Desh Videsh Magazine Finance Edition January 2020 by Desh-Videsh

Co ntents JANUARY 2020 About Cover Cover

Conceptual Drawing of Proposed Rama Mandir in Ayodhya Illustration Drawing of Lord Rama By Kamlesh M from the book “The Immortal Characters of Ramayana” by Raj Shah published by Desh-Videsh Publishing

How to Help Adult Children Without Harming Your Own Financial Future

Would you be willing to delay your retirement to help your child pay for their first car, college education or wedding? Increasingly, many Americans say the answer is yes.

Why You Need Life Insurance

We’ve all heard about the importance of having life insurance, but is it really necessary? Often, the answer is “yes,” but it depends on your specific situation.

Journey to India

In late 2018, my dearest friend Teresa invited me to join her on a trip to India. She was arranging an Indian wedding in the US, which is her specialty, when she was invited to join the couple on an engagement photo-shoot at the Taj Mahal.

Should Savarkar Get the Bharat Ratna?

My Short answer is “Absolutely not.” Now let me back up my statement. Some of you may or may not know Savarkar. He was the founder president of Hindu Mahasabha He and was also one of the nine men accused of killing Gandhi ji.

Ayodhya Verdict: Present Perfect, Future Bright

The Ramayan tells us that Sri Ram was banished from Ayodhya and sent into exile for 14 years to deny him the crown that was rightfully his. The great epic recounts the story of those 14 years of trials and tribulations in wilderness. 6

Desh-Videsh VOLUME 27, ISSUE 01 Article

Page No

How to Help Adult Children Without Harming Your Own Financial Future

New Year, SMART You!

Why You Need Life Insurance 28 Should I Use My 401(k) to Fund My Child’s College Education?

Journey to India

Should Savarkar Get the Bharat Ratna?

Words to Live By

Book Review: The Battle for Rama: Case of the Temple at Ayodhya

Ayodhya Verdict: Present Perfect, Future Bright

Upcoming Bollywood Movies in 2020

Community News

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Edito r’s View Dear Readers, Let me start this column by wishing everybody a happy, healthy and prosperous New Year. I cannot believe it is already 2020! This issue features three financial planning articles from different experts in the industry. They range from college planning for your kids to insuring your life and your valuables. We welcome your feedback because we are planning to make a financial planning article a regular column in each issue. After receiving requests from several readers about including more articles about travel to India, we are including one article “Journey to India.” Recently one of our vendors and very good friend, Teresa Berstein, Director of Catering at the Hilton Orlando, went to India with her friend Carolyn Bankston. So the unique thing about this article is that it is written by Carolyn Bankston, an American who loves travelling. Read the article and get a unique look at India from non-Indian eyes. Now let us discuss Indian politics. The Ram Temple in Ayodhya is an ongoing issue in India for over 500 years. It took the highest court of India to resolve the problem. The Congress Party, also known as India’s grand old party, kept the issue burning only for political gain, and they kept using Muslims living in India as a vote bank. In the article “Ayodhya Verdict: Present Perfect, Future Bright,” author Kanchan Gupta points out that India’s first Prime Minister Nehru did so for a long time and the same technique was used by his grandson and Prime Minister Rajv Gandhi, playing party politics and keeping vote bank in front of them over India’s progress. In this issue, we also feature a book review of The Battle for Rama by Dr. Meenakshi Jain. We have done the review in detail becuase the book documents the statements made by Muslim shcolars as well as non Indian scholars. The book covers in detail the report created by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) department. When the Supreme Court of India made a historical and unanimous decision in favor of the Hindu community, five judges of court gave a lot of importance to the ASI report. But as I admire Prime Minister Modi ji and the BJP party, one thing I strongly disagree with is how they are promoting Savarkar, the most controversial person in history for the Bharat Ratna award. Similarly I cannot understand how Pragya Thakur, one of the BJP elected Members of Parliament is still in the BJP party after declaring Nathruram Godse, killer of Gandhi ji as a “National Hero.” Yes, the Prime Minister has made statements against her, but not strong enough and no other BJP leaders have said anything against her. Keeping the Savarkar issue aside, I would like to commend the Modi ji government because now it can claim that two of the three issues that formed BJP’s core agenda have been settled with the abrogation of Article 370 and the Ayodhya verdict. The third, Uniform Civil Code, is a work in progress. Leaving politics aside, please check out the article by Chahna Tailor “New Year, SMART You!” Be inspired to make changes in the New Year. Let me close this column by reminding all of you that our next two MyShadi Bridal Expos are approaching soon - one in Raleigh on March 29 and the other in Orlando on April 5. See you there! Raj Shah Managing Editor

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How to Help Adult Children Without Harming Your Own Financial Future By Supal Vora

ould you be willing to delay your retirement to help your child pay for their first car, college education or wedding? Increasingly, many Americans say the answer is yes. According to a recent study published by Ameriprise Financial, 1 in 3 parents say they have delayed or are willing to delay their retirement to help pay for their childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s college education.(1) And the financial support often continues in adulthood â&#x20AC;&#x201C; parents also help their adult children pay for major milestones such as their first home and weddings, sometimes at their own detriment.

Your willingness to talk about your finances is a valuable example for your adult children. So too is your attention to your retirement savings.

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Be strategic with your financial gifts. Like other monetary goals, it’s important to add gifts of cash to your overall financial plan. When you treat cash gifts separately, you shortchange other priorities such as retirement. What will it cost you to divert savings from your retirement plan? With a complete list of financial priorities, you can see how much you need to save to reach them all.

As a financial advisor, I help families grapple with this kind of financial quandary. Here’s the advice I offer parents who want to give their adult children a financial head start without harming their own financial future: Prioritize saving for your own retirement.It takes many years to accumulate the savings you need to retire comfortably. Your children are likely just starting their careers, while your time remaining in the workforce may be limited to 5, 10 or 15 years. Putting yourself first isn’t a selfish move. It’s about being wise with your money. If you make it a priority to have enough saved when you retire, your kids won’t have to worry about providing you with financial support later in life.

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Consider alternate approaches to helping your kids. There may be ways to help your kids other than by dipping into savings. Encourage them to take financial responsibility when they can do so. Your college-bound son or daughter may be able to take out student loans at a low interest rate, which will reduce or eliminate the amount you need to contribute for tuition. Instead of writing a check to help your child buy a car or house, you might co-sign on a loan to help them lock in a lower-interest rate or more favorable repayment terms. Have conversations about money. Your willingness to talk about your finances is a valuable example for your adult children. So too is your attention to your retirement savings. I encourage parents to invite their adult children to attend a financial planning session with a financial advisor. It’s a time to address money

concerns and explore how actions today can affect your future finances. 1 The Modern Money study was created by Ameriprise Financial, Inc. and conducted online by Artemis Strategy Group December 11-25, 2018 among 3,008 U.S. adults between the ages of 30-69 with at least $100,000 in investable assets. For further information and details about the study, including verification of data that may not be published as part of this report, please contact Ameriprise Financial or go to Ameriprise.com/ modernmoney.

About Supal Vora Supal Vora, A A M S ÂŽ , CRPCÂŽ, is a Private W e a l t h A d v i s o r and Chief Executive Officer with Pahal, Vora and Associates a private wealth advisory practice of Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc. He specializes in fee-based financial planning and asset management strategies and has been in practice for 16 years. Contact him at: www. pahalvoraandassociates.com, 904.571.1495, 401 West A Street, Ste. 2245 San Diego, CA 92101.

