From: gagrawal@cs.tamu.edu (Gopal Agrawal)
Subject: Re: RAMAJANMA BHUMI: AYODHYA-New Archaeological Discoveries
Organization: Computer Science Department, Texas A&M University
Date: Mon, 9 Nov 1992 06:22:49 GMT

In article <BxFB9u.FBJ@ucunix.san.uc.edu> ghayalm@ucunix.san.uc.edu (Manoj Ghayalod) writes:
>In article <92311.123757RKD100@psuvm.psu.edu> RKD100@psuvm.psu.edu writes:
>>
>>Surely this will be in the finest hindu tradition of giving away what one
>>holds most beloved, even to the extent of one's own son (e.g. the ganting
>>of Nachiketa to Yama) in order to achieve salvation.
>>
>>Ahimsa virasya dharmam.... regards, Rajib
>
>I completly agree with you.  So what if Ram was born there, Ram
>was well known for his sacrifices, I am sure he would not mind that
>there is a mosque there now.  The mosque should be removed only
>if the Indian Muslims wish it to be removed, we should not force
>them to do it.  In India Hindus form a vast majority, for a family
>to stay united, it is always the elder brother who has to make
>sacrifices. 
>Manoj

Whoa! Aren't we suddenly becoming too gracious all of a sudden ? 
Being gracious sounds good, but the first priority is self-preservation.
Look what we have these days -- ISS, Kashmir problem etc. The problem with 
muslims -- as one MUSLIM journalist put it -- is that when they are 
in a majority, they want a theocracy but when in a minority they want 
secularism. RJB issue is just a symbolic form of asking them as to 
whether they are willing to concede that "they are still living under
the magnanimosity (sp?) of us Hindus". If RJB didn't exist, some other 
symbol would have been used. Personally, I feel that as a temporary 
solution, the whole area should be razed to the ground and some sort 
of a park or a All-faith-Lotus-temple like structure  be built there. 
(Most hindus are sick of this RJB issue and wouldn't mind this at all.)

But that won't stop people from picking up another such symbol sooner
or later. The RSS/VHP/BJP combine have determined to ask the muslims
"Who's boss around here?". I'm not sure what they wish to achieve *AFTER*
this question has been answered (say in favor of Hindus). If this whole 
issue was politically motivated, then perhaps they could ask for the 
muslim votes as ransom for the Babri Masjid. If this issue was raised 
out of genuine fear of growing muslim fundamentalism, then perhaps they
feel that ISS/kashmir-seperatists can be tackled better once the muslim's
confidence is shattered. Whatever other reasons there may be, its obvious 
that RJB is not just a "religious sentiments" issue. All those yatras, 
saffron, ghee etc. is just plain gimmickry. If there really were religious
sentiments involved at the top levels of BJP/RSS/VHP, they wouldn't have 
placed large orders for the janaeoos (the threads worn by most brahmins, 
sadhus etc.) and the wooden sandals and other such paraphrenalia  from the 
MUSLIM weavers and carpenters (India Today had a report on this last year
-- most weavers and carpenters around Ayodhya are poverty ridden muslims 
who couldn't care less if the threads and sandals they make are going to be 
used in a crusade against their own community). 

Sorry, I digressed. But the point is that someone has to ask the muslims 
where their loyalty lies -- with a secular community or a theocratic 
community ? Simply saying that Ram wouldn't mind a single temple donated
as a base for a mosque would not make this question go away (If souls do 
exist, then Babar's soul is probably repenting right now and he wouldn't 
mind it either if RJB was reconstructed over the mosque). BJP happens
to be the only party addressing this vital question at the moment (and 
probably should be commended for that) but I am still skeptical of their 
true intentions. Perhaps Mr. Indu or Mr. Dinesh or other netters would 
like to comment upon what happens AFTER all the temples have been built.

regards,
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