of Lord Ram, inside the mosque, claiming that it had miraculously appeared there. This sparked a wave of protests and petitions from both the communities, and the government locked the gates of the mosque and declared it a disputed site.

Escalation of the Conflict

The conflict over the Ram Mandir Ayodhya escalated in the 1980s, when the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP), a Hindu nationalist organization, launched a campaign to reclaim the site and build a grand temple there. The campaign mobilized millions of Hindus across the country, and received the support of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), a political party that rose to prominence on the issue. The campaign also faced opposition from the Muslims, who asserted their right to the mosque, and from the secular parties, who advocated for a peaceful and legal resolution of the dispute.

The conflict reached its peak on December 6, 1992, when a large crowd of Hindu activists, led by the VHP and the BJP leaders, gathered at the site and demolished the Babri Masjid, triggering communal riots across the country that killed over 2,000 people. The demolition also sparked international condemnation and strained India’s relations with its neighbors, especially Pakistan and Bangladesh. The central government dismissed the BJP-led state government of Uttar Pradesh, and imposed president’s rule. The Supreme Court of India ordered a status quo on the site, and prohibited any religious activity there.

Resolution of the Dispute

The resolution of the dispute over the Ram Mandir Ayodhya took several years of legal proceedings, negotiations, and mediation. The main parties involved in the litigation were the Sunni Waqf Board, which claimed the ownership of the mosque, the Nirmohi Akhara, which claimed the right to manage the temple, and Ram Lalla Virajman, which represented the deity of Lord Ram as a juristic person. Several other parties, such as the Shia Waqf Board, the Hindu Mahasabha, and the All India Babri Masjid Action Committee, also joined the case at different stages.

The legal battle went through various courts, including the Allahabad High Court, which in 2010 divided the disputed land into three equal parts among the Sunni Waqf Board, the Nirmohi Akhara, and Ram Lalla Virajman. However, this verdict was challenged by all the parties in the Supreme Court of India, which in 2019 delivered a unanimous and historic judgment, paving the way for the construction of the Ram Mandir Ayodhya. The Supreme Court ruled that the entire disputed land of 2.77 acres belonged to Ram Lalla Virajman, and directed the central government to form a trust to oversee the temple construction. The court also allotted a separate 5-acre land to the Sunni Waqf Board for building a mosque in Ayodhya.

The Supreme Court’s verdict was welcomed by most of the parties and the public, as a fair and final settlement of the dispute. The verdict also received praise from various national and international leaders, who hailed it as a victory of democracy, rule of law, and constitutional values. The verdict also paved the way for the restoration of peace and harmony among the communities, and the development of Ayodhya as a tourist and cultural destination.

Inauguration of the Temple

The inauguration of the Ram Mandir Ayodhya is scheduled to take place on January 22, 2024, in a grand ceremony attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other dignitaries, including Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat, and the chief of the temple trust, Mahant Nritya Gopal Das. The ceremony will mark the Pran Pratishtha or consecration of the temple, and the unveiling of a 51-inch idol of Ram Lalla in the sanctum sanctorum of the temple. The ceremony will also involve various rituals, such as Bhoomi Pujan or ground-breaking ritual, and Shila Pujan or stone-worship ritual.

The Ram Mandir Ayodhya is a marvel of architecture and engineering, built with pink sandstone and carved marble. The temple has a Nagara-style design, with three storeys, five mandaps or halls, 392 pillars, 44 gates and tall pyramidal towers called shikhars. The temple, which covers an area of 2.7 acres, stands at a height of 161 feet and is estimated to have cost Rs 1,800 crore. The temple is also part of a larger development plan for Ayodhya, which includes the construction of a Ramayana-themed park, a museum, a cultural centre, a library, a research institute, a hospital, a guest house, a riverfront and a corridor connecting the temple with the Sarayu river.

The inauguration of the Ram Mandir Ayodhya is a historic and auspicious occasion for India and its people, who have been waiting for this moment for centuries. The temple is seen as a symbol of the faith and identity of the Hindu community, as well as a testament to the unity and diversity of the nation. The temple is also expected to have a positive impact on the economy and the society of Ayodhya and the surrounding regions, by creating employment opportunities, improving infrastructure, enhancing security and fostering harmony. The temple, which is built to last for at least a thousand years, is likely to become one of the most visited and revered places of worship in the world.

Boost for Tourism Sector

The inauguration of the Ram Mandir is not only a religious and political milestone for India, but also a potential catalyst for its tourism sector, which has been severely hit by the Covid-19 pandemic. The temple, which is expected to draw millions of pilgrims and tourists from across the world, is a marvel of architecture and engineering. Built with pink sandstone and carved marble, the temple has a Nagara-style design, with three storeys, five mandaps or halls, 392 pillars, 44 gates and tall pyramidal towers called shikhars. The temple, which covers an area of 2.7 acres, stands at a height of 161 feet and is estimated to have cost Rs 1,800 crore.

The temple is also part of a larger development plan for Ayodhya, which aims to transform the city into a world-class tourist destination. The plan includes the construction of a Ramayana-themed park, a museum, a cultural centre, a library, a research institute, a hospital, a guest house, a riverfront and a corridor connecting the temple with the Sarayu river. The government has also announced various initiatives to promote Ayodhya as a hub of spiritual and cultural tourism, such as organizing Ramlilas, Bhagwat Kathas, Bhajan sandhyas and other events.

The inauguration of the Ram Mandir has been welcomed by many as a historic and auspicious occasion for India and its people, who have been waiting for this moment for centuries. The temple is seen as a symbol of the faith and identity of the Hindu community, as well as a testament to the unity and diversity of the nation. The temple is also expected to have a positive impact on the economy and the society of Ayodhya and the surrounding regions, by creating employment opportunities, improving infrastructure, enhancing security and fostering harmony. The temple, which is built to last for at least a thousand years, is likely to become one of the most visited and revered places of worship in the world.

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