For more detailed information on this article or to view additional pictures, please visit www.deshvidesh.com/012020

New Year, SMART You! By Chahna Tailor Happy New Year and Happy New Decade!! How is the year starting off for you? Have you created any goals that you would like to achieve? If you reflect on the past resolutions, how many have them have you kept? 22

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Studies show that only 25% of people follow through with their New Year’s resolutions after 30 days and only 8% of people actually achieve their goals.

Why? Sometimes, our goals are not practical. We set unrealistic expectations and do not plan (thoroughly) how we are going to accomplish the goals that we have created for ourselves. In addition to that, we have already created habits and behaviors that run our daily show. It can hinder us from leaving our comfort zone and trying

something new, making it difficult to break pre-existing patterns and bring a change to our daily/weekly routines. When I used to practice occupational therapy, it was im-

perative that whenever we wanted our patients to achieve certain goals, we had to create goals that were S.M.A.R.T. S.M.A.R.T goals are Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, and Timely. Let’s break it down. Is the goal that you have created specific? Have you created a time frame and considered what actions you will take to accomplish it? Have you broken it down to know what it will take from you? • Is the goal measurable? How do you track how well you are doing on your journey

towards your goal? • Is it attainable? Is the goal realistic and doable? Do you have what it takes (motivation, material) to accomplish your task?

• Is it relevant? How does this goal impact you? Why does it matter to you? If a goal is relevant to you personally, it will increase your motivation to achieve it. • Is it timely? Have you set reasonable expectations of

what time frame you would want to complete your goal by? Think about it, sometimes we create goals for ourselves that are not really realistic. But, if we create short term goals (what you will do one week from now, two weeks from now, etc.), it can help us make our long term goal achievable instead of impractical. Create a S.M.A.R.T. Goals chart for yourself! It can help keep you on schedule and make it easier to track how you are doing throughout the process.

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Do not let fear or lack of planning get in the way of your success in this new year. Take charge and accomplish everything you set out to do. New Year, New You! Happy 2020! Make it an amazing one!

About the Author

Chahna Tailor, a certified yoga instructor, has a background in occupational therapy and health science & administration. Chahna deepened her yoga practice by training in Rishikesh, India, where she studied the science behind yoga as a whole. Chahna provides yoga, pranayama, and meditation services through her company Namaskar To You. A volunteer for Ekal Vidyalaya and Hindu American Foundation, Chahna also contributes to Desh-Videsh magazine and the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation. She is currently pursuing a doctoral degree in Ayurvedic Medicine while continuing her self-studies in yoga.

For more detailed information on this article or to view additional pictures, please visit www.deshvidesh.com/012020

Why You Need Life Insurance

By Supal Vora

If you decide you need life insurance, don't delay buying it. Although no one wants to think about and plan for death, you don't want to make the mistake of waiting until it's too late. 28

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e’ve all heard about the importance of having life insurance, but is it really necessary? Often, the answer is “yes,” but it depends on your specific situation. In general, you should consider life insurance protection if any of the following applies to you: • You are married and your spouse depends on your income • You have children • You have an aging parent or disabled relative who depends on you for support • Your retirement savings and income won’t be enough for your spouse to live on • Your estate may be subject to federal or state estate taxes • You own a business, especially if you have a partner • You have a substantial financial obligation such as a personal loan for which another person would be legally responsible after your death In these cases, the proceeds from a life insurance policy can help the people you leave behind after your death. If you’re still unsure about whether you should buy life insurance, ask yourself: If I died today with no life insurance, would my family need to make

JANUARY 2020 - WWW.DESHVIDESH.COM

substantial financial sacrifices and give up the lifestyle to which they’ve become accustomed in order to meet their financial obligations (e.g., loans, mortgages, college tuition, etc.)? If you decide you need life insurance, don’t delay buying it. Although no one wants to think about and plan for death, you don’t want to make the mistake of waiting until it’s too late. There are expenses associated with life insurance. Generally, life insurance policies have contract limitations, fees, and charges, which can include mortality and expense charges, account fees, underlying investment management fees, administrative fees, and charges for optional benefits. Most policies have

surrender charges that are assessed during the early years of the contract if the contract owner surrenders the policy. Any guarantees are contingent on the financial strength and claims-paying ability of the issuing company. Life insurance is not guaranteed by the FDIC or any other government agency. The cost and availability of life insurance depend on factors such as age, health, and the type and amount of insurance purchased. If you are considering the purchase of life insurance, consult a professional to explore your options.

For more detailed information on this article or to view additional pictures, please visit www.deshvidesh.com/012020

About Supal Vora Supal Vora, AAMS®, CRPC®, is a Private W e a l t h Advisor and Chief Executive Officer with Pahal, Vora and Associates a private wealth advisory practice of Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc. He specializes in fee-based financial planning and asset management strategies and has been in practice for 16 years. Contact him at: www. pahalvoraandassociates.com, 904.571.1495, 401 West A Street, Ste. 2245 San Diego, CA 92101.

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Should I Use My 401(k) to Fund My Child's College Education? By Navneet Pahal

ou can, but it isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t your best option. Your 401(k) plan should be dedicated primarily to your retirement. There are two primary drawbacks to using your 401(k) for college funding. First, if you withdraw funds from your 401(k) before you are 59Â˝, you will owe a 10% premature distribution penalty on the withdrawal. This penalty is in addition to income taxes you will owe on the withdrawal. Second, frequent dips into 34

your 401(k) reduce the amount of money you ultimately have available to reap the benefits of compounding and tax deferral. This, in turn, reduces the overall funds for your retirement. If you really need to use your 401(k) funds to pay for college, a better option might be to borrow from your plan if your plan allows loans. Plan loans are not taxed or penalized, as long as you repay the funds within a specified

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'' If you really need to

time period. But make sure you compare the cost of borrowing college funds from your plan with other finance options. Although interest rates on plan loans may be favorable, the amount you can borrow is limited, and you generally must repay the loan within five years. In addition, some plans require you to repay the loan immediately if you leave your job. Your retirement earnings

will also suffer as a result of removing funds from a taxdeferred investment. If you want to save for college in a retirement vehicle, consider using a traditional IRA or Roth IRA instead. With IRAs, you will not owe a 10% premature distribution penalty on withdrawals you make before age 59½ if the money is used to pay your child’s qualified college expenses.

use your 401(k) funds to pay for college, a better option might be to borrow from your plan if your plan allows loans. Plan loans are not taxed or penalized, as long as you repay the funds within a specified time period.

About Navneet Pahal

Navneet Pahal CRPC ® Financial Advisor, is a Managing Partner at Pahal, Vora and Associates, a private wealth advisory practice of Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc. Visit www.pahalvoraandassociates.com, email: navneet.k.pahal@ampf.com, or Call: (619) 358-9893 for more information.

