Tryst With Ayodhya

Pragna Bharati
Book launch event
‘Tryst with Ayodhya’ by Shri Balbir Punj

2nd March 2024
5.30 pm
Birla planetarium
Hyderabad

Pragna Bharati organized the Bhagyanagar book launch of ‘Tryst with Ayodhya’, by author and former MP Shri Balbir Punj. All the dignitaries on stage unveiled and launched the book.

Pragna Bharati chairperson PadmaShri T. Hanuman Chowdary in his opening remarks said that it’s a great occasion to launch the book written by a great intellectual warrior Shri Balbir Punj. The book gives a panoramic view of the 500+ year struggle to achieve Srirama Janmabhoomi Mandir at Ayodhya. Many countries which have gone through colonial periods have reclaimed their histories including the original names of their countries after attaining independence, for example, Ceylon became Srilanka. However it has taken 75 years for our country to become Bharat. Every Muslim invader and sultan emulated the life of Prophet Mohammad in demolishing old symbols of civilization like our Mandirs. The same was the fate of the old Ramajanmabhumi Mandir. Dr Ambedkar has written extensively on muslim destruction and their separatist ideologies. Smashing temples, constructing masjids with the materials of demolished temples was the accepted practice in Islam the world over. In Spain, 90% of the Muslims reconverted to Christianity after Spain was reconquered by christians. Sardar Patel wanted Somnath to be reconstructed, Gandhiji said it must be done with people’s donation. Though the union cabinet under Nehru passed a resolution to this effect, Nehru went back on that after the death of Gandhi and Sardar Patel. Ultimately Shri KM Munshi undertook the pran pratishtha of Somnath, the President Shri Rajendra Prasad defied Nehru’s orders and went to the Somnath temple pran pratishtha ceremony in May 1951. In Ayodhya, Shri KK Nair’s role as district magistrate in 1949 is commendable as he didn’t allow the shifting of the murthis from the Babri disputed structure. So many stalwarts contributed immensely to the Ayodhya cause. In the words of Kenneth Galbraith, Nehru was the last Briton to rule India. Shri Chowdary said the Archaeological Survey of India, has hundreds of temples which were converted as masjids, under its watch. The ASI should undertake the survey in all such places to reveal the truth. Also there must be a ‘Truth and Reconciliation’ commission to reclaim our own national heritage.

The Chief Guest Dr K. Aravinda Rao, ex-DGP Andhra Pradesh in his address stated that the book gives us the right perspective and cautions us that we need to be alert and prepared in this civilizational war. The book is a mine of information and explains the dastardly crimes of Babur and Aurangzeb. The British took over from Wajid Ali Shah of Awadh. The book also explains the role of the then PM Nehru, who blamed KM Munshi for ‘Hindu revivalism’. Nehru’s statements were deplorable, as quoted by him to the author Raja Rao that Hinduism spread poverty and squalor for thousands of years, even though Nehru himself witnessed the famines caused by the British, the industrial destruction and the impoverishment of artisans and farmers in British rule. The book tells us that the entire archaeological evidence was debunked in the case of Ayodhya. Dr Rao stated that Padma Purana and Parasara Smriti mention that Sethu Bandha was seen as a sacred place, where a dip removes the Papa of people. Valmiki Ramayana mentions the Nala Sethu, which we know as Rama Sethu. Mahabharata’s Tirtha-yatra parva calls it Nala Sethu. Today the world is realizing the crimes of Abrahamic religions as there are no-go zones in Europe, where the original inhabitants are barred !

In this prolonged battle, eternal vigilance is required, Ayodhya is only a first step. Egalitarianism is our core doctrine as explained in the Bhagavad Gita. Dr Rao said that it’s a timely book, as we all have a romantic as well as a devotional relationship with Srirama.

Author Shri Balbir Punj in his address stated that he has written a well-researched book in flat four months, as Bhagwan Shriram wished that it should be written. The constant diatribe against Ayodhya Ram mandir – the cabal asked Hindus to prove that it’s the birthplace of Rama, they said RSS and BJP have stolen a masjid to implant a mandir, and that Rama was a North Indian God. Post independence, Ayodhya wasn’t a Hindu-Muslim issue, but an issue between proud Bharatiyas and an alienated colonized mindset of the Indian political elite, as represented by Nehru. Abdul Bhirkat, a constable of United Provinces (present UP), said he saw a divine light when the locks were broken down, and people doing bhajans on 23rd Dec 1949, when Ram Lalla manifested in Ayodhya. Hindus expected that govt will come to their rescue, as it’s independent India. Despite being given ¼ of the country to Pakistan on religious basis, a meager 2.77 acres of Rama Janmabhoomi wasn’t given to Hindus for the construction of the Mandir. Infact a Congress MLA Baba Raghav Das led the initial movement, he was supported by bureaucracy, the DM was KK Nair, Bhagwan Sahay was the then Chief Secretary.

In 1885, Mahant Raghuvar Das appealed to the British administration, that he maybe allowed to build a temple in ayodhya. The British acknowledged the existence of the temple, but said that it was long ago and nothing much can be done. But unfortunately, India’s own govt never supported Ayodhya temple reconstruction in the post independence era. As stated earlier, Nehru opposed the reconstruction of Somnath temple. After the death of Gandhi and Patel, Nehru showed his true colors and went against his own cabinet decision of constituting a committee for the rebuilding of Somnath temple.

Congress govt led by Dr Manmohan Singh submitted an affidavit in court, that Sriram is fictitious. Shri Karan Singh remarked to Shri Punj that our entire ancestry has been wiped out by this act of the government. Rajiv Gandhi let down his own colleague Shri Arif Mohammad Khan, and overturned the Supreme Court decision on Shah Bano. It led to the belief that a few thousands marching on the streets can bend down a government which had a 400+ strong majority in the parliament. This govt later banned Salman Rushdie’s book. A mosque is only a prayer hall, and cannot be equated to a temple, where the deity is a living entity. Hundreds of mosques are removed in Saudi Arabia on the basis that mosques are only prayer halls. The Babri structure wasn’t a mosque as there were no prayers held there for decades prior. Arnold Toynbee gave the example that the Eastern Orthodox Church in Warsaw built by Russians, was pulled down by Poland as it represented a colonial power to them, even though they were also christians. Gandhi endorsed in 1925 that a structure which was encroached and built upon a previous temple, can be removed.

Shri Balbir Punj said if Srirama was fictitious, then Bharat itself is non- existent. Shri V. Srinivas, President of Pragna Bharati and Shri Chandrasekhar from Pragna Bharati presided over the book launch event. The main event was followed by a brief question- answer session. The author was given a standing ovation by the large number of participants.