Today is a special day for India, especially for Hinduism. It's a movement that brings everyone together, even if you're not a believer. A while ago, in 1992, there was a similar movement that united Hindus all over the country. I remember it well because I was deeply involved. Back then, I was in 10th grade and an active member of RSS, leading two different shakhas in our area. My study desk and closet were filled with Jai Shree Ram stickers and pictures. LK Advani's rath yatra was so significant and expected to awaken Hindus across India, and received warm welcome in every city. I used to be part of the satellite rallies in Indore, marking my presence and support for the temple. Icons like Murli Manohar Joshi, Ashok Singhal, Vinay Katiyar, Uma Bharti, and Sadhvi Ritumbara were my role models, and I used to listen to their speeches all the time. We had weekly meetings long before the Babri Masjid demolition, planning and organizing logistics for the Karseva. Discussions also revolved around protecting our buildings and colony from a neighboring Muslim settlement and we kept petrol bombs, bricks, etc collected on the top of our terrace ready, in case there was an attack.
A day arrived when they listed the Swamsevaks for Karseva for our region, and I was at the top of the list. Each day, groups from Indore set off for Ayodhya on trains. Although I had no clue which train to take, but the thought of "Mandir wahin Banayege" fueled my determination. I started preparing, I made sure my parents were unaware, or else they wouldn’t let me go. Packed my stuff and got ready, a jeep at a friend's house took us to the train station filled with Hindus chanting slogans, armed with lathis, swords, and more. Excitement filled the air; we were heading to Ayodhya, me without fully understanding Karseva's purpose.
Back then, I didn't think we were going to demolish the mosque; I believed we were uniting to show strength and add to the Rath Yatra when it reached Ayodhya. There was news of killings and injuries of the Karsevaks who were in Ayodhya, our anger increased our interest further and we were all set. But just before boarding, we learned the train was loaded and could not take any more, and some of us have to wait until the next day. They picked the teens who weren’t adults yet and asked them to stay back and coordinate for the next train, my mentor was 22 years old and was already on the train. Disheartened, I returned home, missing the chance, and wasn’t able to go back the subsequent day. Later, news of the demolition brought joy and we had several celebrations, though I regretted not being there for that historic moment.
Now, 31 years later, disconnected from RSS, I have a very different thought process and ideologies. But when I reflect on the temple news, memories flood back, and I recall all that I witnessed at such a young age, questioning if it's more than just a temple, maybe a way to unite Hindus globally. The absence of past leaders like Advani, Joshi, and Singhal in the limelight saddens me. Despite ideological differences, today marks a significant day, and I feel proud of what we got after several sacrifices and ending a long battle for all Indians.