For more detailed information on this article or to view additional pictures, please visit www.deshvidesh.com/012020 36

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Journey to India

By Carolyn Bankston

n late 2018, my dearest friend Teresa invited me to join her on a trip to India. She was arranging an Indian wedding in the US, which is her specialty, when she was invited to join the couple on an engagement photo-shoot at the Taj Mahal. We were coming up on the silver anniversary of our friendship, and this was a perfect way to celebrate. Travel for me over the past 25 years has been far and wide, but my only journey to Asia had been to the Asian side of Istanbul. Feeling deficient in checking off my bucket-list (I am a travel over-achiever) and wanting us to redeem memories from a difficult yet comical trip 20 years before, I jumped at the opportunity to travel to a country known for its diversity in culture, religion, geography and more. 38

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Teresa, her sister and I traveled to Italy in 1998 during a sweltering July, and it was our first, and my absolute last, time on an arranged tour. There were 30 other people, with the requisite bus, tight schedule, and colorful tour operator, Dante. Throw in a good dose of immaturity, recalcitrance, impatience and fantastic humor, and we had a hellish, if not hilarious journey, which included constantly being herded on and off a bus, getting reprimanded at every turn (or literally at every stop), blowing out electrical sockets (because we brought every hair appliance imaginable and used them all at once), plenty of hurt feelings, and laughter until we cried. The stories are numerous and we have retold and enumerated our tales to each other and others ad nauseam. Because of life, and I am sure a bit of trauma from our last big trip, we had not traveled together since. And so this would be a real test of our growth individually and together. India is a massive country - our plan was to visit, as most first-timers do, the Golden Triangle — formed by the cities of New Delhi, Agra and Jaipur. As readers will know, this is a region that had been inhabited for several thousands of years by many tribes, including some important dynasties such as the Rajputs, who were fleeing the marauding Huns and the Mughals. After an almost 24-hour journey, we landed in Delhi and immediately set off by car for Agra to see the Taj Mahal and Agra Fort. We felt the contrast with America immediately, and we were struck by and silently observed the kaleidoscope of animals, vehicles, sounds, colors and smells. Cows, sacred to the Hindu religion, were ubiquitous, walking or lying in the street, sometimes literally stopping traffic. Car horns were constant and vehicles jostled to get ahead of one another with no awareness of boundaries. And people were everywhere— street vendors, people on the way to work, children playing — all bustling about with high energy. Smells ranged from noxious to delectable. Pollution in India is a well known fact, and it was quite something to smell the toxic fumes mixed with the delicious smells of the street vendor fare. To hear of the poverty and congestion of India and then see it in person was quite something — animals eating from litter piles, beggars, children with little clothing, no shoes, juxtaposed with luxury hotels barricaded behind large gates and walls. Mixed in was a riot of color: shades of saffron yellow and orange, indigos, pinks and greens — on every person, structure, and vehicle. The colors seemed to shout beauty, joy, and pride of culture as a counter to the

spectacle. Aldous Huxley, the English writer and philosopher, once wrote a scathing review of the Taj Mahal: “Marble, I perceive, covers a multitude of sins…” I am no expert in architecture, but I can only imagine this must have been some filtering through of England’s rancor and envy due to India’s liberation, because I found this to be a most beautiful jewel of architecture and craftsmanship. However, as with all beauty in life, it is complicated, and this testament of love by Shah Jahan to his second wife, Mumtaz Mahal, is no exception. First is the myth of the workers and artisans hands being cut-off and eyes gouged out, so they could never create another masterpiece in its like. Whether or not this is true, this was a period of intense rivalry, competition and warfare. So much so that with the state in disarray, Shah Jahan lost power to one of his sons, ending in the fallen emperor being put under permanent house arrest at Agra Fort left to gaze at the monument to his deceased wife from a distance.

reality of a hard life. I was particularly delighted by the technicolor transport vehicles. Most were beautifully painted with Indian motifs, complete with bejewelled tassels hanging from rearview mirrors. These vehicles, and the ever-present cows, were my favorite sights as we traveled from city to city. Our first view of the Taj Mahal was from the stunning Oberoi Hotel. This was the perfect place to nurse our jet lag with wine and delicious, aromatic Indian food. A perfect intro: sitting, sipping, nibbling, and there before us, the beautiful, gleaming dome and minarets of the Taj against a clear, blue sky. The Taj is considered one of The Seven Wonders of The World. After a night’s rest, we arrived before sunrise to see this impressive feat of architecture up close. We were quite fortunate to gain quick entry due to my friend’s connections, and we did not experience the typical January fog that can obscure the beauty of this 40

Walking through the main gate, our first view was in the reflecting pool, inverting and replicating its beauty and magnificence. Continuing our walk, we immediately recognized the light effect. Because of the light changes during the day and evening, the marble changes color. It was a crisp, clear morning, and as the sun rose, our first perspective showed the color moving between a gossamer and pale salmon pink. It was truly ravishing set against a stageset, blue sky. As the morning wore on and we walked closer, the color transformed to a creamy, parchment white. Hours were spent admiring the architecture, stonework, the precious stone inlays and gardens. My favorite ornamentation inside the tomb, was the number of plant species depicted, many in intricate, inlaid stone. Upon leaving, there was yet another color change to a beautiful, pearly, almost iridescent, white. Leaving felt like walking out of a dream, a mirage. We are grateful for our incredible luck receiving such warm hospitality and perfect weather during our visit to this impressive site. Onward to Jaipur, also known as the “pink city” due to the rosy hue of the original sandstone buildings. But first, an update on Teresa and me. JANUARY 2020 - WWW.DESHVIDESH.COM

Our friendship has weathered many seasons and we have matured considerably, apparent by our getting on fabulously, better than a married couple I would say. We are both strong personalities, but we have both learned the art of negotiation. This time, no drama and much laughter, which completely warmed my heart; like family but better. Anyway, back to the energetic, beautiful Jaipur — a feast of palaces, textiles, jewels, spices and snake charmers. City Palace, built by the founder of Jaipur, King Sawai Jai Singh II, and where the Royal Family of Jaipur still resides, is a must-see for its ornately decorated entrance gates, carved marble interiors, and (always a favorite for me) the inlaid ornamentation. This is a fine example of Mughal, Rajput and European architecture combined. I particularly enjoyed the museum, which has an assortment of textiles, including carpets, Kashmiri pashmina shawls, Sanganeri block prints, Benares silk saris and silk embroideries, all rich in color and detail.

and weather calculations. This site is a departure from other Indian sites, not only because of its scientific and astrological significance, but because it is a piece of modern architecture built in the 18th century. Isamu Noguchi was struck by Jantar Mantar’s geometric elements and its interaction between light and space, and used them as inspiration for his own work. One fascinating instrument is the Samrat Yantra, the largest sundial in the world at over 27 meters high (88 feet). It can tell time, day or night, with a precision of about two seconds. Its shadow moves approximately 6 cm (2.36 in) a minute, easily visible to the human eye. It has a small cupola above the instrument from which eclipses and such weather events as monsoons were announced. The last highlight of our adventure was more than we hoped for. After leaving Amber Fort in Jaipur (another incredible site) we headed to

A unique site in Jaipur is Jantar Mantar, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, completed in 1734, also by King Sawai Jai Singh II. He was an expert in astronomy and astrology (both sciences are embedded in Indian culture), amongst other interests. Jantar Mantar, which translates to “calculation instrument,” is the largest of 5 historical astronomical observatories in India: it features 14 astronomical instruments to view planetary positions and make astrological JANUARY 2020 - WWW.DESHVIDESH.COM

