Ayodhya verdict, a birthday gift to (the soul of) Gandhiji – that possibly might turn restlessly in the ‘world-of-spirits’ – came shockingly to the great country of ours. Most of our countrymen are shocked and awed. A ‘letter to the editor’ published in a national English daily, in its Oct-2 issues reads: “ Perhaps this is the first time in the annals of independent India that the judiciary has lost both its head and heart and came out with a lopsided Judgment. It has condoned the acts of thugs and hoodlums who brought down the Babri mosque by dwelling on faith. Is the judiciary expected to consider faith, belief and theology to decide an issue instead of facts, law and logic?” (The Hindu)
The letter and spirit of the judgement shows palpably that, in the words of Ms. Romila Thapar(Hindu oct.2,2010), “Its (the judgement’s) focus is on the possession of land and on building a new temple to replace a destroyed mosque.” She, the prominent historian, further writes:.. the verdict has created a precedent in the court of law, that land can be claimed by declaring it to be the birthplace of a divine or semi-divine being worshiped by a group that defines itself as a community. There will now be many such janmsthans wherever appropriate property can be found, or a required dispute manufactured. Since the deliberate destruction of historical monument has not been condemned, what is to stop people from continuing to destroy others?”
Now as our honourable judges have established an ahistorical precedence in Indian judicial history, it would have grave consequences in the years to come (Let us be reminded that there are almost 3000 claims of aastha on mosques, including Mathura). This precedence would keep haunting we Indians and particularly, the Muslim community, for a period that may perpetuate beyond the length of our conceivable apprehension; unless the supreme Court happens to undo this precedence.
What the Muslim community should do now? One thing is clear and already declared with a ray of hope (of justice) with the Apex court. But it should do simultaneously another thing too. The country, the society and several millions of our compatriots are not run by legalities and laws only. There is no dearth of noble souls out here. Some well-envisioned, sane and sober Muslim Organization committed to real peace, justice, truthfulness and love; and dedicated, as a part of Ummah (Khair-e-ummat) to the ‘Universal Brotherhood of Humankind’ (Ukhrijat-linnaas) must rise up. Make a huge, magnificent ‘Islamic Information Centre’ on a piece of land available legally at any point possibly nearest to the site of the possible (proposed) ‘Bhavya Ram Mandir.’ People and devotees thronging the area would find access to ‘Islamic Knowledge Bank.’ Out of millions, at least some thousands would surely visit the centre (Islam Darshan Kendra). The centre should have a rich collection and huge stock of gift packs of Islamic literature, thousands of titles for subsidised sales, a spacious and well furnished reading room, a rich library of books, a good collection of audio and video CD’s; an exhibition hall of Islamic history and culture, power point presentations of Islamic beliefs and teachings, a round-the-clock ‘ask about Islam’ counter well manned with talented and knowledgeable dawah workers, and a prayer hall. If, and whenever the Supreme Court retains the High Court judgement, a portion of the Centre may be shifted to new building constructed on the one-third of the land.
This sincere effort, parallel to fighting legal battles, is bound to yield effects and results. Hatred, misgivings, misunderstandings, disinformation and misinformation vis-à-vis Islam (and hence towards Muslims) may happen to melt down and evaporate gradually, smoothly, and calmly. That would ultimately be beneficial to Islam and Muslims.