Hindutva triumph

This act of political brinkmanship was undesired, has come at a time when societal unrest is on rise and minorities

History was paused in Ayodhya as Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the grand Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Temple on the very site that once housed the ancient Mughal piece of architecture, Babri Mosque. India has come a long way since the mosque’s demolition in 1992, and a balancing unanimous verdict of the Supreme Court that went on to state that “…the evidence of possessory claim of the Hindus...stands on a better footing than the evidence given by the Muslims.” While this kicked off a campaign to build a temple on the controversial spot, as well as a consolation mosque somewhere far away, India’s secular fabric since then has come under a contentious debate. The far-right fabric of political discourse under Hindutva has surely alienated millions of Muslims, and an impression of Hinduism calling the shots in state-centrism has unnerved the majority egalitarian constituency that still prides in its secular constitutional credentials.

The $240 million structure, built with public donations, has exhibited that Hindu radicalism is now part and parcel of Indian politics. At the same time, its fanfare inauguration that saw the incumbent PM prostrate to seek blessings of Lord Ram has kicked off the BJP election campaign too. This show of triumph was choreographed intentionally to browbeat and push aside concerns on alleged repressive policies against the minorities in India, and no recourse was sought to pacify the victims of the 1992 riots that saw thousands killed and maimed. This act of political brinkmanship was undesired, and has come at a time when societal unrest is on the rise and minorities, especially Christians and Muslims, are on the receiving end. The legislation such as Citizen Amendment Bill and National Register of Citizens are cases in point.

India is passing through a critical phase of its existence. It has shined as an economic power and has made deep inroads in leadership among the comity of nations. But that cannot compensate for the deep-rooted unrest in its multi-ethnic and heterogeneous society, which awes for a just order and that too on a pluralistic decorum.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 23^rd, 2024.

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