Did something die in India on August 5? Was it India’s Secularism?

On August 5, the entire world witnessed the triumph of Hindus over, well. The bhoomi pujan of Ram Mandir in Ayodhya was publicized as a resolution to the 500 year old dispute between the two communities.

I have my doubts, was it a resolution or an organised suppression of minority by a majority?. The temple will be built on a land where once stood a mosque, which was built over a temple as suggested by the excavation at the disputed site by Archeological Survey of India (ASI).

The world watched the bhoomi pujan as it was a live broadcast by Prasar Bharti, which is meant for broadcasting programs related to public welfare. Out of 160 million people who watched the ceremony on TV, were all happily watching it or some had fear instilled in their minds about the future of their existence in India? The presence of RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat, CM Yogi Adityanath and PM Modi, looked like three hindu lions telling the world that India is now a Hindu state, whether you like it or not.

I time traveled for a bit and thought that what if Gandhi and Nehru were alive to witness the Ayodhya Bhoomi Pujan? They would have downplayed the entire event or would have thought of a different resolution all together. Well, going by the traits of their personalities, none of them was seen as a Hindu Nationalist, Nehru and Gandhi were torch bearers of inclusive India and their ideology was center-left as reflected in the Indian National Congress brand of politics till today.

It is very hard to say that which community came out as a winner after the supreme court verdict on Ayodhya dispute but it clearly visible that we may have resolved the Ayodhya dispute in the physical dimension but its far from over in the minds of the people.