Somnath to Ayodhya

Congress Clueless ?

It is strange Congress has no sense of history.

After independence British suzerainty ended. Native states were free to accede to either India or Pakistan depending upon geographical contiguity. Despite being surrounded by India, Junagadh Nawab announced accession to Pakistan. A public outrage against Nawab and formation of Arzi Hakumat under Shamaldas Gandhi overthrew Nawab who fled to Pakistan. Junagadh acceded to India. After accession Sardar Patel visited Junagadh and was given a rousing welcome.

In his address Sardar Patel promised to reconstruct Somnath Temple and reinstall historic Jyotirlinga. In 1947 cabinet approved reconstruction of the temple despite Nehru’s strong opposition. Dr. K M Munshi, a minister in Nehru’s cabinet, was given the task of executing the project. When Gandhiji was approached for his blessings, he welcomed the idea but on condition that it must be done by raising money from public, not by government funding. Sardar readily agreed.

Sardar Patel was to inaugurate the reconstructed temple. But unfortunately, he expired in 1950 and Gandhiji was assassinated in 1948. After the demise of these two stalwarts, Pandit Nehru became more forthright. After a cabinet meeting he called Munshi and reiterated: “I do not like your trying to restore Somnath.  It is Hindu revivalism.” Munshi did not immediately respond but wrote a letter to Nehru, some portion of which, is reproduced below, from his book “Pilgrimage to Freedom”

“Yesterday you referred to Hindu revivalism. You pointedly referred to me in the Cabinet as connected with Somnath. I am glad you did so; for I do not want to keep back any part of my views or activities. I can assure you that the ‘Collective Subconscious’ of India today is happier with the scheme of reconstruction of Somnath sponsored by the Government of India than with many other things that we have done and are doing.

The intention to throw open the temple to harijans has evoked some criticism from the orthodox section of the Hindu community…….. However, the objects of the Trust Deed make it clear that the temple is not only to be open to all classes of the Hindu community, but, according to the tradition of the old temple of Somnath, also to non-Hindu visitors.

It is my faith in our past which has given me the strength to work in the present and to look forward to our future. I cannot value India’s freedom if it deprives us of the Bhagavad Gita or uproots our millions from the faith with which they look upon our temples and thereby destroys the texture of our lives.  I have been given the privilege of seeing my incessant dream of Somnath reconstruction come true. That makes me feel – makes me almost sure – that this shrine once restored to a place of importance in our life will give to our people a purer conception of religion and a more vivid consciousness of our strength, so vital in these days of freedom and its trials.”

When Somnath temple was ready, Munshi invited president Dr. Rajendra Prasad to inaugurate.

Although fully aware of opposition of the prime minister, he agreed. When Nehru came to know, he wrote to the president: “I do not like your associating yourself with a spectacular opening of the Somnath temple”. It is history that president did inaugurate reconstructed temple. He said, he would inaugurate a mosque or church if invited to do so.

Nehru wrote to chief ministers that GOI has nothing to do with the installation ceremony and those attending the function are doing so in their personal capacities. He asked information and broadcasting minister to tone down  description of the ceremony in radio broad cast.

One thing, however, must be said about Nehru. He did not do this to humiliate Hindus or pamper Muslims. He honestly believed that partition wounds had still not healed and lots of innocent Muslims who decided to stay in India had nothing to do with Muhammad Gazni who demolished Jyotirlinga and looted Somnath temple in 1024. He was worried that partition riots were fresh, and this might lead to communal unrest. However, as we know, nothing of the sort happened. Millions of Hindus whose faith was not shaken and continued to visit the dilapidated temple felt a sense of closure and got over the bitter feelings over destruction of the temple.

Post-independence congress was jam-packed with opportunists who joined congress only for getting power. Instead of looking upon both communities with equanimity congress started wooing Muslims as a vote bank. Not only this, under the pretext of misconceived secularism it started bashing majority community so much so that Hindus were looked down upon and made to feel guilty.

This perverse attitude of congress created the political space for a strong Hindu back lash. The simmering angst of the majority community found its vent after thirty years when  seasoned politician L K Advani felt the pulse of the people and converted it into a strong political force by leading Rathyatra from Somnath to Ayodhya which, in fact, catapulted Bhartiya Janata Party into unbridled power at the center.

Congress still vacillated. It stuck to its notion of confused secularism and continued to ignore the majority community. Much later when it’s vote base started shrinking, it realized that it had estranged majority community. It started quick-fix – ‘Soft Hindutva’.  Top leaders did puja in temples including Somnath.  But it was too late, too little. Add to this, congress stalled the Ayodhya issue and impeded resolution of the mater when it came up before the Supreme Court. Even after the Supreme Court gave a clear verdict paving the way for construction of temple at Ayodhya it continued its opposition to construction of the temple.

 It was only when groundbreaking ceremony was announced that they saw it politically unwise to oppose and accepted Ram Mandir as a fait accompli. When Modi said in his erudite speech that Ram is not a Hindu God, but is revered in the whole country and in many countries world over, congress leaders retracted their utterances condemning construction of the temple by taking a complete about turn.

I am reminded of the words of Sadguru in one of his discourses that Ram’s life was a continuous disaster. A prince coronated  – sent to jungle – accompanied by his wife, a princess – not used to harsh jungle life – wife is kidnapped – goes all the way from Ayodhya to Lanka – rescues her and goes home – she is pregnant – some politics and she is sent to jungle – she gives birth to two boys – he does not know – in the battle he would have almost killed his sons not knowing who they were – Sita died and Ram never met her again – Ram’s life was a super failure not a super success – but we worship him because in spite all the disasters, he did not lose his calm, poise,  was not angry or hateful.  He was peaceful and never gave up values and ethics. He was untouched and unperturbed. We bow down to these great qualities of Ram. He was a true Maryada Purshottam. This is ingrained in the Indian psyche.

Political management by congress of the bulk of the people consisting of Hindus lacked foresight. The aspirations of the majority community were just ignored. They were treated as second class citizens. This silent wound was opened wide when BJP proclaimed as one of its clarion calls during elections: Proudly say “I am a Hindu”. Congress was and still is clueless. Rampant corruption was, of course, one of the factors which dried up the congress base. But it started losing support amongst a large majority of Hinds who are not only not communal but secular in the true sense of the term. Congress shooed them away. Bhartiya Janata Party was quick to fill the vacuum. Most of the Hindus, who were congress sympathizers earlier, thought it wiser to support BJP. No wonder, the GOP having 364 members in the first Lok Sabha was reduced to only 52 (2 short even for post of leader of opposition) in the current Lok Sabha and BJP which had hardly any significant presence in Lok Sabha in its initial years shot up to 303.

Series of wake-up calls for the GOP. Unless there is a metamorphosis in its approach and radical change in leadership, dissociated from Nehru-Gandhi family, it will soon become extinct.