Kudos to Romila Thapar for her bold views in her article ‘The verdict on Ayodhya: a historian’s perspective’ (The Hindu – Oct 2). The three judges of the Allahabad High Court in their pursuit to bring an end to the long-pending Ayodhya dispute have set a weak-kneed judicial precedent – by giving primacy to “faith and belief” rather than law and evidence. Her statement “there will now be many such janmasthans wherever appropriate property can be found or a required dispute manufactured” portends the potential danger. The verdict has created an impression in the minds of the minorities that – they should budge to the faith and belief of the majority – which is not a good sign to the democracy and secularism – the two vital elements of our constitution.
Syed Sultan Mohiddin
Kadapa, A.P