Alila Fort in Bishangarh, also part of Jaipur and the Aravalli mountain range. This was such a special place, because, well, it’s special! But also because it was nice to have a break to relax from our marathon touring, and there could not have been a more perfect place to rest. Alila Fort is a 230year old historic landmark converted into a boutique, luxury hotel that underwent a seven-year renovation focused on sustainable design. Painstaking attention to detail is evident everywhere you turn, mixing the exciting Jaipur Gharana architecture with modern, clean design. Truly perfect. We arrived after sundown, and driving up to the illuminated stone guard-house was breathtaking in itself. It sits atop a granite hill and, in keeping with Rajput fortress style, has turrets, many small windows, arched entrances, all in local sandstone

We were greeted warmly at the haveli (townhouse) at the base of the fort, with a pool, gym and organic garden. From here we were taken to reception, and upon entering we were completely enveloped by warmth: glowing lanterns, an incredible staff, and the melodic sound of a bansuri (Indian Flute). Our room was in one of the turrets. It was beautifully designed — clean, spartan, yet inviting. Every morning,

For more detailed information on this article or to view additional pictures, please visit www.deshvidesh.com/012020 41

walking out, we were greeted by the bansuri player down below. It was mesmerizing gazing at him through the stone lattice-work outside our room. The restaurants, one inside and one outside, were impeccable. The indoor restaurant is housed in two rooms of the former royal quarters and is perfection in Indian architecture and finishes; typical arches and columns, subtle Indian motifs, walls are finished in an original Rajasthani plastering technique. The outdoor restaurant features Indian barbecue, while musicians entertain guests who cannot help but get up and dance to the festive songs. Different activities are offered here, and we opted for the excursion to town. We were escorted in a festive, camel-drawn carriage, not unlike the beautiful local motor-transport vehicles, except our engine had four legs and an attitude, as camels often do. We visited local weavers, ceramicists, and jewelers. The people were hard-working, warm and kind. Our stay ended with a catered lunch for two in the organic garden, gazing up at this magnificent site, contemplating our next trip.

Should Savarkar Get the Bharat Ratna?

y Short answer “Absolutely not.”

Raj Shah, Managing Editor, Desh-Videsh

Now let me back up my statement. Some of you may or may not know Savarkar. He was the founder president of Hindu Mahasabha He and was also one of the nine men accused of killing Gandhi ji. But on a technicality, he was set free. Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, India’s first deputy prime minister and Ganhdi ji’s right hand man had written to Jawahrlal Nehru, India’s first Prime Minister, on February 27, 1948: “I have kept myself almost in daily touch with the progress of the investigation regarding Bapu’s assassination case.” Vallabhbhai

Killers’ smile: (First row, from left) Nathuram, Apte, Karkare; (second row) Badge, Madanlal, Gopal; (third row) Shankar, Savarkar JANUARY 2020 - WWW.DESHVIDESH.COM

Path along Which Mahatma Gandhi Walked to His Assassination went on saying: “It was a fanatical wing of the Hindu Mahasabha directly under Savarkar that [hatched] the conspiracy and saw it through.”

More evidence was found against Savarkar in Badge’s testimony: Savarkar’s meeting with Godse and Apte on January 14, with the arms that were used in the first attempt against Gandhi’s life only a few days later. Apte informing Badge that Savarkar had decided that Gandhi had to be assassinated and had entrusted them with the task.

the Hindutva. On January 14, Godse and Apte were travelling from Pune to Mumbai via train. An actor known as Bimba was also in the same compartment and started a conversation with Apte. At the end of the trip, Bimba offered to drop Godse and Apte off in her car to their final destination — Savakar’s home in Dadar, her neighborhood. She deposed in court that she had indeed dropped the men there.

Savarkar of course denied all this. But there is a very interesting eyewitness Vaibhav Purandare in his book Savarkar: The True Story of the Father of

Fast forward to March 22, 1965, when a commission of inquiry was set up with former Indian Supreme Court judge J.L. Kapur as its chairman, to

Let us analyze some facts. Nine people were accused in the assassination. Two were hanged, five were given life imprisonment, one turned approver, who portrayed Savarkar as the plot’s mastermind. The only one who was acquitted was Savarkar. Godse and Narayan Apte, who were hung for the murder, were disciples of Savarkar, a man who argued that Gandhi’s empowerment and appeasement of Muslims was despicable.

Gandhi Smriti - New Delhi - India

Digambar Badge, who turned approver, said in his statement that he along with Godse and Apte, went to Savarkar’s residence in Mumbai on January 14, 1948, 16 days before the assassination. When they were on their way downstairs along with Savarkar, Savarkar told them in Marathi ‘come back with success.” JANUARY 2020 - WWW.DESHVIDESH.COM

Group photo of accused of Mahatma Gandhi assassination. This was taken in the custody. Standing: Shankar Kistaiya, Gopal Godse, Madanlal Pahwa, Digambar Badge (Approver). Seated: Narayan Apte, Vinayak D. Savarkar, Nathuram Godse, Vishnu Karkare investigate the conspiracy in Gandhi’s assassination. The commission found that Godse frequently visited Savarkar and that people who were subsequently involved in the murder of Mahatma Gandhi were often congregating at Savarkar Sadan and sometimes had long interviews with Savarkar.

In its report, which came out in 1969, the commission concluded: “All these facts taken together were destructive of any theory other than the conspiracy to murder by Savarkar and his group.”

Savarkar’s meeting with Godse and Apte on January 14, with the arms that were used in the first attempt against Gandhi’s life only a few days later. Apte informing Badge that Savarkar had decided that Gandhi had to be assassinated and had entrusted them with the task.

Kapur’s findings established that Savarkar was indeed involved in the conspiracy to kill Gandhi. Gajanan Vishnu Damle, Savarkar’s private secretary, and Appa Kasar, his bodyguard, deposed before the commission and accepted their knowledge of Savarkar’s involvement in the conspiracy to kill Gandhi. In its report, which came out in 1969, the commission concluded: “All these facts taken together were destructive of any theory other than the conspiracy to murder by Savarkar and his group.” Recently, just before Maharashtra assembly elections, BJP declared in the party’s manifesto that they will push to confer Bharat Ratna, the country’s highest civilian honour, to Savarkar. It is irony that this year, India along with the whole world, celebrates the 150th birth anniversary of Gandhi ji while the BJP party will honor the person who

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was very well connected with Gandhi’s assassination. After reading the BJP’s manifesto, Mahatma Gandhi’s great grandson Tushar Gandhi said, “If Savarkar is given Bharat Ratna, it would be a great insult to all martyrs and freedom fighters, who sacrificed their lives and went through all kinds of torture for this country because Savarkar was the one who sought apology from Britishers.” He went on, “BJP and all others who claim that Savarkar was acquitted by the court in Bapu’s assassination case, must know that he was not acquitted because of his innocence but was acquitted because the prosecution could not produce proof of his guilt. Absence of a proof of his involvement in Bapu’s murder doesn’t make him innocent.” Now let us examine some of the actions and inactions taken by Savarkar in his life. When Savarkar was sent to jail in Andaman Nicobar by Britishers, he wrote five letters to Britishers in which he apologized to be released from jail. In return, Savarkar offered to serve the “government in any capacity.” He was released later. There were nearly 500 other prisoners in Andaman Nicobar jail when Savarkar was there. But Savarkar apologized and requested for release while others didn’t. Rather they were angry over Savarkar for bowing down before Britishers. Looking at the role of Savarkar, during the Quit India Movement in 1942, he and 48

About Raj Shah

Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel said in his letter, “I have kept myself almost in daily touch with the progress of the investigation regarding Bapu’s assassination case. It was a fanatical wing of the Hindu Mahasabha directly under Savarkar that [hatched] the conspiracy and saw it through.”

his party Hindu Mahasabha recruited thousands of people in the British army. He supported the British war effort by helping recruit for the British Army. Let me conclude this long but very important article by adding, the Bharat Ratna is the highest Indian civilian award and when it is given to someone he should not have a single blot against him. If there are any allegations against one, he is not entitled to the recognition. India is a democratic country and everyone is free to choose sides, but in Mahatma Gandhi vs Savarkar, there is only one side you can take. And that will define you and your principles. As a lifelong admirer of Gandhi ji, I will definitely stand behind Gandhi ji and will vote against Bharat Ratna for Savrkar. Wouldn’t you?

