Purushottam

By FIROZ BAKHT AHMED

On behalf of all Muslims catering to the voice of reason and sanity in India and globally, I declare that the ASI affidavit (now withdrawn) was vitriolic, scathing, unfortunate and absolutely blasphemic — not only for the Hindus but for all those who cherish our pluralistic cultural heritage. By the way how can a government decide the veracity of a figure like Ram?

Therefore, it goes without saying that Ram and the Ramayan are central to both India's social history and to our civilizational identity no matter to what religion we belong to. Denying Ram his place would mean falsifying with impunity, India's civilizational character.

Hai Ram ke wajood pe Hindostan ko naaz, Ahl-e-nazar samajhtey hain usko Imam-e-Hind. Iqbal, the poet of the East has written a wonderful and moving poem on the authenticity of the existence of Ram. Logic and science have their say but not in matters of faith. In a nation where religion percolates all levels of culture, secularism and modernity, the themes like Ram, Mohammed, Mary, Moses etc are all interwoven within the existence of people and a denial to that can drive people into frenzy.

Frankly speaking, historical evidence of most of the eminent religious figures would be difficult to find especially when umpteen are lost in the vestiges of time. Nevertheless, the authenticity of Ram's reality cannot be doubted as most of the legends and myths have their roots into real incidents and actual happenings of the religious figures. So far as Ram is concerned, there are numerous places in India and Sri Lanka closely linked to the life of Lord Ram including Ayodhya, Janakpuri, Dhanushkodi, Rameshwaram etc.

The whole debate about whether or not Lord Ram existed or not is redundant. Even if he did not exist, this is not going to diminish his importance as he actually exists in the hearts of not only Hindus but Muslims even! According to Islam there were one lakh twenty thousand messengers sent on the earth. According to even Muslim belief, Ram not only exists but also is part of the community's religious legacy.

In fact Ram cannot be confined to the geographical boundaries of countries and political boundaries of opportunistic politicians. The current impasse over the Sethusamundram project is a fallout of the political mileage eked out of the controversy by some politicians.

From 'Luv' (the son of Ram) one got the name Lahore — Pakistan's cultural hotspot! At Angkor Wat's Vishnu Buddha temple in Cambodia, one can find the exquisite story of lord Ram scripted on the walls. In Korean legendary chronicles, it is clearly mentioned that a princess of Ayodhya was married to King Suro of the ancient kingdom of Geumgwan Gaya. How can all these details be there unless Ram existed?

In the quagmire of politics, the Sethusamundram project, its efficacy, economic and ecological viability and utility, are all things that have been victim to an obscurantist approach. The Sethusamundram project believed to be pitched at a cost of about 26,00 crore is aimed at building a shipping canal by dredging 83 million cubic meters of the Ram Setu or Adam's Bridge.

Through this, almost 35 hours of circumnavigation can be saved by ships moving from east coast to the west. It'll be like Indian Suez Canal! Of course the efficacy and the price of the project are to be weighed whether the adventure is really worth it or whether there is danger to the biodiversity after the ships would move through the Gulf of Mannar and Palk Strait. While the center is busy sorting out the controversy

Nearly a thousand million Hindus believe that 'Ramayan' happened and that Ram existed. If there is no archeological evidence to this effect, it is something for the ASI to keep in their records; not for a secular government to pronounce from roof-tops. The UPA said this in their affidavit and expectedly raised the hackles of the Hindu right.

To a Muslim it is a surprise that it is only the 'parivar' who has taken umbrage at this affidavit. 'Aam' Hindu is by and large silent on it. You will agree that unlike an 'aam' Hindu, the Muslims, en mass, would have risen in protest at such a blasphemy.

The presence of Ram is entrenched deeply in the minds of a vast majority of people of all faiths around the world and especially in the minds of the Muslims of Indonesia where Ramlilas are performed and witnessed with more enthusiasm than even in India. Ram is ideal, Maryada Purushottam to all irrespective of cast, creed or faith.

If someone questions the belief that Ram did walk this planet; that someone will some day question the belief that the holy Quran is the words of God or that 'Virgin' Mary was the mother of Jesus. A Muslim won't have it or a Christian won't have it. That is the reason why protest from non-Hindus should be audible.

Frankly speaking, questioning a largely tolerant and pluralistic people to provide proof that their God actually exists, is primarily to drive them to aggression. The weakness basically lies here with the Congress that time and again has failed to handle sensitive issues pertaining to faith. Whether it was the introduction of the Muslim Women's bill to appease Muslims or the opening of the gates of the locked Babri Masjid complex to please Hindus or now the present issue.

The UPA government's immature manner of tackling the affidavit on Sethusamundram issue has put the Sangh Parivar in the saddle and they have been provided with an issue that has not only rejuvenated a redundant BJP but also endangered the position of Congress amongst the majority community. Elbowed by the party president, the law minister, HR Bhardwaj woke up from his slumber in poetic style that "the existence of Rama cannot be doubted. As Himalaya is Himalaya; Ganga is Ganga; Rama is Rama!"

Bhardwaj, a representative of a people's government should know that he is bound by the Constitution to uphold secular values and not identify with one religion. However, Congress was able to salvage some ground rapidly slipping from under it depriving its potential opponent to take the lead but again the secular credentials of this government have been sacrificed. A strong message that Sonia authored course correction herself seems to have taken the sting out of BJP bid to exploit Hindutva sentiment presently but it will be vociferously used in the approaching elections.

During the political hullabaloo, voices of reason were heard from CWC member Mohsina Kidwai and the Sangh Parivar firebrand leader Uma Bharti. Mohsina stated that the ASI affidavit that has hurt the feeling of the people has been a big lapse.

She said, "Whatever religion we belong to, we have not seen God but it is an article of faith and our emotions are linked to it." Uma Bharti emphasized on the fact that this issue best not be politicized as Ram is near and dear not only to the BJP but to all of us.

(The author is a commentator on social, educational and religious issues and the grandnephew of Maulana Abul Kalam Azad.)

FIROZ BAKHT AHMED, A-202 Adeeba Market and Apartments, Near Rehmani Masjid, Main Road, Zakir Nagar, Oklhla, New Delhi 110 025. Ph.: 26984238, 26984517, 98109-33050 E-mail: firozbakht@rediffmail.com