Ayodhya-Mathura-Kashi: Respect the Law!

The manner in which the Ayodhya dispute has been resolved is incorrect. I explain why in this post and end with emphasizing that the same mistakes should not be repeated at Mathura, Kashi or anywhere else.

I'm writing this post despite being a practicing Hindu and being completely convinced that there was indeed a Ram temple beneath the Babri Masjid. In fact, the Muslims have themselves referred to the Babri Masjid as Masjid-E-Janmsthal (Mosque at the Birth Place). That ends all debate in my mind regarding the Babri Masjid having been constructed at Shri Ram's birthplace. Yet, I maintain steadfastly that the Ayodhya dispute has been resolved incorrectly.

Here's why I say this:

We have to function as a country of law. We cannot have groups of people taking law in their own hands and demolishing structures that they believe need demolishing. That the VHP / BJP / RSS did this despite strict legal orders against harming the Mosque in any way was sufficient reason to say: No, no temple will come up here.

Do you know the status of the dispute before the Mosque was demolished? The Supreme Court of the country had allowed Hindus to go inside the Mosque and offer their prayers to a deity of Shri Ram, while Muslims had been asked to offer their Namaaz from outside. This tells you that a resolution was being arrived at legally, through the due process of law. The Hindu community was well within its right to continue pursuing their arguments legally and ask for further steps to be taken towards reclaiming the disputed land. But they had absolutely no business to take law in their own hands. That has led to severe violence and bloodshed. This is no religiosity! They should have been firmly denied the construction of a temple there.

(Important documentary to watch: https://youtu.be/GMT18TMNQbY)

And if one group makes a mistake, another trying to teach them a lesson by engaging in acts of terrorism and bombing innocents holds no justification either whatsoever. That this happened is sufficient reason to say: No, no mosque will come up here.

There was an alternate resolution that I believe would have been correct: We should have constructed a Temple, a Mosque, a Gurudwara and a Church in a circular arrangement surrounding the disputed site. And the site itself should have been converted into a park where people visiting their respective places of worship could meet, walk amongst flowers, laugh and picnic, while their children played together and grew up with affection for each other and respect for each other's right to practice their faiths.

I'm aware that some groups belonging to the Hindu community are presently focused on reclaiming disputed regions in Mathura and Kashi. The constitution of this country gives everyone a right to approach courts of law. These groups have this right too. But it is incumbent upon them - and everyone else - to resolve their disputes legally in a civil and dignified manner. No one has any right to take law in their own hands. That can never be, should never be, allowed.