For the Ram Mandir, we constructed to endure a millennium, we must ensure that the Indian government enacts the Uniform Civil Code and prohibits individuals with larger families from participating in government programmes.
I am writing from Karnavati, Ahmedabad, where I was present at Bhagwan Ram Lalla’s Pran Pratistha ceremony at the recently built Ayodhya temple. As a representative of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad, I was present at the historic occasion.
A brief history of my involvement is provided here. The Pran Pratistha committee was forced to limit invitations to volunteers of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad and the Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh from countries outside of Bharat due to the sheer number of dignitaries invited for this historic occasion. Nonetheless, it was crucial that these nations were represented because each had made a unique contribution to the effort to free Ram Janmabhoomi.
It was therefore decided to invite one member from each of the 53 countries where the Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh and/or Vishwa Hindu Parishad operate. I was chosen to represent the United States because I have been involved with the Ram Janmabhoomi movement since its beginning in 1984. I was a member of a special delegation of representatives from 53 countries, though 25 people from the VHP of America, mostly members of its governing council, were later permitted to participate as an exception.
There were roughly fifteen countries east of Bharat: twelve from Europe, eight from the Americas, and fourteen from Africa. It was a true convergence of nationalities, with countries represented from Botswana to Egypt, Kenya to Ghana, Finland to France, Hungary to the U.K., Canada to Suriname, and Vietnam to Australia.
Since all of the delegates shared a hotel and a bus, there was a great sense of camaraderie and infectious enthusiasm. As directed, everyone arrived in Lucknow by Jan. 20 evening. At the airport, we were greeted with the chanting of Vedic mantras and given a colourful cloth called a “khesh.”
The Journey
The following day, we bussed the 80 miles or so to Ayodhya. There were saffron flags with the images of Bhagwan Ram and Hanumanji on both sides of the highway, at private residences and commercial establishments. There were dozen-strong hoardings welcoming Modiji, Yogi Adityanathji, and Ram Lalla. Everywhere there was bright lighting, from large corporate offices to a tiny roadside dhaba. We saw illuminated trees, bridges strung with lights, and railings beside roads adorned with garlands of marigold flowers as we ventured into the outskirts of Ayodhya.
Full-size cutouts of Bhagwan Ram could be seen both inside and outside of five-star hotels. They were playing bhajans praising the qualities of Shree Ramchandraji instead of pop music elevator songs. Doormen and hotel employees said “Jay Siyaram” to you. Colour supplements packed with information about how communities were preparing for the grand celebration and how Ram Lalla was being welcomed back after 495 years could be found in newspapers everywhere. All of Ayodhya had been absorbed into Shree Ram or Ram-Maya. The following couplet from Sant Tulsidas’s Ram Charit Manas came to mind: “I see the whole world as immersed in Sita and Ram, I offer them salutation with folded hands.”
On January 22, we were taken by bus to the entrance gate, which was approximately a mile away from the temple. We strolled with a sudden zest in our hearts and a spring in our feet after that. There were broad promenades with tastefully carved walls. Many helpful staff members, mostly young women, were dressed in blue jackets. Though they were so close to the event, they were all aware that they would not be attending and were happily performing their duties. We must have gone through five or six checkpoints, followed by a physical frisking and metal detector. Our cell phones were the only items we could carry. Volunteers painted a picture of Shri Ram holding a bow and arrow on our foreheads and decorated us with a lovely “khesh.”
The Temple
When we eventually reached the temple compound, we naturally bowed our heads upon seeing the magnificent, floral-decorated structure. When I saw Sadhwi Uma Bharati being escorted as I continued, I was brought back to the early 1990s Ram Janmabhoomi movement, during which time she was instrumental in reawakening Hinduism. I recalled how, after the then-chief minister Mulayam Singh Yadav boasted that not a sparrow would be able to enter Ayodhya to perform Karseva (volunteer work at the Ram Janmabhoomi), she had shaved off her long hair to enter the city covertly. I also spotted Pujya Morari Bapu surrounded by an entourage.
TEveryone was preassigned a block number, and the seating arrangement was divided into thirty blocks.We had to take off our shoes before arriving and leave them with volunteers at a number of tents called Charan Paduka. Everything went perfectly, and the volunteers took great pride in taking off our shoes even though they would not let us do it on our own. They thanked me for giving them the chance to serve instead of me, which made me feel extremely embarrassed. Their humility made me think of Bhagwan Ram’s boatman Kevat, who washed his feet before he helped him cross the Saryu River.
We had the opportunity to socialise since we had to wait for Modiji for almost an hour and a half. Seated beside me was Faiz Khan, a prominent figure in the Gau Rakshak movement from Raipur, Chhattisgarh. We had a fruitful conversation.
Despite the roughly 6,000 attendees, everything went off without a hitch. Boxed lunches were also provided later in the event. A case study in and of itself was the distribution and removal of used boxes. These were all RSS volunteers, renowned for their discipline and selflessness.
I saw many Bollywood celebrities, such as Shefali Vaidya, an amazing writer and a fierce and formidable Hindu warrior who also participates in TV debates. I also saw Vivek Oberoi. I also got to meet Dr. Pravinbhai Togadiya, who I had collaborated with during the Ram Janmabhoomi movement’s peak. I made my due homage. Despite his current distance from the VHP, he has made the greatest impact on the movement after the late Ashok Singhalji, the international working president of the group. He maintained his ultimate vision, refused to back down from a challenge, and led the Ram Janmabhoomi liberation movement. He lived every moment until his death in 2015, witnessing Ram Lalla seated in his rightful place and motivating thousands of others to take up the cause.
