History of Babri Masjid. How the controversy began. Legal battle over Babri Masjid.
500-Year History of Babri Masjid.
Babri Masjid's 500-Year History.
Babri Masjid was a historic religious structure in Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh, India. Built in 1528 during the reign of Mughal Emperor Babur, this mosque is an important issue in the history of communal riots in India. On December 6, 1992, the 462-year-old historic mosque was demolished by thousands of Kar Sevaks. This had a profound impact on religious harmony and politics in India.
Even though 32 years have passed since then, the incident is still an important issue in Indian politics and society.
History of Babri Masjid.
Construction period and architecture: The mosque was built in 1528-29 by Mir Baki, the commander of Mughal Emperor Babur. It is known as Babri Masjid after Emperor Babur. Later, it became an important religious center in the region.
Architectural style and cooling system: Babri Masjid is famous for its unique architectural style. Its architecture was influenced by Mughal style. Its internal sound-proofing and cooling system is a marvel of the 16th century. Regarding the impressive acoustics of the Babri Masjid, the book ‘Historic Structures of Ayodhya’ states, ‘The placement and projection of the voice from the pulpit is quite advanced for a 16th century structure.
The unique placement of sound in this structure will amaze the visitor.’
According to modern architects, the reason for the impressive acoustics of the Babri Masjid is that the mosque’s mihrab (a semicircular wall on one side of the mosque that indicates the Qibla) and the surrounding walls have various grooves that act as resonators. This design helped everyone to hear the Imam located in the mihrab. Also, the sandstone used in the construction of the Babri Masjid acts as a resonator, which helped in the sound-proofing process of the mosque.
How the controversy began.
The temple-mosque controversy first erupted in 1853.
At that time, the Hindu community claimed that it was the birthplace of Ram. During the British rule, Hindus were allowed to worship in the mosque premises. This created communal tension. In 1949, Hindu activists, in alliance with the Hindu Mahasabha, secretly placed an idol of Ram inside the mosque. After that, the government sealed the entire mosque with the intention of preventing riots. Later, both Hindus and Muslims filed a case in the court to gain access to the site.
How the Babri Masjid was demolished on December 6
In the 1980s and 1990s, Hindutva organizations such as the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and the BJP, etc., strengthened their demand for the reconstruction of a Ram temple on the site of the Babri Masjid. In 1990, BJP leader Lal Krishna Advani gained widespread support through a Rath Yatra. On December 6, 1992, lakhs of Kar Sevaks gathered at the Babri Masjid premises. Amid communal tension, they demolished the dome of the mosque. Due to the failure of the administration and lack of security, the mosque was completely demolished. After the incident, communal riots spread throughout India. Thousands of people were killed. Most of them were Muslims. The Muslim community saw this incident as an attack on their religious rights and existence. India's religious tolerance was also criticized in the international arena. (Gopal Sarvapelly, The Babri Masjid Issue and the Hindutva Agenda, Penguin Books).
Legal battle over Babri Masjid.
Legal process: After the demolition of the mosque, several cases were filed. Among them was the dispute over the ownership of the land. The Allahabad High Court ruled in 2010 that the disputed land should be divided equally into three parts: the Sunni Waqf Board, the Nirmohi Akhara, and Ramlala. As a result, Hindus got two-thirds of the land. Muslims got one share. All parties appealed against this in the high court.
Supreme Court Verdict (2019): On November 9, 2019, the High Court overturned the lower court's verdict and declared that the entire 2.77 acres of land of the Babri Masjid should be given to a trust that would build a Hindu temple. At the same time, the court directed the government to give an alternative 5 acres of land to the Sunni Waqf Board for the construction of the mosque. Then, in the hearing of the case, the court honorably acquitted a total of 32 accused, including BJP leader Lal Krishna Advani (later the Home Minister of India), Murli Manohar Joshi, Uma Bharti, rejecting the 'premeditated' nature of the terrorist attacks in 1992. This verdict created disappointment and anger among the Muslim community. Because the three judges could not agree on whether the demolished Babri Masjid was built on top of a temple. (Pratap Bhanu, The Indian Judiciary and the Babri Masjid Case, Oxford University Press).
Aftermath of the Babri Masjid Demolition
The demolition of the Babri Masjid on 6 December 1992 had a long-term impact on the political, social, religious and economic spheres of the Indian subcontinent. It left a deep mark not only on India's communal relations but also on India's identity on the world stage. The various impacts of this incident are discussed below:
1. Communal Riots and Tension.
After the demolition of the Babri Masjid, widespread communal riots broke out in India. This incident deeply hurt the religious sentiments of Muslims and communal tensions intensified. Immediately after the incident, about two thousand people were killed in riots in various places including Mumbai, Delhi, Ahmedabad, Kanpur, most of whom were Muslims.
2. Rise of Hinduism.
The demolition of the Babri Masjid is an important turning point in the political history of India. Because it was after this incident that an important foundation was laid for the rise of Hindutva organizations like the BJP. In 1998, the BJP came to power at the central level and Hindutva politics spread. Apart from this, this incident accelerated the religious polarization in Indian politics. As a result, Hindutva started being used as a political tool.
3. Questions about the judiciary and law enforcement.
After the demolition of the Babri Masjid, there was a debate about the role of the courts and the administration. The Allahabad High Court verdict (2010) called for the disputed land to be divided into three parts. And the final verdict of the Supreme Court (2019) went in favor of Hindus and allowed the construction of a Ram temple on the disputed land and allocated alternative land for Muslims. The Muslim community sees the court's verdict as discriminatory against their rights. This raises questions about the impartiality of the judiciary.
4. International impact and criticism.
The demolition of the Babri Masjid challenged India's secular position at the international level. As a result, Muslim countries including Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, and Iran strongly condemned the incident. In addition, international human rights organizations expressed concern about the country's treatment of religious minorities in India.
5. Deterioration of religious harmony.
The demolition of the mosque deeply affected the religious harmony of India. It dealt a blow to the religious pluralistic character of India. Apart from this, Hindu-Muslim relations deteriorated drastically. Apart from that, the Muslim community continued to suffer from uncertainty about their social and religious rights. (Muzaffar Alam, The Muslim Minority and the Indian State).
6. Economic Impact.
Communal riots and tensions disrupt economic activities. Trade and commerce come to a standstill. Its adverse effects are especially seen in urban areas. On several occasions, Muslim shops, businesses and houses have been bulldozed. This has reduced the attraction of foreign tourists to India's heritage sites.
7. Impact on education and culture.
Communal tensions have a negative impact on education and culture. Religious tensions have led to polarization among students. There have even been incidents of communal attacks on Muslim female students. Apart from this, the multidimensionality of Indian culture has been affected. This has reduced sensitivity to religious heritage. Many historical structures have been destroyed, which is still ongoing. (Jefferlot, The Hindu Nationalist Movement and Indian Politics)
After 32 years, the demolition of the Babri Masjid is a deep memory and a symbol of pain for the Muslim community in India. It has had a long-term impact on the social and political position of Indian Muslims. The demolition of Babri Masjid was not just the destruction of a traditional structure, but it deeply affected the religious, political and cultural foundations. Even after 32 years, the impact of this incident is felt across the country. This wound can be healed by establishing religious harmony and social justice. It can be an example not only for India but for the entire world.
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