Once upon a time, a group of Hindus insisted that that the mosque in Ayodhya was built on the remains of a Hindu temple that marked the birthplace of Ram. The matter went to court. Academicians, historians, archaeologists and lawyers argued the case for decades. Like all things Indian, records were inconclusive. And, the traditional spirit of ‘adjustment’ drew the ire of activists. So, a bunch of fiery impatient men stormed the mosque, deemed ‘disputed structure’, and tore it down. What followed were vicious riots where hundreds were killed. Some demanded justice. Others vengeance. Western academicians who wrote on Ramayana invariably began their essay by referring to the Babri Masjid demolition, and used it as yet another stick to mock the Hindu reverence for Ram. Hindus accused them of Hinduphobia. A simmering rupture exposed itself. More violence followed. Now, across India, temples and mosques and other disputed structures, are surrounded by fences and security guards, determined to ensure religious fanatics do not rip apart the secular fabric of the nation.

Illustration/Devdutt Pattanaik