22nd Babri Masjid Demolition Anniversary: 15 eye-opening facts you wouldn’t have known about Ram Janmabhoomi issue!

8. Post-Independence, the Indian government declared the Babri Masjid premises as a disputed area in 1949, when an idol of God Ram was placed by some people of Hindu community.

Babri Masjid (Mosque) was demolished 22 years ago  in broad daylight. The demolition on December 6th, 1992 by Hindu volunteers marked the period of Hindu renaissance. After decades of suppression and appeasement policies by the subsequent governments, the Hindu community had enough and Babri Masjid demolition was just the beginning of the saffron juggernaut. The Babri Masjid, which was built three centuries ago on the orders of the first Mughal Emperor, Babar, has been at the centre of a plethora of communal disharmony over the years.

Many claim that there was enough evidence in the late 1970s that the Babri mosque was built over an ancient temple. It was because of vote-bank and appeasement politics that the facts were hidden and the exploration was suspended. The Babri Masjid is located in Ayodhya which is famous all over the world for being the birthplace of Hindu God, Ram. The saffron parties and Hindu activists have since claimed that the land on which the Babri Masjid was built is the place where Lord Ram was born. (Also read: Babri Masjid demolition anniversary: Muslim groups urge President to refer all Babri mosque cases to Supreme Court)

For years, the Babri Masjid has been a searing political issue and elections have been fought over it far too many times in the past 30 years. The major beneficiary of the event of Babri Masjid being demolished was Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and has rightly promised to solve the issue of Ram Mandir if voted to power. (Also Read: Babri Mosque demolition anniversary: Over 10,000 security personnel guarding Ayodhya!)

We bring to you some eye-opening facts about the Babri Masjid and its demolition on its 22^nd anniversary.

1. The controversial mosque was constructed way back in 1527. It is reported that the general of Babar, Mir Baki seized the Hindu temple land and had named it Babri Masjid.

2. Not many know that in the pre-Independence era, the Babri Masjid was called Masjid-i-Janamasthan which means ‘mosque of the birthplace’. The name itself acknowledges the meaning as birthplace, that of Hindu God, Ram.

3. It is a little known fact that Babri Masjid is located on Ramkot Hill which means ‘Ram fort’.

4. Babri Masjid was seldom used by the Muslim community and even Hindus were earlier not allowed to pray in and around the questionable structure.

5. The Hanumangarhi episode in 1855 became the stepping stone in this decade’s long controversial history.  Under the leadership of Shah Ghulam Hussain, the Muslims made an unsuccessful attempt to perish Hindu bairagis from the temple. The unsolved dispute finds its roots here.

6. In 1857, it is said that the Mahant of Hanumangarhi took over the region of Babri Masjid compound and built a chabutra there.

7. Two years after the Hanumangarhi episode, the British authorities stepped in the scene in the year 1859. The British government had then constructed a fence in the Babri Masjid compound to separate the place of worship for Hindus and Muslims.

8. Post-Independence, the Indian government declared the Babri Masjid premises as a disputed area in 1949, when an idol of God Ram was placed by some people of Hindu community.

9. In the year 1961, the Sunni Central WAQF board files a first civil suit asking to deliver the possession of Babri Masjid to them and removal of the Hindu artifacts in the premises.

10. Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) make their presence felt in 1984. A rath yatra is planned from Bihar to reach Ayodhya which is later postponed citing the assassination of then Prime Minister, Indira Gandhi.

11. The Uttar Pradesh government on November 2nd, 1990 committed brutal atrocities against Hindu community. The pilgrims were subjected gun-fires and lathi charge and hundreds of them died. This episode of brutality acted as a catalyst and a communal spark was ignited.

12. In 1992 on December 6, approximately 2 lakh or more karsevaks demolished the Babri Masjid structure. The demolition began when a karsevak mounted on the dome and waved a saffron flag to the abuzz crowd outside the premises.

13. After the Babri Masjid demolition in 1992, as many as 14 benches were constituted after the Supreme Court’s order to hear all the petitions and come up with a conclusion.

14. The Archaeological Survey of India report in 2003 states, “Among the structures listed in the report are several brick walls ‘in east-west orientation’, several ‘in north-south orientation’, ‘decorated coloured floor’, several ‘pillar bases’, and a ‘1.64-metre high decorated black stone pillar (broken) with yaksha figurines on four corners’ as well as “Sanskrit inscription of holy verses on stone”.

15. A very surprising fact that very few people know about is that Mir Baqi belonged to the Shia Muslim community. And as per the talks between several Shia groups and Hindu groups, the hearsay is that the Shia Muslims have said that they have no special interest to build a Mosque on the controversial land. If this is true, what keeps the Sunni Muslim groups cribbing about the reclamation of the Babri Masjid compound, which was once a temple?

Recently, the oldest litigant in the Babri Masjid case Hashim Ansari said, “I want to see Ram Lalla to be free. At the same time, I want the other side to accept the reality and find out a peaceful solution. Henceforth, I want to stop pleading the case in the Supreme Court. The 93-year-old petitioner has also been provided a Y-category security cover. (Also Read: Babri Masjid demolition anniversary: Oldest litigant Hashim Ansari in case gets Y-category security)

With BJP-led NDA government at the Centre, it is for time (Supreme Court) to tell, which side the tide will favour.