Guru RavidassMandir at Tughlaqabad
in Delhi – An Open Letter
Guru RavidassMandir at Tughlaqabad in Delhi is in the news.
It has been observed that the media, more so the electronic media and the main
stream of the society, has tended to ignore or suppress, unfortunately, the
news of the Mandir’s demolition by the GOI/DDA. The followers of Guru Ravidass,
particularly in Punjab, are up-in-protest and rightly so. The news, actual as
well as fake, is
Dear All,
I am a follower of Guru Ravidass currently living in
Jalandhar after a long stint as a career diplomat of India. The demolition of
Guru Ravidass Mandir at Tughlaqabad in Delhi was said to be carried out by the
concerned authorities including the DDA on the advice and directions of the
Supreme Court. I will not go into the details of the legal aspect of the case.
It seems that the legal battles might have been won by the might of the State
and the other vested interests involved in the matter. Obviously, the community
stakeholders are not only an unorganised lot but also mostly an uneducated and
source less belonging to the weaker sections of the society. The traditional
marginalisation and inability of the community to defend themselves and save
their dignity and respect and also spiritual identity should not go against
them in a democratic and secular setup of the country. As far as the legal
aspect, it should be suffice to say that it is an established fact that the
land in question was granted by the then ruler Sikander Lodhi to Guru Ravidass
as Gurudakshina to pay his respect and regards as a matter of gratitude to the
great Guru some five hundred years ago. Guru Ravidass, as the common belief is,
even stayed at the place and gave the message of equality, fraternity and
casteless society, the very edifice of our current constitution. The DDA or any
other authority should not go by the unfounded and lopsided fact and argument
that the land is a prime location in the capital of India with considerable
financial and economic value. It seems, the Manuwadi mindset, does not accept
that the socially and financially weak followers of Guru Ravidass should possess
such a prime location in the capital of the country. I will tend to agree with
regret that the community could not develop the Mandir as it should be because
of their inherit weaknesses. But it should not go against them as the
constitutional and social responsibility of the government and the society is
to bring about social, economic and all-round empowerment of the weaker
sections of the society. In this regard, my humble suggestion to the GOI/DDA is
to appoint a high-power committee which should include the spiritual, social
and political stakeholders from the community to decide the matter keeping in
mind the historical aspects as well as the current realities of ‘affirmative
action” to empower and strengthen the community to further strengthen the
social fabric of the society. It will supplement and compliment the lofty ideal
of ‘Samrasta’ professed by the ruling party BJP and its mentors in the RSS. I
hasten to add that mere legal or administrative conveniences are not all the
time desirable to address emotional and matters of Astha. The mainstream of the
society must keep in mind that the Nirmohi Akhada and other stakeholders, as
per the media reports, also do not possess any legal/authenticated documents to
claim the Ram Janambhoomi in Ajodhya. It should be enough to address the legal
aspect of the issue.
Secondly, it is my ardent appeal to the GOI, through the
Ministry of Urban Development, DDA and Lt. Governor of Delhi should immediately
address the issue before things get worse. The situation, it seems, is already on
the boil particularly in Punjab. Kindly don’t wait, as usual, to react after
people take law into their own hands. It is a matter of great regret that the
community is rudderless and leaderless. The vested interests and anti-social
elements might tend to take advantage of the void. Let us take due note of
these ground realities before it is too late. The ruling outfit must understand
the sensitivities with about 50 MPs out of 84 of the reserved category in their
fold. I have not seen or read any public statement by the ruling party’s Ministers
or MPs on the demolition of Guru Ravidass Temple at Tughlaqabad. Are they sleeping or are they waiting for the
people to come out on the street to make their feeble voices heard?
I have purposely not gone into the merits or demerits of the
case on the basis of facts and figures as it is not the time to argue the
matter but find a solution to address the concerns of the followers of Guru
Ravidass as equal partners in the country and society at large.
I would like to take this opportunity to advise my fellow
followers of Guru Ravidass that like good citizens of the country and worthy
followers of the great Guru and our icon BabasahebAmbedkar not to succumb and
resort to unconstitutional and violent methods to express and conduct
themselves. Let us approach and appeal the GOI and the civil society to address
the issue and stop the demolition of the temple at Tughlaqabad with a sense of
accommodation and justice.
With all the best wishes and hope that a saner sense will
prevail.
Yours truly,
Ambassador - IFS
(Retired)
Telephone: 9988510940
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