The Ayodhya Reference

Ayodhya tussle - For Hindus, Ram Janma Bhoomi is a “Place of Veneration” and for Muslims, Babri Masjid is a “Place of Ritual Prostration”. The Babri Masjid (Mosque of Babur), the Tughlaq-style mosque, was built in 1528 by General Mir Baqi on the orders of Zahir-ud-din Muhammad Babur, the founder and first emperor of the Mughal dynasty in the Indian subcontinent. The building is facile with Islamic architectural elements but devoid of minarets (Call Towers for prayers), etc. The Babri Masjid was neither a mausoleum nor a cenotaph. The placing of Ram Lalla Idol on December 22, 1949 inside the Babri Masjid Central Dome became the aggravating point of the title dispute. The blood-curdling Ram-Janma-Bhoomi–Babri-Masjid dispute is over a tiny area of 2.77 acres of land out of the 3.287 million square kilometre vast tract of India. Solutions from the erstwhile British rulers and Indian Prime Ministers found no results. At last, it was the reign of the 14th Prime Minister of India, Mr. Narendra Damodardas Modi, that witnessed the lawful solution – amicable both for the Hindus and for the Muslims. Now, the golden era of peace and prosperity, brotherhood and tolerance has blossomed in the Indian soil. The “Basic Structure” (Justice, Liberty, Equality and Fraternity) enshrined in the Preamble of the Indian Constitution has been reaffirmed by this landmark judgment. We can assert that this book takes you to the inroads of the cementing facts and figures of the Ayodhya Dispute unravelled by this unanimous historical judgment of the Supreme Court of India.

Ayodhya tussle - For Hindus, Ram Janma Bhoomi is a "Place of Veneration" and for Muslims, Babri Masjid is a "Place of Ritual Prostration". The Babri Masjid (Mosque of Babur), the Tughlaq-style mosque, was built in 1528 by General Mir Baqi on the orders of Zahir-ud-din Muhammad Babur, the founder and first emperor of the Mughal dynasty in the Indian subcontinent. The building is facile with Islamic architectural elements but devoid of minarets (Call Towers for prayers), etc. The Babri Masjid was neither a mausoleum nor a cenotaph. The placing of Ram Lalla Idol on December 22, 1949 inside the Babri Masjid Central Dome became the aggravating point of the title dispute. The blood-curdling Ram-Janma-Bhoomi-Babri-Masjid dispute is over a tiny area of 2.77 acres of land out of the 3.287 million square kilometre vast tract of India. Solutions from the erstwhile British rulers and Indian Prime Ministers found no results. At last, it was the reign of the 14th Prime Minister of India, Mr. Narendra Damodardas Modi, that witnessed the lawful solution - amicable both for the Hindus and for the Muslims. Now, the golden era of peace and prosperity, brotherhood and tolerance has blossomed in the Indian soil. The "Basic Structure" (Justice, Liberty, Equality and Fraternity) enshrined in the Preamble of the Indian Constitution has been reaffirmed by this landmark judgment. We can assert that this book takes you to the inroads of the cementing facts and figures of the Ayodhya Dispute unravelled by this unanimous historical judgment of the Supreme Court of India.

On 9 November 2019, the Supreme Court, in a unanimous verdict, cleared the way for the construction of a Ram temple at the disputed site in Ayodhya. As we look back, we will be able to see how much we have lost over Ayodhya through the years of conflict. If the loss of a mosque is preservation of faith, if the establishment of a temple is emancipation of faith, we can all join together in celebrating faith in the Constitution. Sometimes, a step back to accommodate is several steps forward towards our common destiny. Through this book, Salman Khurshid explores how the greatest opportunity that the judgment offers is a reaffirmation of India as a secular society.

In one sense, the history of Ayodhya is a microcosm of the history of the north Indian heartland. In another sense, it is a history of the evolution of Vaishnavism in the Hindu consciousness. In a third sense, it stands for the formation and propagation of an aggressive Hindu cultural and religious consciousness that can be traced all the way back to the advent of the East India Company as a military power in north India in the eighteenth century. Over the last two decades or so, a singular fixation on corruption and misgovernance has cloaked the rise of communalism and majoritarianism. In India today, secularism and socialism have become contemptible ideas that many liberals have stopped defending. In this sense Ayodhya has come to stand for ground zero in the battle between secularism and religious fundamentalism in India. One city, many histories.

This work of monumental research is a treatise on Ayodhyã with utmost authenticity and absolute accuracy. Based on original sources and scientific investigation it propounds a new thesis; which demolishes many popular perceptions. It exonerates the intrepid warrior Babur from the charge of demolishing a temple on the birthplace of Rāma and constructing the mosque which has been a source of contention and dissension for long. It further shows how inscriptions in the mosque were factitious and Mir Baqi of inscriptions is a fictitious person different from Baqi Tashkindi/ Shegawal of the Baburnama. The book produces incontrovertible evidence which indubitably proves that there existed a Rãma temple on the Rămajanmabhumi. The exact birthplace of Rāma was earmarked by a rectangular Bedi measuring 18' 9" in length and 15' in width; and was located in the inner portion of the disputed shrine. The demolition of the temple and the construction of the mosque did not take place in 1528 A.D. but in c. 1660 A.D. when Fedai Khan was the Governor of Aurangzeb at Ayodhyã. It is a historical fact that until the British takeover of Awadh administration in 1858 both the Hindus and Muslims used to perform puja and offer Namaz respectively inside it. All Mughal Emperors from Babur to Shah Jahan were magnanimous and liberal rulers and the Bairãgìs of Ayodhyã enjoyed patronage of the first four Nawabs of Awadh. However; during the long rule of Aurangzeb the country was engulfed in the fire of fanaticism. It has been shown in this book how an absolutely unfounded rumour in 1855 A.D. that the Hanumangarhi temple was constructed on the site of a mosque created cleavage between the two communities; and the resultant festering wounds have not healed despite best efforts by saner elements of both the communities. The book exposes many eminent historians' hypocrisy and their lack of objectivity in writing history and it may be said that their presentation of contrived history on Ayodhya has caused irreparable damage to the cause of harmonizing communal relations in the country. In contrast; this text earnestly tries to take away the toxin from the polluted body of Indian politics. For the first time a number of unexplored documents have been incorporated in this book as evidence; and it may be proclaimed with pride that this book contains much more information on Ayodhyã than available hitherto. Justice G.B. Patnaik; a former Chief Justice of India; after going through the manuscript; has endorsed the author's thesis in his Foreword. It is hoped that the book will put a quietus to the long-standing dispute. Selected Stories of Honoré de Balzac by Honoré de Balzac: In this collection, Honoré de Balzac presents a selection of his acclaimed short stories, showcasing his incredible talent for vivid storytelling and character development. With its rich language and engaging narratives, this book is a must-read for fans of classical literature. Key Aspects of the Book "Selected Stories of Honoré de Balzac": Collection of Short Stories: The book features a collection of acclaimed short stories by Honoré de Balzac. Vivid Storytelling and Character Development: The stories showcase Balzac's incredible talent for vivid storytelling and character development. Useful for Literature Enthusiasts: The book is useful for fans of classical literature and those interested in the works of Balzac. Honoré de Balzac was a French novelist and playwright who is regarded as one of the greatest writers of Western literature. His book, Selected Stories of Honoré de Balzac, is highly regarded for its captivating storytelling and rich language.