Sonu Nigam, Shankar Mahadevan, Anuradha Paudwal, and her daughter Kavita Tulpule mesmerised us with their devotional singing.
Since everyone has seen and read about the programme, I will not go into detail about its description. However, the most memorable part was when two military helicopters showered the delegates and the temple with rose petals right before Pran Pratishtha. I was one of many who gathered the petals to make prasad to give to people back home and as a memento.
Ram Rajya
Speaking with great skill were Chief Minister Adityanath Yogi, Govind Giriji (who introduced Modiji), and param pujya Sarsanghchalak of the RSS, Dr. Mohan Bhagwat. They all offered food for thought. We cannot bring Ram Rajya if we do not grasp the significance of what they have said. Adityanathji had a message for those who had questioned the temple’s construction. He declared, “The temple is constructed, and it is constructed where it was intended to be constructed. We never gave up, and after 500 years of struggle, we have what we wanted. To overcome obstacles, people overcame differences in caste and sect. There will now be the sound of bhajans instead of gunshots in the streets of Ayodhya.” Bhagwat urged the audience “to work for raising a new, inclusive Bharat” in his speech.
Modiji said a lot of things that are difficult to summarise, but some of them have stuck in our collective memory. “Ram is not conflict but resolution; this time is not just for Vijay but also Vinay; Ram is energy rather than fire; Ram is not Vivad but Samvad; and lastly, the most crucial aspect is the journey from Dev to Desh and Ram to Rashtra,” are these.
Modiji spoke for about 45 minutes. Like many others, I have listened to him several times and every time there is something new, something out of the box. However, his speech today came from the inner recesses of a highly spiritual being. When he told the attendees that he was “still feeling the vibrations of the experience of performing the puja for Pran Pratishtha,” I got goosebumps. If those of us watching the ceremony on a screen felt overwhelmed, then I wondered what kind of divine vibration Modiji, who was an instrument in the process of unveiling divine consciousness in the murti of Ram Lalla, would have been feeling.
It is hard to encapsulate so many things Modiji said, but a few have been etched in our collective consciousness. These are: “Ram is not conflict but resolution, this time is not only for Vijay but also Vinay, Ram is not fire, Ram is energy, Ram is not Vivad, Ram is Samvad and finally most critical is from Dev to Desh and Ram to Rashtra.”
Each one of these requires deep introspection. If we as a society follow it in letter and spirit, Ram Rajya is not too far. However, if we fall back into old habits, Ram Rajya will remain only a distant dream.
In light of what I had read and heard—that the temple is constructed to last a millennium—I came to the conclusion that the Hindu community now bears a great deal of responsibility. Previously, temples were intentionally destroyed by invaders rather than collapsing into a pile of bricks and stones. We all need to make a commitment today to expose and consistently defeat anti-Hindu forces if we hope that this magnificent temple does not suffer the same fate. We must be methodical and unrelenting. We must ensure that the government enacts the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) and that it prohibits people with more children from participating in government programmes because in a democracy, numbers matter. And, we have to increase the voting percentage. When we do all these things, our Ram Mandir will last one thousand years.
Block by block, delegates were to be called after Modiji left. All of us would have gotten darshan quickly if this had happened, but it did not. Traditions are hard to break. This was meant to be an exclusive gathering. Everyone hurried to be the first, but they betrayed their trust. Naturally, they formed a line, but occasionally someone pushed from behind and others started their own lines. Naturally, a high security barrier prevented anyone from approaching, not even the steps of the temple. Despite the fact that there were already a thousand people in Nritya Mandapm and the sanctum sanctorum, there was a persistent plea on the PA system for people to wait in chairs for thirty to forty-five minutes. However, this request was usually ignored.
We chose to hold out. We waited in queue for two and a half hours before it was finally our turn. I was only able to catch a glimpse of the elaborate sculptures and carvings because we had to move quickly. We can all take pride in this magnificent temple. I would have to return there before there would be any rush. The security literally pushed us out after giving us barely enough time to perform darshan and receive Shree Ram’s blessings. Those who watched it on television would have had a better darshan!
A little later, we visited a tent where prasad was being distributed in jute bags. It was yet another quick and smooth operation. We witnessed Hanumanji’s darshan at the renowned Hanumangarhi.
We were waiting to head back to the hotel because it was getting cold outside and it was getting dark.
Due to the day’s traffic restrictions, it took several hours to reach our bus, which was unable to cross the bridge. Despite the fact that we are emotionally and physically exhausted A remarkable event has occurred: the 495-year struggle, in which I actively participated from 1984 to 2007, has come to an end.
We saw people dancing in the streets, waving flags, playing Ram bhajans, and breaking into ceaseless chants praising Ram, so perhaps the delay was a blessing in disguise. More diyas than a Diwali celebration had been lit in every house and business, and firecrackers were going off in all directions. That joy can’t be described, it can only be felt.
Let us remember all the warriors, both known and unknown, whose unwavering efforts and sacrifices laid the foundation for the structure known as Shri Ram Mandir, as we celebrate once-in-a-lifetime events like Pran Pratishtha.
सर्वे भवन्तु सुखिनः, सर्वे सन्तु निरामया
सर्वे भद्राणि पश्यन्तु, मा कश्चिद दुःख आप्नुयात॥
Jai Shri Ram!
