Will Ram be the Unifying Force?

The consecration of Ram Mandir in Ayodhya brings the idea of cultural Hindutva to a full circle in India

 

As the name of Ram resonates in the streets of Ayodhya, it heralds a new era in Indian politics. While the proponents of ‘Hindutva’ feel invigorated, pundits remain divided over its implications. With the 2024 general elections looming, this event will undoubtedly solidify the core Hindu-centric vote bank of BJP. The party has spared no effort in capitalizing on people’s fervor for this grand ceremony. Critics and the opposition have labeled the event as a classic example of exploiting religion for political gain, but alternative views exist across the country.

Comments from members of various opposition parties reflect the political reverberations of this occasion. Rahul Gandhi of Congress has stated that the BJP and RSS have made it exclusively about Narendra Modi, while the leftist Chief Minister of Kerala, Pinarayi Vijayan, has expressed concern about the blurring of the religion-state line. In a more partisan comment, Congress Chief Minister of Karnataka, Siddaramaiah, mentioned they are willing to worship Gandhi’s Ram, not BJP’s Ram. Meanwhile, Mamata Banerjee, the Chief Minister of West Bengal and a staunch opponent of the BJP, stated that her party cannot celebrate on the corpses of people.

However, the boycott call for this event by the INDIA alliance, comprising opposition parties, has failed to impact the masses, as the overwhelming crowd at the venue suggests. Whether the alliance misread the country’s mood is a topic of close debate in the Indian media.

Notably, there has been a shift in attitude towards Muslims by BJP and its parent body, ‘Sangh Parivar’, compared to the 1980s and 1990s. Unlike in earlier decades, the Muslim community is no longer perceived as the enemy of Hindus, and their leaders no longer emphasize religious divides. Significantly, no BJP leader has issued statements against Muslims, and an overall atmosphere of harmony has been well-maintained.

Prime Minister Modi’s speech at the ceremony suggests that the consecration of Ram Mandir is viewed as a cultural revival and a civilizational milestone. Modi’s emphasis on ‘Sabka Ram’ implies the universal appeal of Lord Ram that transcends religious barriers.

Looking back, the metaphor of Ram has long been used in Indian politics. In the pre-independence period, social activist Baba Ramchandra Das used the slogan ‘Jai Siya Ram’ to unite peasants across the United Provinces against mistreatments and injustices of the British government. During the freedom struggle, Mahatma Gandhi repeatedly used the metaphor of ‘Ram Rajya’ or the ‘Kingdom of Lord Ram’ to connect with the masses. However, the coinage of the slogan ‘Jai Shree Ram’ gained popularity during the ‘Ram Janmabhoomi Movement’ in the late 1980s when agitators focused on the disputed site of Babri Masjid, claiming it to be the birthplace of Lord Ram. Henceforth, the unifying slogan took on a more vengeful meaning, exploited by the ‘Hindutva’ proponents. Interestingly, Modi’s current view closely resembles Gandhi’s idea of Lord Ram.

The frenzy around the telecast of Ramanand Sagar’s Ramayana in 1987-88 is still remembered, as it was watched across religious barriers and unofficial lockdowns occurred during its telecast. There is a belief that the popularity of this serial might have fueled the political appetite of leaders like L.K. Advani and Ashok Singhal, who were at the forefront of the ‘Ram Janmabhoomi Movement’ starting in 1988-89.

The atmosphere of harmony surrounding the construction of Ram Mandir has only been possible due to the Supreme Court’s verdict, which allocated the disputed land for this purpose. The archaeological survey supported by chronological and historical documents has established the existence of a temple dedicated to Lord Ram at the site where Babri Masjid was built in the 16th century. The acceptance of the verdict across religious divides without much uproar is due to the authority of the Supreme Court. However, the views of the only Muslim archaeologist who took part in the first excavation in 1976-77 at the disputed site should be considered relevant. Long before Ayodhya became a premier issue, K.K. Muhammed, the archaeologist, clearly stated that artifacts, rows of pillars, and inscriptions indicating the existence of a Hindu temple were found at the site when they excavated it under Prof. B.B Lal’s supervision. He  suggested that the plot should be gifted to the Hindus as a gesture of goodwill. The views of Muslims can be echoed in his statement after the Ram Mandir consecration: “Muslims are finally happy that the case has been resolved.”

A remarkable scene unfolded at the consecration ceremony when a leading Muslim cleric, Umer Ahmed Ilyasi, the chief of All India Imam Organization, stood firm with a Hindu priest and declared that he came with a message of harmony for a united India that is gradually changing. He emphasized the idea of harmony despite different methods of worship and appealed for an end to disharmony and hatred.

The peace-loving citizens of the country are hopeful that the era of politics over Ram Mandir is a thing of the past. It remains to be seen how far the Prime Minister and his party uphold the ethos of holistic living, societal harmony, and communal harmony, the characteristics of Ram Rajya.