The decision to proceed with the construction of Mandir under the very leadership and guidance of the revered great saints, who had spearheaded the movement, is laudable. …It is certain that, along with the process of completion of the sacred mandir, the dignity, social harmony, the sense of integrity and the urge to emulate the noble ideals of life of Maryada Purushottam Ram will grow in the society and Bharat will fulfil its mission of establishing peace, goodwill and harmony in the world”. — Resolution of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh on the Construction of Mandir at Sri Ram Janmasthan passed by the Akhil Bharatiya Karyakari Mandal held at Bengaluru on March 14, 2020
On August 5, 2020, a new chapter will be written in the history of Bharat. The commencement of reconstruction of the Ram Mandir at the same Janmabhoomi Sthan is an epoch-making event in many ways. Due to the pandemic, many people would not be able to attend the ceremony physically, but the entire world would be watching it live on various platforms. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the entire leadership of the revered saints who guided and spearheaded the movement for the liberation of the Janmasthan will be present there. The combined presence of political and spiritual leadership on the historic occasion is significant because of the message it is going to deliver.
The entire struggle for the liberation of the Ram Janmabhoomi was not a religious one. Whether the continuous social efforts on the ground or the legal battle that took place since 1949, it was all about the restoration of the national pride. The natural quest for reasserting our civilisational identity was reflected in this struggle. It was not aimed against anybody but meant for regaining the ‘self’ that was damaged by foreign aggression. Prabhu Sri Ram has been the symbol of that collective consciousness of the nation, that is being restored.
At the intellectual level, this process of rejuvenation has been even more significant. The colonial prism influenced our intelligentsia to a great extent. The parameters of being ‘liberal’ and ‘progressive’ used by such elite did not allow them to absorb the intrinsic civilisational value of this movement. The natural urge to decolonise the symbols of foreign aggression was alien to them. Inclusivity is inherent to the concept of Ram-Rajya and therefore, neither the dichotomy of secular-communal nor the binary of majority-minority could encapsulate the essence of the Ram Janmabhoomi liberation movement. Since independence, ordinary people of Bharat wanted to liberate themselves from the colonial paradigms, whether of self-perception or the world-view. Unfortunately, the intellectual elite continued to impose the fragmented and exclusivist ideas on them. Bharat being the most inclusive and integrationist society, the frustration against this anglicised, privileged group kept piling which ultimately led to the building up of the movement. The beginning of reconstruction is the liberation of that collective national psyche from the colonial constructs.
Some distracters are still trying to find some way-out to derail the process of integration and assimilation through justice and reconciliation. Honourable Supreme Court has ensured that such forces would not succeed any longer. The movement, struggle, and judgement by the Supreme Court were the crucial stages in this process of regaining national consciousness. Reconstruction of the temple is a step forward. While the process of developing the entire Teerth Kshetra circuit will go on for next 2-3 years, the real challenge is to remember the resolve for Ram-Rajya, the just and harmonious system, that will ensure participation and prosperity for all. We should not forget that being a model for the entire world in terms of polity, economy and social harmony is the ultimate goal and Sri Ram stands as an inspiration and ideal in the realisation of that objective. The presence of political and spiritual leadership in Ayodhya should be seen as a resolve for this eternal aspiration of Bharat.
@PrafullaKetkar
