HUL-375

Ram ke Naam-Review
In the Name of God
SHASHANK KUSHWAH (2012EE50556)
This film focuses around Babri Mosque and lord Ram janmabhoomi temple disputes. The
movie was accused to have insulted Lord Ram, but it just could not have insulted or meant
to insult because the title says that what people are doing in the name of god, not what the
god is saying. As India is big country with different religious people lives, it is difficult to make
everyone happy and one have to compromise for other. This dispute initiates the awakening
of Hindus towards religion but only the upper caste Hindus take part in this campaign and the
lower caste Hindus has no effect whether it is right or wrong. There were slogans like
maarenge mar jaayenge, mandir yahi banayenge, Paste lagao dabur ka, naam hatao
babar ka are famous in the campaign. This whole story was originated from the British
Empire because they are threatened by the unity of Hindu-Muslim in the country. Some
Hindus say Ram Janmabhoomi (inside Mosque) is the birthplace of Lord Rama. Hindus and
Muslims clash over possession of the mosque. There are claims that Sita Rasoi and Ram
Chabootra were built around this time. British colonial administration erects a fence to
separate the places of worship, allowing the inner court to be used by Muslims and the outer
court by Hindus. Mahant Raghubar Das files a suit seeking permission to build a canopy on
Ram Chabootra. Both community compromises to worship at same site. But on December 22,
1949, that compromise broke down and about 50 people with few priests broke in to the
mosque to install idols of Ram and Sita, after which the property came under dispute. Muslim
community wants to remove the idols from inside the masjid and went to District Magistrate
at that time was Mr. K.K. Nayar, who refuses to remove idols from the Mosque due to the
political and legal rules. Court allows Hindus for puja from outside the masjid and inner
courtyard gates are locked. This matter remained in court for very long time and many riots
happened in this period which led to thousands of killings of both community. There was only
hatred remains between Hindu and Muslim community. In 1984, BJP came into role and
Hindus form a committee to "liberate" the birth-place of Lord Rama and build a temple in his
honour, spearheaded by the Vishwa Hindu Parishad party (VHP). Then Bharatiya Janata
Party (BJP) leader Lal Krishna Advani takes over leadership of campaign. The Vishwa Hindu
Parishad claims that the masjid was built over the god Ram Janambhoomi after destroying
the existing temple of god Shri Ram by Mughal emperor Babar. The main issues revolve
around access to this site traditionally regarded as the birthplace of the Lord Rama and

whether a previous Hindu temple was demolished or modified to create the mosque. VHP
wants to build temple at the same site after demolishing mosque. Also the media spreads the
news like fire that birth of Lord Ram (janmabhoomi) was really inside the Babri Mosque
without any evidence. Crowd has no eyes, they just follow the mob and every Hindu believes
that Babri Masjid should be demolished and temple should be created in the very same site.
VHP and allies politicized the whole issue of Ayodhya for the support of Hindus and to come
into power. It also makes an attempt to uncover the discrepancies and irregularities in the
funding of VHP. VHP steps up campaign, laying the foundations of a Rama temple on land
adjacent to the disputed mosque. Former VHP vice-president Justice Deoki Nandan Agarwal
files a case, seeking the mosque be shifted elsewhere. By this campaign led by VHP, BJP comes
into power of Uttar Pradesh, where Ayodhya is located. Bachha Bachha Ram ka slogan
shouted by every member in BJP and VHP. BJP began Ram Rath yatra from Somnath on 1990
traversing nearly 10,000 km unites all Hindus across the country against the Babri mosque
dispute. New group comes into existence like RSS (Rashtriya Swayam Sevak Sangh), Bajrang
Dal. They all are joint together and work for Hindu community. Upper caste Hindu (core moral
community of Hindu) wanted the demolition of mosque at any cost. They dont follow the
court orders whether it is favour of them or not, they will build the temple at the very same
place of Mosque. Lower caste Hindu wants peace because they do not have enough money
to survive so they do not participate and also not support the movement. Nearby villagers
who voted neither Congress nor BJP but CPI(M) because the former two parties were using
religion as a platform, fails to inspire hope for the future safety of communal harmony in the
town. The funds are taken in the name of ram janmabhoomi were used by VHP and many
religious gurus for building the Ram temple. In 1992, the mosque is torn down by supporters
of the VHP, the Shiv Sena party and the BJP, prompting nationwide rioting between Hindus
and Muslims in which more than 2,000 people die and creates fear among Muslims existence
in Ayodhya. They were threatened if they go out or talk to each other and life was ruined.
Every day is full of fear and there is no hope for solution of the dispute.
An important thing in this entire documentary is the voice of the poor Hinduism. Having
born in a Hindu family and being a Hindu by habit, I can say that Hinduism does not allow
taking the lives of the innocent. The religion has survived centuries because of its ability to
absorb. Hinduism teach people to be accommodating. I also feel that nothing or no-one can
hurt my sentiments and at least, it cannot hurt the sentiments of my God!

Whether it is temple or a mosque,

It is the house of the God
How can you destroy a house of God
to replace it with another?

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