Religious Strife in India

Re “At Ayodhya, a Tryst With Tragedy” (Commentary, Dec. 9): Pranay Gupte doesn’t seem to comprehend the importance of Rama in the lives of the vast majority of Indians. Rama is not a mythological hero. For Indians, Rama was an ideal king, a warrior, and an incarnation of Lord Vishnu. The King Rama era predates the Mahabharata period.

Gupte has correctly pointed out that the venal politicians have played havoc with the integrity of India, by encouraging the divisive forces, just to maintain their hold on power. This is how the Congress Party has been able to rule.

Hindus do have a right to reclaim their holy places that were plundered and desecrated by the Muslim invaders. Out of more than 3,000 Hindu temples that were destroyed and converted into mosques during the Muslim era, Hindus have been asking for just three important sites: Rama’s birthplace site in Ayodhya, Krishna’s birthplace site in Mathura, and the Lord Shiva’s temple site in Varanasi. These are the important pilgrimage sites for Hindus. On the Ayodhya issue, I take my hat off to the brave Karsevaks (volunteer workers)!

PURU SHARMA

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