A software engineer by profession, Indian culture enthusiast, ardent promoter of Hinduism, and a cancer survivor, Raj Shah is a managing editor of Desh-Videsh Magazine and co-founder of Desh Videsh Media Group. Promoting the rich culture and heritage of India and Hinduism has been his motto ever since he arrived in the US. Raj has served as a board member of South Florida Hindu Temple and Hindu University of America and Chairman of the Board of International Hindu University. Raj has written two books titled Chronology of Hinduism and Understanding Hinduism. He has also written six children's books, We love Diwali, Holi Hai, The Complete Ramayan in 100 Tweets, The Mahabharat in 100 Tweets, Coloring and Understanding Hindu Symbols and Welcome to my beautiful Mandir.

For more detailed information on this article or to view additional pictures, please visit www.deshvidesh.com/012020

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Raj Shah, Managing Editor, Desh-Videsh

s an editor of DeshVidesh and a community organizer, I meet a lot of people at parties or at community events, especially those from my generation. After a few meetings, they open up and talk about their family and problems. Obviously I can not advise them either way because that is not my expertise. But I am a very good listener. By expressing their feelings to me, it may give them some solace. Some of these people do expect that I share my personal experience with them. But fortunately for me, Aruna and I are blessed with a very caring family. Two daughter-in-laws, even though they are born and brought up in this country, understand our feelings as our own daughters. But for those families not as fortunate as us, I want to share one popular dialogue from the Hindi Bollywood movie, Baghban, which means Gardener. Those of you from my generation (65+ years young) must have seen the old Hindi movie Baghban, starring Amitabh Bachchan and Hema Malini. If you recall, it was a movie about conflict between the old generation and new generation. It was a movie about old thinking and new 50

thinking where children do not understand their parents feelings and end up with disrespecting them.

Generation X and millennials may not have seen this movie. But I recommend that they watch, and I highly recommend

For us, our Father was God and at our Motherâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s feet lay our heaven. And now people have become very sensible. The new generation is very clever and practical.

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that they watch with their children. At the end of the movie, Amitabh Bachchan gives a small speech about his newly published book titled Baghban. It is a small audience where his children were also present. For the sake of new generation, I have attempted to translate it from Hindi to English. I know it is not justice to the Hindi language, or to the writer of that speech. Below is my translation for this speech. [dialogue Baghban]

excerpt

from

Ladies and gentlemen, ‘’Actually, l am not a writer. Writers are those that plunge deep into the oceans of knowledge and come up with rare gems of literature. I have written what life has taught me. Baghban book is not about me or any other individual. It is a book explaining the conflict arising between the days gone by and the days to come. It is a book explaining the conflict between the past and the future. It is a book about the broken relations between two generations, it is a book about the drooping (weary) shoulders on which some children had once sat to see the world. It is a book about the trembling hands that once held the hands of their children as they taught them to walk. It is a book about the parched lips, that once sang lullabies but they have now been silenced. Times have changed, life has changed. If people of my 52

generation will recall, we were always caught up in ties and in relations that yielded nothing. For us, our Father was God and at our Mother’s feet lay our heaven. And now people have become very sensible. The new generation is very clever and practical. For them, every relation is like a ladder, on which they will step to rise further in life. But when they have no use for the ladder they will be dumped with the rest of the broken furniture in the house like old vessels or old and torn clothes or old newspapers. However life is not like a ladder. Life grows like a tree. Parents are not the steps of a ladder. Parents are the soul of one’s life, like a big tree. Regardless of its size and fullness of big tree, it can’t stand on its own once its roots are hacked. With all humility and respect, l ask today that if a father can spend every penny of his hard earned money with a smile for the happiness of his children, those very children, when the father’s eye-sight weakens, why

do they hesitate in giving them light ? If a father can help his son to take the first step in his life, why can’t the son give his father support when he’s taking the last few steps of his life? What crime is it of the parents who have devoted all their lives to their children, that they are given tears and loneliness?’’ If they can’t give them any love who gives them the right to snatch their love from them? What do these children think? God have united their parents with love, how the children can separate and force them to lead a life of misery and despair? Is it for a day like this that man seeks children? Children perhaps forget, what is our present today, tomorrow will be their present. If we are old today, they will also grow old someday. The questions we ask today, they will ask tomorrow. As for me… please don’t worry about me, if I am capable of bringing up my children, helping them become able and independent, I am capable of taking care of myself too. I do not expect anything

JANUARY 2020 - WWW.DESHVIDESH.COM

from anyone because I am very fortunate, The reason I am very fortunate because life has given me a companion, walking with whom my hardships were always blown away, my hardships were always overcome. And that companion is my wife. People often fall in love. However they don’t express it as often as they should. I do not want to make the same mistake. Pooja...I love you very much. Thank you for being with me. I exist because you do and there’s everything if we are together, else there’s nothing, absolutely nothing. That’s all I wanted to say.” The reporter asks, “Sir, how would you react had Baghban, been your personal experience?’’ “Those children, who don’t love their parents...who don’t give them shelter...who don’t respect them… I would never forgive them l would rather punish them and l would disown them. One of their sons asks, a mother always forgives her children, “Won’t you forgive us?” ‘’Yes, as a mother l may perhaps forgive you. But as a wife… I cannot forget the tears my husband has shed. And all of you are the ones who made them shed tears. I can’t say what the future holds, but l have nothing to give you today Not even forgiveness.”

For more detailed information on this article or to view additional pictures, please visit www.deshvidesh.com/012020

The Battle for Rama: Case of the Temple at Ayodhya By Meenakshi Jain, Aryan Books International. For over a decade, a handful of Left historians have strenuously endeavoured to stymie the Ramjanmabhumi movement. From questioning the antiquity of Rama worship and the identity of ancient Ayodhya, they have also challenged the widely held belief Babri Masjid was built on the site of the Janmabhumi temple. Scholars have, however, traced the antiquity of the Rama Katha as far back as sixth-fifth century BCE, when ancient ballads (akhyanas) transmitted Rama’s story orally. Valmiki’s Ramayana itself has been dated to the fourth-third century BCE. Over the centuries, Rama’s story has been retold in many vernaculars of the country. Rama is the exemplar of moral values for Hindu society and epitomises its aspirations of artha, kam, and above all, dharma. The proceedings of the Allahabad High Court have exposed the vulnerabilities of Left historians. They could proffer no evidence of continued Muslim presence at Babri Masjit, while the unwavering commitment of Hindu devotees to the site had been attested by several sources. Babri Masjid was not mentioned in 54

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the revenue records of the Nawabi and British periods, nor was any Waqf ever created for its upkeep. No Muslim filed an FIR or complained of dispossession or obstruction in his alleged use of the Masjid when the image of Sri Rama was placed under the central dome on 23rd December 1949. The Sunni Central Waqf Board entered litigation on 18th December 1961,, just five days before the twelfth anniversary of the placement of the image in the Masjid, on which date any claim would have become time-barred. The Board did not file a suit for possession, instead it sought a declaration on the status of the property.

