A SERIOUS FLAW IN THE SUPREME COURT VERDICT OF NOVEMBER 2019

No one disputes the fact that Muslim rulers destroyed many Hindu temples throughout their domain. No one disputes the fact that Ayodhya was a city of Hindu temples which suffered the wrath of Muslim rulers. Based on historical evidence and inscriptions, it is generally accepted that Bubur built the disputed Babri Masjid in Ayodhya in 1528. Also, the Hindu belief that Ayodhya was the birthplace of mythological Lord Rama, interpreting that there was a historical figure King Rama around whom the mythology was based, can be generally accepted.

The central crucial issue of the dispute is, therefore, “Whether disputed structure is the holy birthplace of Lord Ram as per the faith, belief and trust of the Hindus?” which was addressed in the 116 page Addenda section (with this same title) of the Supreme Court verdict. All evidences therein, including the many Gazetteer articles by British about Ayodhya, are either hear-say or religious beliefs, except one. The only definitive historical evidence presented was by Sikh scholar Rajinder Singh (Addenda p 64-65) based on his studies of Sikh Janamsakhis (books documenting the life of Guru Nanak, his teachings, and also his and other Gurus’ travels in India), which can be relied upon because of the truthfulness of those who wrote the books in relevant historical times, as they had no reason to falsify their Gurus’ travels in India. Citing various Janamsakhi books that he had studied, Rajinder Singh concludes: “It is fully evident from the information gained from these books that disputed land is the birthplace of Shri Ramchanderji and Guru Nanak Dev had sought the darshan of Shri Ram Janam Bhoomi Temple at Ayodhya, it is also proved from these books that with passage of time Shri Guru Teg Bahadur and his son Guru Govind Singh have also sought the darshan of Shri Ram Janam Bhoomi Temple at Ayodhya”.

Now, let us check the time lines. Babur (1483 – 1530) invaded northern India in 1526 and built Babri Masjid in Ayodhya in 1528. Guru Nanak lived 1469 – 1539, and so it is possible that he visited the Ram Janam Bhoomi Temple in Ayodhya before 1528 (when Babri Masjid was built). But Guru Teg Bahadur lived 1621 – 1675, and his son Guru Gobind Singh lived 1666 – 1708, and so Guru Teg Bahadur and his young son could have visited Ram Janam Bhoomi Temple in Ayodhya only sometime in 1666 – 1675, by which time Babri Masjid had been standing for more than a century! Therefore, conclusively, it is impossible for the site of Babri Masjid to have been where Ram Janam Bhoomi Temple stood. Babur did not destroy Ram Janam Bhoomi Temple, which must have been in some other part of Ayodhya. It must have been destroyed by a later Muslim ruler sometime after Guru Teg Bahadur and Guru Govind Singh sought darshan (1666 – 1675). Niccolo Manucci, documenting his travels in “Storia Do Mogor, vol 2, 1653-1708”, records that shortly after the death of Jai Singh, Aurangzeb ordered the destruction of all Hindu temples in his empire. Jai Singh died in 1667. This time line agrees with Rajinder Singh’s evidence. It was Aurangzeb who destroyed Ram Janam Bhoomi Temple which was not at the site of Babri Masjid.

Ironically, Rajinder Singh was introduced as a witness by Hindus themselves in their defense against Muslim plaintiffs in Suite 4. Therefore, Hindus cannot dismiss Rajinder Singh’s evidence. It is a travesty that the Supreme Court ignored these critical timelines and awarded the disputed land (where Babri Masjid stood) to Hindus. It is commendable that Muslims gracefully and peacefully accepted this miscarriage of justice. It is not too late to partly remedy, by building a Gandhi Prayer Hall on the premises, where Hindus and Muslims can pray silently in unity.