Dr. Syed Farhan Ghani The foundation of the Babri Masjid was laid in 1528. The mosque was built on the orders of the Mughal emperor Babur, and its purpose was to provide a place of worship for Muslims. Some people claim that the construction of the Babri Masjid was done on top of a Hindu temple, which was located at the birthplace of Ram Chandra (Ram Janmabhoomi), but no credible historical evidence has been found to support this claim. The controversy over the Babri Masjid intensified when, in the late 19th century, Hindu extremists began to claim that the site of the mosque was the birthplace of Ram and that there was a temple there that was destroyed by the Mughal rulers. After this claim, religious and political tensions increased between different groups.
In 1949, a controversy arose inside the mosque when some Hindu religious leaders claimed that an idol of Ram was present there. The local administration then closed the gates of the mosque. In 1986, the gates of the Babri Masjid were reopened, and Hindus were allowed to worship, which further intensified the controversy.
On December 6, 1992, a large number of Hindu extremists reached Ayodhya and demolished the Babri Masjid. This act led to widespread protests and unrest across the country. Thousands of people participated in the riot, and the mosque was reduced to rubble. After this incident, riots broke out across India, resulting in the loss of hundreds of lives and injuring thousands of people. The Babri Masjid case is a serious and sensitive chapter in the history of India, which has numerous complexities from a religious, social, and political perspective. The mosque was located in the city of Ayodhya in the state of Uttar Pradesh.
The controversy over the Babri Masjid continued for a long time, which ultimately led to its destruction by Hindu terrorists in 1992. A legal battle was fought for the Babri Masjid, which lasted for several decades. In 2010, the Allahabad High Court ruled that the land of the mosque should be divided into three parts, one for Muslims, one for Hindus, and one for the Nirmohi Akhara, but Muslims appealed against this decision in the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court ruled in 2019 that the land of the Babri Masjid should be given to Hindus and alternative land should be provided to Muslims. The Supreme Court's statement that the Babri Masjid was demolished illegally and that the temple was not built by destroying the mosque is beyond comprehension, despite which the directive to build a temple there is inexplicable.
Under the guise of the Babri Masjid, Hindu nationalist parties, particularly the BJP and the Sangh Parivar, linked religious sentiments with political objectives through the Ram Temple movement. This movement was spread across India through rallies, processions, and yatras. The Ram Rath Yatra was led by L.K. Advani, who is now living a life of obscurity. At that time, the role of Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Kalyan Singh was extremely important. Kalyan Singh had assured the Supreme Court in writing that the Babri Masjid would not be harmed, and the administration would not allow the protesters to get out of control, and peace would be maintained in the state. But that did not happen. Kalyan Singh deliberately stopped the administration from performing its duties. Therefore, no proper measures were taken to stop the protesters. The Babri Masjid was demolished by about one and a half lakh kar sevaks who broke through the security cordon.
After independence, the first terrorist attack was the assassination of Gandhi, and the second terrorist attack was the martyrdom of the Babri Masjid. Lakhs of kar sevaks gathered in Ayodhya, the administration was helpless, and the mosque was demolished in a few hours. So, we can say that this incident was not just a religious one but the result of an extremely organized political movement, which strengthened communal politics, increased hatred, changed the basis of vote banks, and deepened the connection between religion and politics. This organized political movement mobilized lakhs of people through an emotional religious campaign. These events increased mistrust between the two communities and affected the social harmony. The sense of insecurity among minorities increased.
Since the BJP government has come to power, atrocities against Muslims have increased. The government's objective is also to make Hindus hate Muslims; poison is being instilled in the minds of the majority community against Muslims. This is why elements of extremism in Hindu society fuel hatred against minorities, affecting their security and freedom. Now, even on the political level, the representation of minorities is decreasing, which is extremely dangerous. Although the constitution and laws guarantee religious freedom, it is not being seen in practical life. Communal forces have become so strong that they are strangling the secularism of the country. Now, Muslims are being forced to think that they are being made second-class citizens, as they are also being deprived of equal opportunities for development.
The controversy over the Babri Masjid was not only a significant issue on a religious and cultural level but also had a profound impact on the social fabric of India. The controversy increased communalism in India and divided the nation for several decades. The resulting riots caused significant damage to social harmony and resulted in the loss of countless lives. The Babri Masjid controversy is a serious example of how the combination of religious beliefs and politics can create social tension. It teaches us how important it is to promote religious tolerance and harmony within the country. This incident also made it clear that historical disputes cannot be resolved solely through courts and law, but public harmony and compromise are necessary.
The Babri Masjid controversy was not only a religious and cultural issue but also had a profound impact on the social fabric of India, exacerbating communalism and dividing the nation for decades. The resulting riots caused significant damage to social harmony, resulting in the loss of countless lives. The Babri Masjid controversy is a serious example of how the combination of religious beliefs and politics can create social tension, highlighting the importance of promoting religious tolerance and harmony within the country.
