Ayodhya: Masjid - Mandir Dispute, Towards Peaceful Solution
Essays/Articles by Dr. Asghar Ali Engineer, Prof. Ram Puniyani & Adv. Irfan Engineer
14 September, 2010
Countercurrents.org
An E-Digest Compiled by Ram Puniyani
Preface
The country is waiting with the bated breath the outcome of the land dispute where Babri Masjid stood. The court is to give its verdict on 17th September 2010. One recalls that in the worst ever communal act occurring in the country the Masjid was demolished on 6th December 1992. At the site a make shift Ram Temple was set up and since then the dispute has taken a worse form.
The court has been hearing the case about the ownership of where the mosque was situated. In anticipation of the judgment government has stated that there is a need for caution and that there should be no disturbance in the wake of the judgment. However the RSS and associates have started giving statements that temple will be built precisely on that spot and that it is matter of faith for Hindus. It is noteworthy that local Mahants (Yugal Kishore Sharan Shastri and others) and peace activists e.g. Ayodhya Ki Awaj have started a campaign that the judgment of the court should be respected by all the parties and temple and mosque should come up as per the law of the land. The local peace groups have already begun the campaign with the help of stickers and booklets calling for peaceful resolution of the dispute. Many a Muslim groups and those representing Muslim voice have committed that they will abide by the decision of the courts.
It is in this light that we thought of compiling few representative essays and articles which give the background of the dispute, trace the trajectory of demolition, its impact on the people, the changing attitude of communities, the local longing for peace and the way forward for peace and amity. We hope that social activists and others will benefit from this effort and contribute to the peaceful solution of the dispute. We also hope that the efforts of peace activists will trigger a process where by communal tendencies will be curbed and the atmosphere of peace and amity with strengthen all over the country.
Ram Puniyani
Mumbai.
September 2010
Read the digest here (pdf)