Ram’s story is not just saffron, it’s also white and green

A grand Ram temple at Ayodhya is not about religious or political activism. It is a symbol of Indian culture, ethos and heritage

Prime Minister Narendra Modi offering prayers to Lord Ram before the Shilanayas ceremony at Ayodhya on Aug 5.

Sometime in late November-1992 while I was travelling to Lucknow, it was sheer chance that the berth next to mine was occupied by VHP leader Sadhvi Rithambhara. She was on her way to Ayodhya where kar sevaks had begun to gather to escalate the demand for construction of a Ram temple where the Babri Masjid stood.

On 6th December the Sadhvi made national headlines along with other leaders like L.K. Advani, Murli Manohar Joshi, Vinay Katiyar and Uma Bharti when the Babri Mosque was razed to ground by a crush of more than 1.5 lakh kar sevaks. One part of the demand- demolishing the mosque- had been fulfilled. The idol of Ram Lalla (the child form of Lord Ram) was shifted to a makeshift tent. It awaited the construction of a temple.

Years later I once again met her for an interview. By now she was busy with a project she was helming at Vrindavan. She spoke on different subjects. Ram Mandir did not crop up in the conversation. There was a calm and sobriety around her. Most of other leaders too had either passed into oblivion or where not being heard enough.

Right emotion

On Aug 5 as the Prime Minister performed the shilanayas puja at Ayodhya all these iconic figures of Babri demolition were MIA. The event too had that unmistaken quality of calm and sobriety. If it was out of compulsions levied by Covid-19, then maybe we should see it as divine intervention. The ceremony, masterfully crafted by UP chief minister Yogi Adityanath was elegant and roused just that right amount of emotion.

Incidentally, on the morning of Aug 5, there was a message in my inbox from Altaf Ahmad, the Nabi Imam of a mosque. It read, “With the auspicious beginning of the construction of Lord Ram temple today, let us pray that this Holy feat brings love, peace and harmony amongst us Indians, that our country is relieved of the Covid pandemic and that we all prosper to make our country a great nation.”

Well, that is the magic of Ram. It touches everybody regardless of caste, religion or creed. Known as Marayada Puroshottam, Ram’s story has been showing the society a mirror. It speaks of the duties of a son, the love of a brother and the conduct of a king. The ideals are lofty but they do show us the right path. Ram’s conquests were of good over evil. They speak of the immense sufferings that he went through just to keep to his beliefs and to fulfil his duties.

Narrow view

Ram’s story gives us the strength to fight as it shows how even god in his human incarnation had to suffer. It is of deliverance as it tells us that those who kept their faith found salvation. Most importantly it speaks of equality as the exiled prince was assisted by all those who could help him regardless of caste and creed. This is what makes Ram so deeply embedded in our psyche, ethos and heritage. Ram Ram is a greeting, while just the exclamation-Hey Ram! can be a cry for help. Ramji ki Kripa can be on any and every one.

So, this polarisation or watching the developments at Ayodhya as some sort of Hindutva agenda being fulfilled, would be taking a very narrow view. The warrior king is more than a god. He is a belief-a philosophy that stretches beyond Hindu religion. Ram shows us the right path. He tells us how to act with courage and grace, when under pressure. His manner of putting the interests of others before self is what made him a great king. A temple at what is believed to be his birthplace could be a befitting tribute and a reminder for the society to follow his path.

As a popular bhajan says, ‘Ram prabhu ki bhadrata ka sabhyata ka dhyan dhariye’, there is a lot to learn from Raja Ram. For starts we can avoid giving this occasion a communal colour or term it as the end of a secular India.