Ayodhya: Beginning of Second Independence

Ram Janma Bhoomi temple marks the beginning of second independence, which necessarily implies intellectual and emotional freedom. Ram Janma Bhoomi temple means emancipation from medieval and colonial clutches. Ram Janma Bhoomi underlines the beginning of an era, which has no sign of any kind of slavery. Ram Janma Bhoomi is the strongest manifestation of `SWA’. Ram Janma Bhoomi is the restoration of self-esteem, which was denied or repressed for centuries. Ram Janma Bhoomi temple has removed a sense of alienation, which was inculcated by vested interests. Ram Janma Bhoomi has created a sense of self-belonging, which is full of duties and responsibilities towards the nation. Ram Janma Bhoomi temple, thus, has laid the foundation of a second independence, which is yet to be achieved.

The temple at Ram Janma Bhoomi in Ayodhya marks the beginning of the second independence of Bharat. It is the `beginning’ of the second independence as we have to move far ahead to gain complete independence. Ram Janma Bhoomi temple is the moment of realization for which Bharat has been waiting for centuries. This realization is historic on all counts as Ram Janma Bhoomi temple is unparalleled in modern human history.

All of us have been taught for years that Bharat gained independence on August 15, 1947. However, this is a half-truth. What we gained in 1947 was political independence with partition. We gained freedom from British rule, which was fundamentally political. But other spheres of national life continue to exhibit intellectual slavery. In fact, political independence was also largely influenced by imported Western ideas, which was stark evidence of servitude. For example, people of Bharat were taught to have pride to call themselves as the followers of `Westminster Model’. British rule left such a deep impact on the psyche of people of Bharat that they started rejecting and ridiculing themselves. Long time British rule made us `atmavismrut’ (self-forgetful). The nation was suffering from memory loss. We lost confidence in ourselves. We were made to forget that real freedom lies in intellectual and emotional independence. Unfortunately, we were taught to think that dependence on Western models is the real independence.

Even though the British landed on this land in 1608, Bharat was fighting against all kinds of invasions and aggressions for centuries. The first such aggression was in 672 CE when Muhammad Bin Quasim entered in Bharat. Muhammad Bin Quasim's invasion was followed by a series of Islamic aggressions, which were fundamentally religious and political. The people of Bharat had to undergo massive atrocities and large-scale conversions during this period. Muslims ruled portions of Bharat for centuries, leaving a deep impact on the Bhartiya mindset. The most significant silver lining of Muslim and British aggressions was the reality that people of Bharat never surrendered themselves before the aggressors. They continued to fight against attackers by some or other methods, keeping alive the self-esteem of this ancient nation.

Ram Janma Bhoomi temple in Ayodhya needs to be seen against this backdrop. The people of Bharat have finally got on the right track after centuries. Of course, the struggle for Ram Janma Bhoomi, which has a history of 500 years, was not easy. But sons and daughters of Bharatmata continued to fight for Ram Janma Bhoomi with unusual determination in human history. The Ram Janma Bhoomi movement was an unthinkable idea at the initial stage given the then prevailing political, social, and ideological situations. However, it is a reality now. All the people of Bharat need to be congratulated for their achievement as Ayodhya temple stands as the biggest manifestation of national ethos.

Ram Janma Bhoomi is the beginning of second independence as Bharat has demonstrated its strong will to liberate itself from intellectual slavery. Struggle against emergency is always described as the second independence. But anti-emergency agitation was also necessarily political in nature. It mainly aimed at rule change, which had suppressed all the freedoms. Ayodhya movement is the real second independence as it has rejected all the post-1947 notions, which were imported from Western philosophies. The post-1947 Bharat was like a body without a soul. The Ayodhya movement brought back the soul to the body. It is precisely this moment for which this ancient nation was waiting for centuries.

This is not a poetic imagination. Neither it is a dream nor a fantasy. The entire nation is filled with new energy. Signs of fundamental psychological change are experienced across the nation. Entire nation has been immersed in Ram Bhakti. How would one feel if any individual was unloading heavy luggage from his head after a long and hard journey? It is precisely the same feeling for Bharatmata as she is unloading heavy baggage of the past from her head, which she was forced to carry for centuries. Bharat is now entering a new era, which marks the commencement of a new journey, which will lead us to complete intellectual, emotional, and psychological independence. The Ram Janma Bhoomi movement reminded us of our real identity. This identity was rejected for centuries systematically and strategically with the help of certain ideas. Perverted history was presented before the nation. History was suppressed to achieve their goals. People were misled with mala fide intentions or ulterior motives by presenting selective history with incorrect interpretation. However, this game is over now as no power can stop an individual after a moment of realization and awakening. This moment of realization has filled Bharat with a new energy. The people are no more in mood to tolerate rejection and humiliation of their identity, which is explicitly Hindu. Ram Janma Bhoomi has brought about positive change in the psyche of Bharat, brushing aside all the outsourced ideas and superficial divisions.

Ram Janma Bhoomi temple, therefore, marks the beginning of the second independence, which necessarily implies intellectual and emotional freedom. Ram Janma Bhoomi temple means emancipation from medieval and colonial clutches. Ram Janma Bhoomi underlines the beginning of an era, which has no sign of any kind of slavery. Ram Janma Bhoomi is the strongest manifestation of `SWA’. Ram Janma Bhoomi is the restoration of self-esteem, which was denied or repressed for centuries. Ram Janma Bhoomi temple has removed a sense of alienation, which was inculcated by vested interests. Ram Janma Bhoomi has created a sense of self-belonging, which is full of duties and responsibilities towards the nation. Ram Janma Bhoomi temple, thus, has laid the foundation for a second independence, which is yet to be achieved.