Here is an excerpt from the book where Mrs Jain is quoting works of some muslim scholars, Several works in Arabic, Persian, and Urdu discussed the demolition of the Ramjanmabhumi temple and its replacement by Babri Masjid (Narain 1993: 16-37). Among them was the Jannah al-Mashriq wa Matla ‘an-Nur al-Mashriq, re-titled Al-Hind-u fi al- ‘Ahd al-Islami, by Maulana Hakim Sayyid Abd al-Hayy. It was translated into Urdu by Maulana Shams Tabriz Khan, under the title Hindustan Islami Ahd mein. In an introduction, the author’s son, Maulana Abu l-Hasan ‘Ali Nadawi alias Ali Mian, wrote, And among them is the great mosque that was built by the Timurid king Babar in the sacred city of Ajodhya. It is believed that Rama Chandra considered to be the manifestation of God, was born here. There is a long story about his wife Sita. There was a big temple for them in this city. At a certain place Sita used to sit and cook food for her consort. Well, the said king Babar demolished it and built a mosque at that very place with chiseled stone in 923 AH (Narain 1993: 16-17). Another work was the Hadiqah-i Shuhada, (Lucknow 1856), by Mirza Jan, a participant in the jihad of Amir Ali at Hanuman Garhi in 1855. Mirza Jan referred to a Persian text, Sahifah-I Chihal Nasaih-I Bahadurshahi (the Bahadurshahi Book of JANUARY 2020 - WWW.DESHVIDESH.COM

Forty Sermons), attributed to a granddaughter of Emperor Aurangzeb. He claimed to have found a copy of the book, made on 11th July 1816, in the library of the grandson of Prince Dara Shukoh. Among its sermons, the book advised devout Muslim rulers to keep idolaters in subjection to Islam and, keep in constant use for Friday and congregational prayer the mosques built up to strengthen Islam after demolishing the temples of the idolatrous Hindus situated at Mathura, Banaras, and Awadh, etc., which the wretched infidels have, according to their faith, adjudged to be the birthplace of Krishna in one case, Sita ki Rasoi in another, and Hanuman’s abode in a third ... The authenticity and authorship of this work is debatable (Kunal 2016: 253-57). Mirza Jan did not name the daughter of Bahadur Shah, nor cite the year in which she composed this work. However, according to the Foreign Department Political Consultations, December 28, 1855, No. 450, the Prime Minister of Nawab Wajid Ali Shah of Awadh “referred to a book which existed in the King’s library written in the reign of Bahadurshah about the year AD 1707 which contained an account of

The proceedings of the Allahabad High Court have exposed the vulnerabilities of Left historians. They could proffer no evidence of continued Muslim presence at Babri Masjit, while the unwavering commitment of Hindu devotees to the site had been attested by several sources.

the Masjid at Hanumangarhi.” While quoting from the above text, Mirza Jan remarked, In short, these four mosques (Babri mosque, Ram Darbar mosque, Fort mosque, and Hanumanagadhi mosque) built by the rulers of the past were situated at Ayodhya like four pillars of the faith (Narain 1993: 23-26). In his Hadiqah-i Shuhada, Mirza Jan wrote, ...they (Muslim rulers) cleared up Faizabad and Awadh also from the filth of false belief, inasmuch as it is a great place of worship and was the capital of Rama’s father. Here they broke the temples and left no stone-hearted idol intact. Where there was a big temple, there they got a big mosque constructed, and, where there was a small pavilion, there they erected a plain camp mosque/enclosure. Accordingly, what a majestic mosque Babar Shah has got constructed in 923 AH under the patronage of Sayyid Musa Ashiqan! Its date is “Khayr Baqi.” It is still known far and wide as the Sita ki Rasoi mosque (Narain 1993: 35-36). Several other works in Urdu written in the nineteenth and early twentieth century also referred to the replacement of the temple by the mosque. The Tarikh-i Awadh (1919), for instance, stated, Babur got the mosque built after demolishing the Janmasthan and used in his mosque the stone of the same Janmasthan, which was richly engraved, precious kasauti stone, and which survives even today. The Qaysar-u’t Tawarikh located the mosque in Sita ki Rasoi as well as the Janmasthan. It acknowledged, “...all the temples of Ayodhya were turned into mosques by the Sultans of the past” (Narain 1993: 27-35). The Fasanah-I Ibrat, written by Rajab Ali Beg Surur in 1860, but first published in 1884, stated, ...a glorious mosque was built up King Babar’s regime on the spot Sita ki Rasoi tomb (?) is situated in During this Babari (dispensation) the 56

during where Awadh. Hindus

had no guts to be a match for the Muslims. (The mosque) was built in 923 AH under the patronage of Sayyid Mir Ashiqan ... There (on Hanumangadhi) Aurangzib constructed a mosque ...The Bairagis effaced the mosque and erected a temple in its place. Then they intruded into the ‘Masjid-I Babari’ where the Sita ki Rasoi was situated (Narain 1993: 30). Muraqqah-i Khusrawi, or the Tawarikh-i Awadh, by Shaykh Azamat Ali Kakorawi Nami (18111893), an eye witness to several events of the reign of Nawab Wajid Ali Shah, was completed in 1869 but published in 1986. The manuscript is preserved at the Tagore Library, University of Lucknow. The parts dealing with the construction of Babri Masjid and the Hindu-Muslim conflict of 1855 were deleted by the Fakhruddin Ahmad Memorial Committee, under whose auspices the book was published. Zakir Kakaurwi published these sections separately under the title Amir Ali Shahid Aur Marakhai-i-Hanuman Garhi in 1987 (Grover and Gupta 1991: 152). It stated, According to old records, it has been a religious rule with Muslim rulers, after the triumph of Sayyid Salar Masud Ghazi, to build mosques, monasteries, and inns, spread Islam,

Valmiki's Ramayana itself has been dated to the fourth-third century BCE. Over the centuries, Rama's story has been re-told in many vernaculars of the country. Rama is the exemplar of moral values for Hindu society and epitomises its aspirations of artha, kam, and above all, dharma.

