New Delhi (06/06/2022): While we take immense pride in India being a truly secular nation, there is the flip side to how the word “Secularism” has grossly been misconstrued and used for casting aspersions on anyone striving to advocate the cause of “Hindutva” in the last three decades. Our great country India does not differentiate between minorities and majorites, and this is what makes us stand apart from so many other nations of the world.
“Live and let live”, respect and compassion has been an integral component of India since time immemorial. The beauty of a democracy such as India is that there is freedom to express dissent, and worship.
It is imperative for us to be respectful towards others religious beliefs, customs and practices just like we expect others to care for our religious beliefs and practices.
Sardonically, the appeasement policy of previous dispensations towards minorities has caused chasms in the society all at the expense of the majority Hindu populace of the country. Anyone taking up the cause of “Hindus” is brandished “communal” by a certain pseudo-secular lobby that thrives on pre conceived notions and views everything with a myopic vision.
It is a well known historical fact that the Mughal invaders had destroyed countless places of worship mostly Temples and built mosques over the temple ruins during their rule in India.
Aurangzeb’s order (Farman) dated April 2, 1669 bears testimonial to the fact that it was at his behest that mosques were ordered to be built by demolishing Hindu temples at three different places, one of them being that of a Varanasi (Benaras) Temple. Similarly Nalanda University was ruined by Bahktiyar Kilji in 1193, and all information, books, libraries, and records were burnt, only to degrade and insult the Hindus. Nalanda was one of the most sought after educational destination for countless students from different countries all over the globe.
The same thing holds true for Gyanvapi Masjid in Benaras, when there used to be a loud call for prayers there in 1991, and anyone could go inside the mosque. The tourists and visitors could take photos, and walk around. The tourist guides narrate tales of the attack on the temple by Aurangzeb, and how the Temple priest subsequently uprooted the Shivling, and then jumped inside the well to safeguard from the barbaric Mughal Invaders. The priest passed away, but the Shivling is still in the Gyanapith well of the mosque.
Like in any Shiva Temple, the presence of Nandi here facing the Shivling is a clear cut proof of an existence of a Temple in Gyanwapi complex. The idols of Shringar Gauri and other deities are still present in the Masjid, which fortunately have remained intact. Blessed are the five sisters who worshiped Shringar Gauri and sought permission to worship them in future as well.
Isn’t it so sad and distressing when the much revered “Shivling” is described as a “fountain”, a supposition that is absolutely baseless. Does one still need more proof when clinching evidences in the form of swastika, lotus flowers carved on pillars have been found in the mosque. All such symbols do not relate to Islam.
On a comparative note, Sultaan Qutubuddin was much better than Aurangzeb since he got the fact etched on Qutub Minar that it was built by destroying 27 Jain and Hindu temples. He openly admitted that he destructed Hindu Temples to build Quwwait ul Islam Mosque.
While all historical blunders of the past can’t be undone, the least we can do at our end, is spread awareness by bringing to fore the real truth in the larger interest of the general public at large. If history has to be told, it must be told factually, and not to appease a certain vote bank.
If the real facts have been concealed or distorted since the last many years, are the people of our country not entitled to know the real facts?
The truth can never be suppressed.
Why raise a gratuitous “hue and cry” over a bonafide issue especially when it entails the religious beliefs of countless Hindus the world over. There’s certainly no “expiry date” for facts to unravel in a democracy.
If the movie “The Kashmir Files” brought to fore the issue of the genocide of Kashmiri Pandits that finally lead to their exodus in the 1990’s, the Gyanwapi files confirm the fact that many mosques were built over the ruins of scores of Hindu Temples.
So ironical when some naysayers expressed apprehension that a movie like “The Kashmir Files” would incite violence and hatred..
Maybe this segment chose to be oblivious of countless movies that glorified violence, divisiveness and hatred..
Let the facts emerge and be tabled before the public of the country. Let nothing be brushed under the carpet. The people of 21st century India have all the right to know the truth.
At the same time, we agree with RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat’s statement that issues like Gyanwapi should be settled by negotiations, and that there is no need to look for Shivling in every mosque.
By Asutosh Sharma
(Advocate & Political Commentator)
