By: Kayhan Int’l Staff Writer
     
Today, the 6th of December is indeed a black day in the history of civilization when in 1992 the Babri Mosque in India was criminally demolished by anarchic elements claiming it to be the site of birth of a mythological figure.
Although no evidence of any destroyed temple emerged from under the ruins of the 16th century house of worship to the One and Only Creator of the universe, despite extensive excavations, the Supreme Court earlier this year after 28 years of hesitancy, gave a politicized verdict – under pressure of, course – to build an idol house on the desecrated spot of monotheism.
It is rather unfortunate that in this age of scientific progress and unravelling of realities, including those pertaining to religious belief, there are people in our world who instead of proper cognition of the fundamental concept of monotheism on the basis of a rational reading of history and evaluation of historical facts, cling to myths mainly because of the propaganda dished out by pseudo spiritualists and politicians with an eye on the unsuspecting people’s pockets and, of course, on votes to legitimize their rule over them.
It is a matter of deep regret that the great nation of India which for centuries, if not millenniums, had enjoyed unity in diversity with its respect for all religions, schools of thought, cultures, languages and ethnicities, has been made to sacrifice its own dynamic democratic principles on the altar of injustice to the country’s almost 300 million Muslim citizens.
The destruction of the large three-domed mosque, which was an architectural wonder, will continue to be a wound on the conscience of India, no matter if a temple is built it its place, which was definitely not destroyed by Hindus as some claim, since no true Hindu, believing in ‘ahimsa’ and the lessons of peaceful coexistence learned from the legend of Ram, will ever endorse violence against Muslims or demolition of any mosque.
These are the principles by which the majority of Indians abide, but have sadly been relegated to the sidelines by anarchist elements fanning flames of hatred nationwide.
It is also worth noting that neither any ancient Sanskrit text nor any medieval work including ‘Ram Charit Manas’ composed by the famous Hindu poet, Tulsidas in 1575 – within 50 years of the construction of Babri Mosque – have mentioned the demolition of a temple to make way for a mosque in Faizabad.
Moreover, from what we learn from the ancient scholar Valmiki’s lore ‘Ramayana’, Ram was a civilized person and thus an obedient servant of the One and Only God, which means his soul is definitely grieved today at the mockery of his values by those claiming to be his devotees.
Is it possible to believe that Tulsidas would not have given vent to his grief had the very birth site of Ram, who is regarded as a major deity of the Hindu pantheon, been ravaged?
If in 1992 the central government of India had prevented mobs from desecrating the sanctity of the magnificent structure built on a vacant plot of land in 1528 by Mir Baqi Tashqandi, a general of Mohammad Zaheer od-Din Babar – Founder of the mighty Moghal Empire of the northern subcontinent and eastern Afghanistan – the late 19th century mischief of the British colonialists in speculating ruins of a temple underneath the mosque, would never have become the major divisive and destabilization issue that the Babri Masjid is today.
It is interesting to note that the former President of India, Pranab Mukherjee, who expired a couple of months ago, had denounced the demolition of Babri Mosque in volume 2 of his memoirs titled "The Turbulent Years: 1980-96”.
Saying the incident "deeply wounded the sentiments of the Muslim community in India and abroad”, he has written: "The demolition of the Babri Masjid was an act of absolute perfidy, which should make all Indians hang their heads in shame. It was the senseless, wanton destruction of a religious structure, purely to serve political ends. It destroyed India’s image as a tolerant, pluralistic nation where all religions coexist in peace and harmony.”
The Hindus are a peace-loving people with respect for the religious and cultural sentiments of others in contrast to the unprincipled and irreligious Daesh-like elements that are building a temple on this site in order to tarnish the image of Hinduism and its rich contributions to science, philosophy and civilization.
In view of these undeniable facts, it is still not too late for the Supreme Court to review the appeals against its controversial decision and allow the reconstruction of Babri Mosque on its original site.