BABRI MASJID - Agony of Demolition Symbol of Resurgence

It has been 15 years since the Babri Masjid was demolished. The demolition of the 463 year old Masjid on the December 6th 1992 by the Hindutva Fascists has not only destroyed a place of worship of Muslims, but with it, the ideals and values of India were also shattered. The Government a mere spectator, the laws of the country merely left on paper and the judiciary left powerless. The values of secularism and democracy were mocked at. The demolition was the gravest crime on Independent India after Gandhiji’s killing. It was the day when India had to hold its head in shame before the world community. The great values, tradition and history of our Indian nation, which we held so high, was blemished on the fateful day. On that black day our trusted mechanism of governance was torn apart into pieces.

It was not mere coincidence that this very day chosen by the Fascists was the death anniversary day of the architect of Indian Constitution, Dr. B. R. Ambedkar. It was not by any random act of Hindutva terrorism that these zealots demolished the Babri Masjid. It was a very well preplanned destruction of the mosque, an act that was botched years back. It was a major milestone towards phasing out the Muslim Community; and it proved to be a major catalyst in enthroning Hindutva forces. Yes, it was a direct threat to the stability and existence of 15 crores Muslims of India. By demolishing a mosque which was used for worship by Muslims for 420 years, the Sangh Parivar claimed that they have erased off a stain that had been there for years. It symbolized that Muslim was a dark stain on the body politic of India. They thus pointed out that it was not just the erasing of the mosque; they are out to flush out Muslims. The attack on Muslims that followed demolition was direct fallout of their intentions. 1992 December- 1993 January Mumbai riots were not stopped by the intervention of any government, it halted when the zealots were quenched of their thirst for Muslim blood. The Muslim community who was bruised and left with unhealed wounds of the destruction of Babri Masjid, was, further, subjected to continuous in 2002, using full- scale government machinery, and under the full supervision and patronage of the administration, the Muslims in India became victims of virtual genocideorchestrated by the Sangh Parivar under Chief Minister Narendra Modi. As the Hindutva zealots played Holi with Muslim blood, the leaders whowere asking the Muslims to forget Babri issue were tight lipped.

The whole nation had to listen in pathetic silence the cries of innocent and helpless Muslims. As the leaders advised to forget Babri Masjid, the Sangh thus sought out to remind Muslims of the very same idea. But we are not to let Babri or Gujarat fade from our mind with the passage of time. Historical memories are actually motivating factors for a community. These bitter memories should be a source of inspiration to fight against the evil forces. The amnesia of these historical moments would set a suitable situation for the growth and strengthening of fascist forces.

It was upon Rana Singh’s invitation that Zaheeruddin Muhammad Babar invaded Panipat in1526 AD. He defeated Ibrahim Lodi, the ruler at Delhi, marking the beginning of the Mughal Rule in India. The governor of Awad [Ayodhaya], Mir Bakhi, on the orders of Babar, built a mosque, which later came to be known as Babri Masjid. This is the genesis of Babri Masjid. Historically, Muslims and Hindus of Awad region used to live in harmony. They had even participated in a united struggle in 1857. This unity was the major hurdle to the British who wished to impose their rule in the Awad province. The British under Lord Dafrin [1884 - 1888] thus devised plans to divide them.

Using a Buddhist Astrologer, they forged a tale that it was in that place Ram was born and Sita had the kitchen. And on 1886, January 16, Raghuveer Das, a self-proclaimed scholar submitted a petition to the sub-judge of Faizabad. His petition asked to make a temple inside the walls of the Masjid, claiming that this request was previously dismissed by the Deputy Commissioner. It was dismissed. Subsequent petitions submitted to the Awad’s Judicial Commissioner and the District Judges were also dismissed. These served a temporary respite to the controversies related to the Masjid. There were the pre-Independence acts related to the site.