Ram Temple in Ayodhya: Is turning reality into myth our biggest modern-day failure?

The construction of Ram temple in Ayodhya will commence either on Ram Navmi or Akshaya Tritiya in April, said Swami Govind Devgiri Maharaj, a trustee of Shri Ram Janambhoomi Teertha Kshetra Trust, while talking to the reporters on 6th February 2020. This announcement comes after the Supreme Court of India ordered the disputed land (2.77 acres) to be handed over to a trust to build the Ram Janmabhoomi temple.

Is Ayodhya really a mythical city-state?

Anyone who has been to Ayodhya or has read about it in the books would identify it as the birthplace of Lord Ram. He is regarded as the seventh avatar of the god Vishnu, the most popular incarnation besides Buddha and Krishna. In Ram-centric traditions of Hinduism, he is considered the Supreme Being. Alongside this, his references are also found in the texts of other Sanatana dharma like Jainism and Buddhism.

Such is the story of this legend that every Indian, be it a kid, elder or a working professional, knows about him and that he was born in Ayodhya.

In spite of that, there is not a single temple site dedicated to Ram at his own birthplace. Though our country is secular in nature and has always respected other cultures and religions since the ancient times, no matter how different they are in principles, yet not acknowledging the contributions of our ancestors and turning reality into myth has been one of our biggest modern-day failures, believes Sanjay Dalmia, a renowned Indian Nationalist.

Is Supreme Court's recent decision justified?

(Looks Majestic right? This is Mecca, the birthplace of Prophet Mohammad)

(Looks surreal, doesn’t it? This is Bethlehem, the birthplace of Jesus Christ)

( Ayodhya, the birthplace of Lord Ram)

In spite of being in such a state of affairs, when Indian top court gave the disputed site to Hindus, there were mixed reactions. If there is one institution in India which always takes decisions backed with facts, it is the judicial court. In a unanimous decision over the site claimed by both Indus and Muslims, the five-judge bench asked the government to set up a trust for the construction of Ram temple.

What does the evidence suggest?

Archaeological evidence suggests that the site had a temple structure prior to the building of the mosque. Furthermore, all Persian, Arabic and Urdu history such as Tarik-e-Avdi shows that Babar destroyed Ram Mandir. Even if one overlooks such medieval writings, they can refer to the constitution of India, which contains the painting of Lord Ram, signifying his importance in Indian culture.

Does a place of worship take precedence over basic necessities?

There were some sections of the society, who questioned the decision and asked for the land to be used for hospitals or schools. Such type of statements can only come from people who aren’t aware of their history. It’s true that we need a more holistic approach to eradicate poverty and chronic diseases in our country but that cannot take precedence over the cultural values.

Even after years of invasions and being under repressive foreign rulers, we Indians have preserved our culture. Our ethnicity, culture is what separates us from the rest of the world. An Indian living in London would always remain an Indian, even if he/she gets the citizenship. No matter how strongly one tries to blend in, they can never leave this behind, says Sanjay Dalmia.

Whether it would be a world-class tourist destination or not, only time will tell, but such landmark decisions in Independent India is a testament of how strong our foundations have been. It may not happen overnight but the truth would always prevail. If we can have airports, railways stations and other public places named after politicians, we can certainly have a site dedicated to Lord Ram.