Adecade and a half ago India witnessed an incident that left an ugly scar on the face of the nation and tarnished its secular image. December 6, 199 2 still remains vivid in the memory of several people. The day witnessed demolition of the Babri Masjid, a place of worship for the Muslims of the country. The scene of members of Rashtriya Syamsevak Sangh (RSS) scrambling over the mosque during its demolition is far too deeply etched in the psyche of every self respecting Indian to forget. The tiff over Babri Masjid at Ayodhya was a long-standing one. The Hindus consider Ayodhya as the birthplace of Lord Rama. The presence of a mosque at the place has always been a subject of conflict between the Hindu and the Muslim communities. But even the passionate speeches by the members of Bhartiya Janta Party (BJP) and RSS leveled at inciting the feelings of the Hindu community failed to prepare the country for what took place on the fateful day. No one in his or her wildest dreams could have imagined that someone will actually try to demolish a religious place. Still it happened. Several Kar Sevaks and BJP cadres armed with their weapons marched to the mosque and performed the unthinkable act. Babri Masjid was demolished. It was an act of a few hours but it plunged the country in one of its worst communal conflicts.

I was in school at that time. Far away from the scene of action I was a silent spectator like many others. Being too young at the time, I failed to understand the implications of a heinous act perpetrated by some of our fellow countrymen. But since then the memories that I have of the time have made me hang my head in shame. Curfew was declared in almost all parts of the country. Normal life came to a stand still. What followed suit in different parts of India is not news for anyone. The massacre that followed claimed the lives of several innocent victims of both the communities who had no say in the matter. The incident itself and its aftermath are something, which damaged the lives of plenty, and yet we failed to learn a lesson. We continue to misinterpret religion and heinous crimes are committed against humanity everyday in the name of religion. If it was Babri Masjid in 1992, Gujarat followed in 2000. The communal conflicts took a most inhuman turn here with Muslim communities being targeted as an act of retaliation. This time I understood much better than before.

The photograph in one of India's English dailies of a man begging for his life with tears in his eyes told me how remorseless human beings can be. Fanaticism has grown by degrees in the past years. People are massacred in the name of religion. For some it is Hindutva, for others Jihad. The carnage continues unchecked. Communal conflicts have plagued India for a long time. From 1947 to 2007, religion has become the bone of contention on innumerable occasions. On one hand there is the civil unrest while on the other there is the menace of terrorism.

The Islamic terror groups believe anyone who does not follow the religion is unfit to live. They feel they are doing their religion a service by taking innocent lives. Unfortunately the religious leaders who are supposed to guide them and show them the right path moot such belief in them. In India, people have different religious affiliations. Religion here is a very sensitive issue. An irresponsible statement is capable of fanning religious sentiments in the wrong direction. But are we ready to understand this? Political parties and religious leaders continue to instigate people in the name of religion. Babri Masjid would have never happened if it were not for the fiery statements of politicians.

These are the same politicians who participate in the Muslim festivals in full media glare to showcase their so-called secular nature. But who gives anyone the right to decide that there should be a temple and not a mosque at Ayodhya and people who do not follow Islam are unfit to live? It is a difficult question to answer. Has the Hindutva agenda or the Jihad been able to achieve anything for the people of their respective communities? Have the Hindu fundamentalists alleviated all the sufferings of the Hindus by demolishing a mosque? Have the Muslim fanatics done anything to lessen the difficulties suffered by their community in day to- day life? The answer to these questions is a straight no.

All they have done is to fulfill their ulterior motives and fuel passions to appease their inflated egos. It would not be exaggeration to say that in their quest to establish the supremacy of their respective religions they have forgotten their humanity. The heartless slaughter of human lives cannot be justified on any ground; neither anyone can justify demolition of a mosque in order to build a temple. Religion is meant to fulfill the spiritual requirements of human beings.

In turbulent times we all require some solace. It gives strength to us when we feel that there is someone listening to our prayers. Religion is not about competing to establish supremacy of a religious world order. Unfortunately today we are clamoring to do the same. In this quest for supremacy we have created a world where neither a Hindu nor a Muslim is safe. All are equally at peril. Yet we fail to understand the fruitlessness of this quest.

Anumeha Verma

MS (Communication)