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and put a stop to blasphemous practices (bid at), wherever they found manifestation (of infidelity). Accordingly, even as they cleared up Mathura, Bindraban, etc. from the rubbish of non-Islamic practices, the magnificent Babari mosque (masjid-I sarbaland-i Babari) came up in 923 AH under the patronage of Sayyid Musa Ashiqan in the Janmasthan temple (butkhane Janmasthan mein) in Faizabad-Awadh which was a great place (of idol-worship) and the capital of Rama’s father... Among the Hindus it was known as Sita ki Rasoi (Narain 1993: 29-30). A translation of the same work provided by Kishore Kunal affirmed that Hindus had begun worship at Babri Masjid and officials kept quiet after accepting bribes, Then in the Baburi mosque, where there was Sita Rasoi, started the worship openly. Officers, after taking bribes (silver shoes), became their loyal servants. No one took notice. First the saying of Shaikh Ali Haji was true to the situation – ‘The butkhana on the way that was considered a bad place became the abode of God!’ Thereafter, a drastic change occurred – mosques were pulled down and temples were constructed there. But there was a veil of neglect on our eyes and we remained in slumber (Kunal 2016: 259-60). The Tarikh -i- Awadh (Hissa Doyam) by Allama Muhammad Nazamul Gani Khan Rampuri (18591932) stated, .... At last, the tussle went to such an extent that except the mosque adjacent to Hanuman-garhi, the Hindus made Butkhana even in the corridor of the Babri mosque where existed Sita Rasoi. The Hindus damaged Ram Ghat mosque also and in its corridor constructed a temple. They started placing garbage in the mosque and constructed magnificent temple from the bricks and stones after digging hundreds of graves of the Muslims (Kunal 2016: 260-61). 58

Perhaps this described the situation after the Galata conference when the Ramanandis began arriving in Ayodhya in considerable numbers. Professor Irfan Habib dismissed these works as the product of the communal consciousness of the last 150 years (Muslim India 101, May 1991). It would have contributed immensely to the debate had Professor Habib listed Arabic, Persian, Urdu, Hindavi, Hindustani, or Hindi works that asserted that Babri Masjid was built on virgin land. In addition to the works listed by Harsh Narain, B.R. Grover and S.P. Gupta mentioned the Gumghasta Halat-i-Ajodhaya Awadh (The forgotten events of Ajodhaya Awadh), by Maulvi Abdul Karim, Imam of Babri Masjid. He cited several contemporary sources in his book. It was translated from Persian to Urdu in 1979 by his grandson, Maulvi Abdul Gufar; who retained the section pertaining to the destruction of the Janmasthan temple and the construction of a mosque in its place. The revised second Urdu edition published in 1981, however, omitted this portion (Grover and Gupta 1991: 152). Printed with permission from the publisher Aryan Books International.

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About Meenakshi Jain Meenakshi Jain is an associate professor of History at Gargi College, University of Delhi. She was Fellow, Nehru Memorial Museum & Library, Teen Murti. Her recent works include Parallel Pathways. Essays on HinduMuslim Relations (1707-1857). She is the coauthor of The Rajah Moonje Pact. Documents on a Forgotten Chapter of Indian History. JANUARY 2020 - WWW.DESHVIDESH.COM

JANUARY 2020 - WWW.DESHVIDESH.COM

Ayodhya Verdict: Present perfect, future bright

By Kanchan Gupta

he Ramayan tells us that Sri Ram was banished from Ayodhya and sent into exile for 14 years to deny him the crown that was rightfully his. The great epic recounts the story of those 14 years of trials and tribulations in wilderness. At the end of his exile, which climaxed with Ravan Vadh, or the slaying of Ravan, Sri Ram returned to Ayodhya and ascended the throne that had been deceitfully denied to him. All this happened in the Treta Yuga. Cut to modern times and the tangled history of Ayodhya, or more specifically Ram Janmabhoomi, the place where Sri Ram was born. It has taken close to 500 years for that land, no more than three acres, claimed by Hindus and disputed by Muslims, to be restored to its rightful owner: Sri Ram. Between the construction of what came to be known as Babri Masjid by Mir Baqi, a general in Baburâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s army, in 1528, and the restoration of the land to Sri Ram on November 9, 2019, by a five60

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judge bench of the Supreme Court headed by the Chief Justice of India, Ayodhya has witnessed the ebb and flow of both religious and political activism, impacting both society and politics at the national level. Jawaharlal Nehru opposed the reconstruction of the Somnath Temple — sacked, looted, disfigured and replaced with a mosque — arguing that it would lead to “Hindu revivalism.” Sardar Patel had ignored him and, backed by President Rajendra Prasad, had gone ahead with the reconstruction project. When an attempt was made to force the Government’s hand on Ayodhya, Nehru had his way as Patel was no longer around. Ironically, Nehru’s grandson Rajiv Gandhi was Prime Minister when the locks that had been placed on the disputed site following a court order to maintain status quo after an idol of Ram Lalla (or baby Ram) appeared under the main dome of the mosque, were opened and worship by Hindus was allowed. Apocryphal stories of the time suggested that the Faizabad district court acted on New Delhi’s direction. That was in 1986 and the politics of the time determined the Government’s response that was primarily aimed at mitigating the Hindu backlash to parliamentary subversion of the Shah Bano judgement. Arun Nehru, a close friend of Rajiv Gandhi and Minister for Internal Security in his government, is believed to have advised Rajiv Gandhi to play the ‘Ayodhya Card’ as a balancing act. Rajiv Gandhi was to later launch the Congress’s 1989 election campaign from Ayodhya, though that did not fetch the expected result. The unlocking of the disputed site also unlocked pent up fury and the VHP took up the issue of Ram Janmabhoomi. As the revived battle for Ram intensified, L.K. Advani moved a presidential resolution at the BJP’s national executive meeting at Palampur in 1989, adopting the Ayodhya Movement as the party’s political project. Advani’s Somnath to Ayodhya Rathyatra, conceived as a counter to V.P. Singh’s divisive Mandal politics, and the fallout over his arrest in Bihar, in a sense marked the shift from Hindu revivalism to Hindu resurgence. P.V. Narasimha Rao thought he could manipulate the course of history through inaction, deceit, subterfuge and creative application of law. The end result was the demolition of the disputed structure on JANUARY 2020 - WWW.DESHVIDESH.COM

Somnath Temple Ruins (1869)

Somnath Temple

Jawaharlal Nehru opposed the reconstruction of the Somnath Temple — sacked, looted, disfigured and replaced with a mosque — arguing that it would lead to “Hindu revivalism.” December 6, 1992. Since then, Ram Lalla has lived in a tent made of plastic sheets at the site whose ownership has now been decided in his favour. All this while the judiciary prevaricated refusing to rule on the simple fact: Who owns the land? In 2010 the Allahabad High Court gave a ruling, apportioning the land among three claimants, two Hindus and one Muslim. Unsurprisingly it was promptly rejected by both Hindus and Muslims and appeals were filed in the Supreme Court. A decade after that flawed judgement, the Supreme Court ruled that the land belongs to Sri Ram, the Government will set up a trust which will oversee the use of the land, and Muslims, represented by the Sunni Waqf Board, will be given land to build a mosque. With this, the chapter of Ayodhya’s history initiated by Mir Baqi building a mosque above a non-Islamic structure, as determined by the Archaeological Survey of India, comes to an end.

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Arun Nehru, a close friend of Rajiv Gandhi and Minister for Internal Security in his government, is believed to have advised Rajiv Gandhi to play the ‘Ayodhya Card’ as a balancing act.

BJP leader L.K. Advani during his rath yatra from Somnath temple to Ayodhya in September 1990. But that is only part of the story. There are other attached aspects that merit comment. First, the BJP can now claim that two of the three issues that formed its ‘core agenda’ have been settled with the abrogation of Article 370 and the Ayodhya verdict. The third, Uniform Civil Code, is a work in progress. If a UCC were to be put in place in the coming months, then the BJP would have implemented its “core agenda.” That would open up space for a shift in its politics from identity to issues of contemporary relevance, for instance, the national economy.

