BJP's Driving Force: The Construction of Ram Mandir
On January 22nd 2024, the Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi, will open the Ram Mandir Temple in Ayodhya. The land of the Ram Mandir is famous for many controversies. The clashes due to this land date back to the year 1885 when a specific group of Hindus believed that the Muslim Mughal emperor Babar destroyed the Ram temple, and then the Babri Masjid was constructed in the exact location, thus starting the Hindu-Muslim Conflicts. However, on December 6th 1992, a group led by the Vishva Hindu Parishad(a right-wing Hindu Organization) along with the Current Government BJP(Bharatiya Janatha Party) organized a rally involving 1,50,000 people and the rally turned violent and the crowd tore down the mosque. The demolition led to over 2000 deaths, thus starting the inter-communal riots between the Hindu-Muslim Community. Though the court case has lasted for more than 100 years, recently, on November 9th 2019, the court declared the decision to give the land to the Ram Janmabhoomi Nyas to construct a temple. The Muslim side was compensated with five acres of land at a prominent site in Ayodhya to build a mosque. In February 2020, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced in the Lok Sabha that the Government had given its approval to the proposal for "Shri Ramjanmabhoomi Tirtha Kshetra" trust to take care of the construction of a grand Ram temple in Ayodhya and other related issues.
Coming to the main topic, this project, which the BJP government led, has been in the news a lot recently. Why is the Prime Minister so interested in this temple? According to me, the interest of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the construction of the Ram Mandir can be viewed from multiple perspectives:
Political Symbolism: The BJP, under the leadership of Narendra Modi, has consistently positioned itself as a party that champions Hindu nationalism. The construction of the Ram Mandir aligns with the party's ideological stance, and delivering on this promise could strengthen the political support of its Hindu voter base. It becomes a symbolic achievement reinforcing the party's commitment to Hindu interests.
2. Political Legacy: The construction of the Ram Mandir could contribute to shaping Narendra Modi's political legacy. Successfully overseeing the construction of a grand temple at a site with such historical and emotional significance could be a lasting achievement for Modi's leadership and the BJP and help the BJP party in the upcoming 2024 general elections.
There have been various instances where the BJP party used the Ram Mandir to its benefit. While addressing a rally in Madhya Pradesh, Home Minister Amit Shah promised arrangements for the darshan of Lord Ram, adding to his party's promises made in the manifesto for the State polls; similarly, he promised free travel to the citizens of Telangana if voted to power. Using the Ram Mandir at every chance in the elections is concerning. The temple is being portrayed as an achievement of the BJP, whereas in reality, there are more pressing concerns in the nation; it seems like the Prime Minister is too busy with the inauguration of the temple that he has no time to go to the burning Manipur or resolve the wrestler's agony. By suspending 146 MPs from the Lok Sabha, Democracy is at stake, and the voices are hushed. With many more issues, the BJP is focusing on the inauguration of the Ram Temple, inviting various members of the society, and using the temple as a medium to judge the opposition if they are turning down the invites.
Though there may be certain positives, the Ram Temple holds profound religious and cultural significance for millions of Hindus. The construction fulfils a long-standing demand and is a symbol of faith for Indians worldwide; there may be a sense of questioning here as the other religions, such as Muslims and Christianity, have their religious sites for worship. Still, Hinduism has diverse Gods confined only to Lord Ram.
The resolution of the Ayodhya dispute has already set a precedent for handling other religious and cultural arguments in India, already leading to similar conflicts in the Gyanvapi Mosque Case. Destroying Mosques and trying to find a connection to Hinduism, in most cases, may contribute to the further polarization of society along religious lines, potentially undermining the idea of a pluralistic and diverse nation.
Usually, a temple denotes harmony, peace and happiness to the worshippers. Though most people are happy with the construction of the Ayodhya Temple, they must realize the Government's ulterior motives and understand where we as a nation need a temple to foster our identity and unity.
Main Motive of Ram Mandir Temple
Political Gains
Religious Identity
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