The Ayodhya Mandir dispute is one of the most significant and long-standing issues in Indian history. It revolves around a piece of land in the town of Ayodhya, believed to be the birthplace of Lord Ram, a revered deity in Hinduism. The conflict was between Hindus and Muslims, with the former claiming the site as Ram Janmabhoomi (the birthplace of Ram) and the latter identifying it as the location of the Babri Masjid, a mosque built in the 16th century by Mughal emperor Babur. This timeline explores the major events in the history of this dispute and the eventual resolution.
1528: Construction of Babri Masjid
In 1528, a mosque called Babri Masjid was constructed in Ayodhya by order of Babur, the first Mughal emperor. According to Hindu beliefs, this mosque was built on the site of an ancient temple that marked the birthplace of Lord Ram. Hindus claimed that the temple was destroyed to make way for the mosque. This marked the beginning of a centuries-old dispute over the religious significance of the land.
1853: First Recorded Conflict
The first recorded communal violence over the site occurred in 1853 during the reign of the British East India Company. Hindus attempted to regain the land they believed was sacred, but the British government intervened and placed a boundary between Hindus and Muslims, allowing both communities to use the site but restricting them to their designated areas.
1885: Legal Dispute Begins
In 1885, Mahant Raghubir Das, a Hindu priest, filed the first legal case seeking permission to build a temple on the Ram Janmabhoomi site. However, the British courts rejected the plea, stating that the mosque had been standing for over three centuries, and altering the status quo would lead to unrest.
1949: Idols of Ram Lalla Appear in Babri Masjid
In 1949, the situation escalated when idols of Lord Ram were reportedly placed inside the Babri Masjid by unknown individuals. Hindus believed it was a divine act, while Muslims saw it as an intrusion. The government responded by locking the gates of the mosque and prohibiting any further prayers from either community. The site became a contentious political and religious issue.
1984: The Rise of the Ram Janmabhoomi Movement
In 1984, the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP), a Hindu nationalist organization, initiated the Ram Janmabhoomi movement to demand the construction of a temple at the site. This movement gained significant political traction and widespread support, especially after the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), a political party, joined the cause in the late 1980s.
1986: Opening of the Locks
In 1986, the local court ordered the opening of the gates of the Babri Masjid to allow Hindus to perform rituals at the site where the idols of Ram Lalla were placed. This decision was met with large-scale protests from the Muslim community, and tensions between the two groups intensified.
1990: Rath Yatra and Clashes
In 1990, BJP leader L.K. Advani led a nationwide Rath Yatra (chariot journey) to mobilize support for the Ram Mandir movement. This sparked communal violence in several parts of the country. In the same year, volunteers from the Hindu nationalist movement attempted to storm the Babri Masjid but were stopped by the police.
1992: Demolition of Babri Masjid
On December 6, 1992, a large crowd of Hindu activists gathered in Ayodhya for a rally organized by the VHP and BJP. The rally escalated into chaos, and the Babri Masjid was demolished by the mob. This act of destruction triggered widespread communal riots across India, resulting in thousands of deaths. The demolition of the mosque marked a turning point in the dispute, as the matter became even more politically charged.
1993: The Ayodhya Act and Legal Proceedings
In 1993, the Indian government, led by Prime Minister P.V. Narasimha Rao, passed the Ayodhya Acquisition Act, which took control of the disputed land. The government also referred the matter to the Supreme Court, seeking its intervention in finding a legal resolution. Several legal cases related to the ownership of the land continued to pile up in various courts.
2002: Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) Investigation
In 2002, the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) was tasked with conducting an excavation at the site to determine if a temple existed before the construction of the Babri Masjid. The ASI report, released in 2003, suggested that there was evidence of a large structure beneath the mosque, which many interpreted as a Hindu temple. However, this report was contested by several scholars and Muslim groups.
2010: Allahabad High Court Verdict
In 2010, the Allahabad High Court delivered a historic verdict in the Ayodhya dispute. The court ruled that the disputed land should be divided into three parts: one-third to Hindus for the construction of a Ram temple, one-third to Muslims for the Babri Masjid, and one-third to the Nirmohi Akhara, a Hindu religious group. This decision was seen as a compromise, but both Hindu and Muslim parties filed appeals in the Supreme Court.
2019: Supreme Court Verdict
On November 9, 2019, the Supreme Court of India delivered its final verdict in the Ayodhya dispute. The court ruled that the entire 2.77 acres of disputed land would be handed over to a trust for the construction of a Ram temple. In exchange, Muslims would be given an alternative piece of land in Ayodhya to build a mosque. This verdict was widely accepted, and the legal battle that had lasted for decades finally came to an end.
2020: Foundation Stone of Ram Mandir
On August 5, 2020, Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone for the construction of the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya. The event was celebrated by Hindus across the country, marking the beginning of the temple's construction. The temple is expected to be completed in the coming years and will stand as a symbol of the resolution of a long-standing religious and political conflict.
Conclusion
The Ayodhya Mandir dispute was a complex and emotionally charged issue that spanned centuries. It involved religious, political, and legal battles that affected millions of people. However, with the Supreme Court's 2019 verdict and the subsequent construction of the Ram Mandir, the dispute has reached its resolution. The Ayodhya case serves as a reminder of the importance of peaceful resolution and legal processes in addressing sensitive issues in a diverse and multi-religious society like India.