While triumphalism would be misplaced, the BJP would make the most of the popular perception that strong leadership and an overwhelming parliamentary majority are sine qua non for delivery. The possible rough edges of policy in the offing would be smoothened by success on the core agenda front. Second, the Congress has been once again left holding the proverbial can although the process of liberating Ram Janmabhoomi in our times was initiated when the party was in power with a humongous parliamentary majority. As the Congress’s strength steadily declined, that of 62

the BJP grew exponentially through the closing decade of the 20th century and the opening decades of the 21st century. The space that the Congress occupied has since been ceded to the BJP, potentially irrevocably. Third, the Supreme Court has reasserted the primacy of ownership of property, either by individuals or legal entities (in this case Sri Ram) underscoring the fact that this remains an inalienable Fundamental Right in our constitutional scheme. The deletion of Right to Property from the list of Fundamental Rights by the post-Emergency ragtag regime of conflicting ideologies was a monumental blunder which continues to erode freedom and restrict liberty. The BJP would do well to reconsider this exclusion and restore Right to Property where it belongs. If this right were to be once again made inalienable, fractious disputes like what has been witnessed in Ayodhya would dissipate even if they do not disappear entirely.

Fourth, the much-touted “Idea of India” as a utopian and idyllic state where secularism is a one-way street of limitless concessions needs to be discarded, if only for the damage it has inflicted on both polity and society. Faith, as the Supreme Court’s judgment tells us, cannot be subject to judicial scrutiny, nor should theology concern the state in a republic. The state must act in the best interest of the largest possible number of citizens without seeking to balance its decisions by conceding ground to one JANUARY 2020 - WWW.DESHVIDESH.COM

The Verdict: Key Takeaways * SC allots 2.77 acres of disputed land for the construction of a Ram temple * The top court finds that Hindus were able to give better evidence of possessory claims * SC says Hindus have historically prayed at the Inner sanctorum under the mosque dome as the birthplace of Lord Rama * Centre told to set up a trust in 3 months to construct and manage the Ram temple * The nirmohi Akhara will be 3 member of the trust * Sunni Central Wakt Board to get 5 acres as restitution for desecration and eventual demolition of Babri Masjid on December 6, 1992.

What Next After SC Judgment? * A Ram temple in Ayodhya likely in 2-3 years. fell BJP & VHP functionaries * An RSS functionary said the outfit would not focus on the disputes in Kashi and Mathura for now * The Ram temple trust likely to be formed on the lines of Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams or Shri mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board * VHP's Ram Janmabhoomi Nyas will have representation in the upcoming Ayodhya trust * All India Muslim Personal Law Board May go for a review petition which may be dismissed as such petitions go to the same bench. Petitioners also have the option of going for a curative petition, which may not go to the same bench.

community or the other. That never works. India is what it is, a civilisational nation whose people are deeply religious. There is little or no scope to enforce borrowed ideas that are intrinsically antithetical to Hindu faith and belief. Fifth, seven decades after declaring itself a republic, India must come to terms with its history. There is no percentage in whitewashing the past, as has been done by historians guided by state patronage and party ideology. That has only contributed to what a commentator had described during the height of the Ayodhya movement as the “past imperfect, future tense” syndrome. Soviet-style airbrushing of unsavoury bits and pieces of history has never worked, including in the country from where this fad to remould the truth to suit a state’s ideology travelled to India. It has long been argued that India must discontinue the practice of state writing of history. The time has come to dismantle India’s history project of Soviet era vintage. Mature democracies confront their past and move on to the future without allowing the present to be an undue hindrance. Nanny states feed their citizens with doctored history, a lot of which was iterated in the Allahabad High Court as well as the Supreme Court. Last, though not the least, while the Supreme Court has instructed the Government of India to form a Trust to monitor the use of the land that has now been declared free of encumbrance and 64

Map torn apart by Muslim counsel Rajeev Dhavan in Supreme Court encroachment, this is a task that should really be community-driven. The state cannot and must not assume ownership of places of worship, either through trusts or boards, as that spawns problems of a different nature. After the judgement on November 9, 2019, it’s time to move on. The past will never be entirely perfect, nor will the present be free of tensions that hark back to an imperfect past. It’s the future that should concern India and its people. There is no cause to think otherwise after the Supreme Court’s nuanced and correct Ayodhya Verdict that has served to erase the wrong done by Babur and his general Mir Baqi.

About Kanchan Gupta Kanchan Gupta is a Distinguished Fellow at Observer Research Foundation (www. orfonline.org). Born to Bangladeshi refugee parents, Kanchan Gupta was raised in Jamshedpur and Patna where he attended missionary schools. He later moved to Kolkata where he studied English literature, political science and economics at St Xavier’s College, University of Calcutta In December 1995, he began to assist L.K. Advani and Atal Bihari Vajpayee in their parliamentary work. As an official in the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), he worked in close association with National Security Advisor Brajesh Mishra on foreign affairs and security issues. He was the PMO’s representative on the National Security Advisory Board. JANUARY 2020 - WWW.DESHVIDESH.COM

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Photo Courtesy: Stephen Alexander Photography

MyShadi Bridal Expo The Largest Event of its Kind Expo showcases the latest trends and products essential for Hindu, Muslim, Christian and Sikh weddings. Hundreds of brides and families attend each show!

Raleigh Sunday, March 29, 2020 Noon to 5:00 PM

Orlando Sunday, April 5, 2020 Noon to 5:00 PM

Raleigh Marriott Crabtree Valley

Hilton Orlando

4500 Marriott Drive, Raleigh, NC 27612

6001 Destination Pkwy, Orlando, FL 32819

Attention Exhibitors:

Several years experience producing the best bridal shows in the Southeast. • Mass-advertising through TV and Radio advertisements on some of the National South Asian Radio and TV channels. • Opportunity to market to hundreds of Indian, Pakistani, Bangladeshi, and Indo-Caribbean Brides. • Pipe and drape booths arranged in classy and elegant layout to create an ambiance of splendor. • City and statewide print/radio advertising • Direct mailing to thousands of households • Outbound phone calls to households • Contact "lead list" provided after the show in digital form. • Did we mention hundreds of brides will attend?

Attention Brides, Grooms & Family Members: v Free Admission and Parking v Free Food Sampling v Interactive sessions v Wide variety of top vendors v Designer runway fashion show

Over

75%

repeat vendor rate Reserve Your Booth Online Today

www.myshadibridalexpo.com

Over

100

Vendor Booths

v Find creative ideas and designs for all your events v Interview multiple vendors in one afternoon v Mehndi, hair & makeup demos v Taste scrumptious appetizers and wedding cake v Show discounts only for Expo attendees

Exclusive Shopping Boutiques:

Indian and Pakistani Clothing: Designer Saree, Designer Blouses, Lehenga Choli, Lehenga and Lacha Saree, Evening Gown, Party Wear, Churidar, Salwar, Tops, Kurti, Tunics & Indo-Western wear Diamond, Gold & Silver Jewelry: Fashion, Costume and Designer Jewelry Men’s attire: Sherwanis, Jodhpuris and Kurta Pyjamas

Destination Wedding Pavilion Booths Available

Presented by

Desh-Videsh Media Group Inc.

(954) 784-8100 • www.deshvidesh.com

Fashion Show Sponsorship Available

Platinum Sponsors Raleigh Marriott Crabtree Valley Hilton Orlando (919) 781-7000 (407) 313-8458 www.raleighmarriott.com www.thehiltonorlando.com

The Arpan Group (703) 651-6670 www.thearpangroup.com

MyShadi (954) 784-8100 www.myshadi.com