India’s Ram Mandhir is stained in blood
INDIANS all over the world are celebrating. The Ram Mandir temple has been opened by Indian Prime Minister Narendi Modi, fulfilling a long held, cherished dream.
But controversy surrounds the temple in Ayodhya. Built on a sprawling complex, the temple stands on site where a 16th-century mosque, the Babri Masjid, once stood.
Like all invading armies, the Mughals did not respect the religion and customs of India when they imposed their will on the people. The site has long been a contentious issue between the two Hindu and Muslim communities. The Hindus claim that the site was the birth place of Rama. In 1992, angry far right Hindu nationalists tore down the Babri Masjid, triggering nationwide religious riots in which more than 2 000 people, mostly Muslims, lost their lives.
The matter went to court. The Supreme Court of India ruled in favour of the Hindus that the one hectare site was rightfully the birth place of Rama and should be given back to the Hindus. It instructed the Indian government to give the Muslims another site to construct their mosque. The Hindus felt vindicated.
When Modi, a strong Hindu nationalist, came into power, he set about fulfilling his lifelong dream to build the Ram Mandhir on the holy site in Ayodhya. So important was the massive project that he fasted for 11 days before the consecration ceremony of the temple.
Like the ANC government in South Africa which won a favourable ruling against Israel at the Hague for its war crimes in Gaza, thereby boosting its image before the elections, could this also be a political move by Modi before the Indian elections?
He appears to be a religious man but could he be using Hindu nationalism to keep him in power after the next elections?
Could Ram Mandhir bring peace to India? Religion does not have a good track record of spreading peace on Earth. Throughout history, it has been the root cause of bitter feuds, wars, upheavals and bloodshed.
There’s the bloody conflict in Gaza between two religious groups bond in blood but forever at each other’s throats.
The Ram Mandhir is stained in blood. Could two wrongs make a right?