Bharat, that is India, is truly blessed to have witnessed a once in a lifetime event on Monday—the consecration ceremony of the Ram Lalla idol at the newly built grand Ram temple in Ayodhya. It was a moment where a deep wound inflicted on a civilisation was finally healed, after nearly half a millennium. It was a civilisational moment because it marked the cultural and spiritual rebirth of a nation, of a civilisation that has withstood the harshest of assaults to preserve its identity. It was a return-to-the-roots moment for this nation of over a billion people. In a largely directionless world torn apart by various -isms, where traditional values and respect for one’s heritage are being destroyed, there is something reassuring to see the people of India rise up to reclaim their deep connection with the past and make it a part of their future. It is uplifting to see the joy of the simple autorickshaw-driver flying the Jai Shri Ram flag as he drives past with his vehicle; to feel the exultation of the young and old as they take out processions to mark the occasion; to witness the tears welling up in the eyes of the monk on stage in Ayodhya while expressing his gratitude to the Prime Minister for making this moment possible. The message is elevating: This nation thrives; this civilisation continues.
As Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, this is the beginning of a new era. Also, as he said, this is not the time just to feel victorious but to feel humble at the greatness of the moment. At a time when the temple has been built, the majority community needs to be gracious and go an extra mile to include everyone in their happiness and live up to the ideals that are at the core of this civilisation—the ideals of harmony and brotherhood. Contrary to what many pseudo-liberals would like the world to believe, a temple at the birthplace of Lord Ram would not divide Hindus and Muslims. It was the destruction of the original temple at one of Hinduism’s holiest sites that caused the divide, along with the destruction of the temples at Kashi and Mathura. The attempt was to inflict a wound so deep that Hindus would find it impossible to revive themselves. That they survived those attacks with their faith intact is proof of their resilience, when many other people all over the world simply crumbled and gave up their way of life when faced with similar assaults. Think of the number of civilisations that have disappeared over the centuries, while ours continues and now thrives. The wrong committed by building the Babri mosque by trampling on the deep-held beliefs of the Hindus was righted on Monday. In fact, the building of the temple is now an opportunity to bridge the gulf between Hindus and Muslims and rebuild inter-community relations.
The new temple at Lord Ram’s birthplace does not symbolise the destruction of a secular nation. That this country is secular, is because of Hindus, and their core belief and lived reality of inclusivity; it’s not because the word secular is a part of the Constitution. It is a different matter that the word was introduced in the Constitution during Emergency, undemocratically. At the fundamental level, nothing has happened in this nation to change the people. It is just that Indians have realised that they no longer need to be apologetic of telling the world of who they are—that they are Bharatiya. To describe this as Hindu supremacism, or majoritarianism, as some narrative builders do, is to be economical with the truth. Just as it is false to say that the minorities are treated like second-class citizens in India. But then these are political responses, afraid of what the political implications of the temple will be on the general elections. It goes without saying that the temple will have political implications, but now is the time to witness history unfold before our eyes. Today is the day to show gratitude towards those who made this day possible for this nation. The discussion on politics should be left for another day. It is time to be happy that this civilisation thrives and that there is hope.