Like other agrarian societies, religion has been an integral part of life in India. Religious shrines, however, have a checkered history. Before the Gandhi-led freedom movement, temples were centres of propagating caste segregation, while the state provided patronage to rigid caste hierarchy. Temples became worthy of worship only after independence when their doors were opened to untouchables. Forty-two years later in 1989, a political upheaval was launched by raising a mosque-temple controversy in Ayodhya. In 1992, the Babri Mosque was demolished raising a countrywide storm of hatred and violence. In 2019, the Supreme Court gave its verdict, allowing construction of Ram temple at the site of Babri Mosque. The temple has been built and is ready for inauguration on January 22.The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its mother organisation Rashtriyaswayam Sevak Sangh (RSS) are using the occasion to create a countrywide hysteria to demolish every shred of secularism, to have fuller control over temples of the country, to tighten authoritarian control over power and strengthen corporate control over the economy. The elite, including non-resident Indians (NRIs), are exalted, feeling a sense of victory. The freedom in 1947 did not please them as it didn’t preserve their privileged status. Religion implies truth. The shrine campaign has been a total negation of religion.Also read: The Ram Temple at Ayodhya is a Symbol of Injustice, Congress Leaders Should Stay Away from ItComposite culture For 3,000 years, religion remained eclipsed by untouchability and oppression of women. Temples did not allow entry of those who built them. The working classes, however, devised ways to worship the Almighty through tiny stones placed underneath trees and living a truthful life. Buddha, 2500 years ago, evolved a religion beyond the confines of shrines, treating all human beings as equal. It appealed to large sections of society and prevailed for centuries.In the Middle Ages began the retreat when the hierarchal shrine-based religion reasserted itself. In the 12th century began Bhakti and Sufi movements that defied all segregation and brought religion to the doorstep of the masses. Great spiritual figures, Sufis and saints, emerged from all communities, including the lower castes, marginalised sections, and women. It brought synthesis of Hinduism, Islam, and other religions and the process continued for centuries. It laid emphasis on truthful conduct, compassionate behaviour, and honest earnings. It built a strong composite culture.Colonial phaseThe British rulers in India re-organised the ruling hierarchy and created a class of landlords, moneylenders, and officers that was ruthless to the masses. Again, hierarchical and shrine-based religion became dominant and caste oppression became severe. In the 19th century, Jotiba Phule, Savitri Bai Phule, and others created a stir against it. Starting from 1916 onwards, the eradication of untouchability became an integral part of the freedom movement. Satyagraha and Noncooperation movements posed a serious challenge to colonial rule. The native elite advanced communalism (organised religious hatred) as an instrument to sabotage the freedom struggle. They could not stop freedom but succeeded in creating a blood bath in 1946-47 that led to partition, killing one million people, and rendering 10 million to cross the newly created border. Gandhi’s martyrdom eventually brought sanity.In the last 10 years of BJP rule at the centre and in many states, polarisation has coupled with the suppression of sane voices. Current mobilisation over temple inauguration is primarily to crush political opposition and democratic functioning. India still is alive and has multitudes of people adhering to truth and nonviolence. They are the true bearers of religion. One hopes they would rise against the brazen takeover of religion by those in power and control economy.During the Ram-Ravana war, when Ravana began performing yagna, Ram sent Angad, Hanuman, and others to destroy it. Any activity done with the lust for power and oppression is a sin. We should refrain from going to religious shrines and functions that strengthen the power of the oppressor. We demand that the Prime Minister and government must not prevail over religious functions and free religion from the control of the oppressor.Vipin Tripathi is the author of See Truth and Rise for Truth.
