Ayodhya Verdict: Faith Is Not a Zero Sum Game
The Lucknow Bench of the Allahbad High Court delivered its verdict on the contentious Ayodhya Entitlement dispute on September 30. It was a rare occasion when the issues of divinity and faith were awaiting clarification by a judicial body. Most Indians were more anxious about the fallout of the judgement rather than the actual verdict. Peace appeals by the Prime Minister and his Cabinet, prominent political figures, leading personalities form the entertainment industry were employed to calm populist tempers before and immediately after the verdict was pronounced. Many had argued that the verdict was an occasion to demonstrate India’s commitment to secularism and respect for Judiciary; an opportunity to show that India had moved beyond 1992. Though disagreements over the judgement abound, the recent verdict has asserted that maximalist positions on religious issues are unacceptable in a multi-religious and multi-cultural country like India.
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