Ram Mandir: The Embodiment of Right-wing Extremism
Today, 22 Jan 2024 marks the inauguration of the Ram Mandir at Ayodhya, the said birth place of “Ram”, at the very place where the Babri Masjid was demolished by the Karsevaks of the Sangh Parivar namely BJP, RSS and VHP.
Is India still secular?
Undeniably, there is a heavy feeling around the country now. Nothing questioned the secularity of my country than this moment. Feels like a battle lost, feels like, slowly and slowly, their plan is all coming in shape. Building the Ram Mandir at Ayodhya wasn’t easy even for them. They had to win the elections (twice), mass-manipulate crores of citizens, buy the Supreme Court of India and make them say “uh..well..feelings are important too”.
The grand opening of the Ram Mandir is quite metaphorical of what we’ve done to ourselves over the last decade. The pinnacle of right-wing extremism, after 10 years of governing us, reaching an orgasm, climaxing to this communal hatred. It is quite representative of the mess we’ve gotten ourselves into. It’s tough even for someone who isn’t that cynical, to question the secularity of the nation. But why question the secularity for a mere temple, eh?
It was never about the God
I’d ridicule myself if I ever thought the 1992 Babri Masjid demolition had anything to do with their “God”. It was LK Advani’s political statement that he could gather the Hindu masses, and make people known the power the Hindus have. It was the Sangh Parivar’s statement to show the muslims that they could do what they want and get away with it.
A genocide usually happens by the majority sect acting threatened, and playing the victim and wanting to show the world that they’re not weak, while no one ever contested their strength. The dominant Hindus have controversially claimed that their beliefs are not valued and being threatened by the existence of secularity. Ofcourse, it is no doubt that something that could be fair and equitable to all is a threat to the religion and the upper castes who quietly guide the narrative and let the Shudras and Avarnas do the hard work.
The Grand Celebration
The ruling BJP government has made this their flagship project. Holidays declared in 15 states and UTs and ban on alcohol sale, meat sale in some. They want everyone to know about it. It’s their chest thumping moment. It’s their evil look into our eyes, “I did it. See?”.
Although there is a polarizing climate about this in the south, it has still not been enough for the BJP to trigger victimhood. The Finance Minister of India quickly jumped upon the fake news spread by Dinamalar and BJP TN President Annamalai, that TN govt has banned special celebrations for the Ayodhya temple inauguration. The TN Secretary as well as the Fact Check Unit of Govt of TN debunked this fake news.
What do we do?
It’s important to stay hopeful amidst times like this. Important to register resistance, even passively. Through this piece of writing, I declare that I am disgraced that this is happening in India. 22 Jan 2024 is a black day in Indian history. The Ram Mandir at Ayodhya is a token of victory for the right-wing extremists and Hindu Nationalists, not to the average Indian, not to the humane Indian.
It is important for the Bahujans to not identify with these forms of exclusionary practices. Even the religious Hindus, who care atleast a little about the fellow humans around them, should make sure to not relate with the right-wing form of worship. With this hope, and a clear showcase of resistance, we shall calmly wait till the storm passes.
- Udaya Prakash Nageswaran