Shiban Khaibri
The boycott in the form of declining the invite in respect of being part of and witnessing the unique historic moments of consecration ceremony of Shree Ram Mandir in Ayodhya , whether most of the constituents of the INDI Alliance have erred grossly but irreversibly is interesting while being most unfortunate and at the same time is tantamount to a political harakiri . It is pitiably injudicious for such constituents as the leaders deciding about the boycott happen to call themselves as Hindus. It could have been avoided had the hate for Prime Minister Modi not reached to such an extent so as to rob them of the requisite discretion to weigh its larger fallout and repercussions on their electoral battle which they united(ly) are projecting to fight to defeat Modi in the fast approaching Lok Sabha elections. Who from which Party from Mumbai from the opposition block had feared that ” a Godhra like incident can take place at the time of the Ram Mandir inauguration in Ayodhya and that BJP can do anything to win 2024 polls …” Who , again, from which Party in Karnataka had created fear and confusion among those willing to travel to Ayodhya to witness consecration ceremony , a rare historic occasion, taking place that Godhra like incident could take place in Karnataka “? By the blessings of Shree Ram, nothing of the sort, not even in least, happened anywhere across the country and why should have that happened at all, looking to the cause, purpose, basics, objective and the question of justice having been dispensed after a long, impedimental , hazardous and seemingly insurmountable struggle of Hindus lasting for over 500 years? Highly condemnable and reprehensible such a type of fear and canard mongering . Such a despicable type of putting foot in the mouth by such political leaders has exposed such a perverted mentality before the public who, by trying even to interfere with such a highly important and most sensitive issue related to faith of hundreds of millions of people , ostensibly to trivialising if not aborting the memorable and extraordinary event, was going to prove counterproductive.
Now, let the other side be seen in that it must increasingly astonish those who might tend to partially believe that there were so called restrictions on freedom of expression as routinely parroted and manufactured by some confused politicians . Even under the course of ordinary business, such politicians giving such statements should have been taken care of by the Law of the Land. That, they are quite free and enjoying liberty to speak in public domain to such extent shows two things and shows that very notably . One – that the Hindus of this country are genetically peaceful and tolerant and do never react violently and two– the government is taking such statements and series of rhetoric leniently and even not seriously .
Not only during the construction of the temple and more so during the days nearing the consecration , were statements full of hate and curses raining from different political quarters against the very existence of the most ancient Sanatan Dharma and even Holy scriptures were ridiculed and defiled but even during and immediately after the consecration, unwarranted and silly statements continue to come from a few opposition leaders. Rahul Gandhi categorically denies existence of any “Ram Lehar” , not known why? If as many 5 lakh devotees perform darshan on the 2nd day of the consecration and tens of thousands waiting in queue but there is no “Lehar” as per his considered view , is he happy or sad about it? Why even a whiff of the feel of such “lehar” makes him so scared ?Where has the proud claim of being a “Janeva Dhari” Hindu gone vis-a-vis the ecstatic Ram Lehar? Sonia Ji unfortunately declines the invite for Shree Ram Temple consecration but is extremely happy and conveys regrets to Pope Francis in 2016 about not making it to the canonising ceremony of Mother Teresa and conveying and “expressing the pride and delight felt by every Indian citizen on the canonisation of Mother Teresa …” is the type of secularism pursued in this country. Again, mocking the 11 days strict – no food intake- fast undertaken by the Prime Minister in connection with the consecration , is extremely cheap , unwarranted and ridiculous. That austere strict fast did not interfere with his duty as the country’s PM, least with that cry of secularism ”in danger”.
Many more clumsy, ridiculous , provocative and even cheap comments by many political leaders in connection with the Grand Holy Temple and Shree Ram Pran Pratishtha ceremony are continuously being made and making a mention of such statements in these lines would probably be casting aspersions on a mass civilisation (al) reawakening and cultural renaissance about which this writer had made a mention in the previous write- up, appearing in these very columns. Anything suppressed for long , however, cannot remain suppressed for all times is what is established historically even after undergoing onslaughts and excesses and injustice by the victims.
Now, such reawakening is bringing in its wake a people’s movement, a silent resistance to dividing the community into caste and sub castes and fragmented groups even on the basis of occupations and avocations. In the evening of Jan 22, on a leading English TV channel of the country, a few sworn critics of Modi responded to the questions that looking to the entire country having become “Ram mai” or dowsed in the devotion to Shree Ram, the opposition by boycotting had indirectly offered on a silver platter a massive win to the ruling dispensation in the ensuing Lok Sabha elections, reply came that “”Ayodhya or at best a few places in the North do not matter at all , Bharat was a large country in size and proportion and that in most of the states, there was nothing like any perceptible change in the mood of the people turning the tide against anti Modi combine .” Such a divisive connotation and promoting a divide between the North and the South , between the East and the West , between sects , communities and groups desperately done all in the name of and under the cover of so called secularism and “saving the constitution” , was fraught with weakening the fibre of unity and integrity of the country. This has to be countered and countered seriously . The best way to do that is initiating a movement – a people’s movement where the dangers of such divide were to be highlighted and brought home to the people. Inter community meetings and dialogues citing number of wrong doings of successive governments right from the partition of the country and how promoting caste divide was a bane to the very existence, identity , the belief and philosophy of universal brotherhood of the ancient Sanatan Dharma must be fairly discussed and made widely known. A process is just underway and not only the political leaders pursuing unadulterated secularism but Dharamacharyas , seers and Dharam Gurus have to play a great role in this task to make this country cohesively stronger.
One would fairly agree that January 22, 2024 marks the advent of a new era which is concomitant of a new vibrant and strong India . Peace and tranquillity, as it prevails in the country as compared to most of the countries torn in conflicts, violence and unrest, must not only be felt and enjoyed but promoted and sustained strongly. Shree Ram Temple is a symbol of harmony and a constant inspiration to all of us to build very deep foundations of a strong , vibrant , economically and militarily strong India and with all divinity cherished for centuries . Let us all take an inspiration and let us always continue to breathe as we do presently in a peaceful, conflict free, harmonious and tolerant Bharat. Those, who for reasons best known to them only, were feigning ”feeling scared and insecure” in this country may cite any other country as peaceful and as tolerant as this country. That is because Hindus are highly tolerant , truly secular and have been treating the entire world as one family. However, Prime Minister’s speech at the consecration event , therefore, is worth noting as even his hard core critics , in the heat of their hearts , would acknowledge that he allayed all doubts and fears and ambiguities rising as he did superbly to the occasion.
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