Ayodhya Talk

BY APURVA RAI

QUITE often it so happens that an issue becomes talkof the town. So is true with Ayodhya these days. Not just talk of the town it has become talkof the nation. Every Indian, young or old, irrespective of the place he belongs to and the profession he is engaged in, is talking about the mandir-masjid dispute.

Recently, I wnt to Varansi to attend a marriage in the family. Throughout the train journey I found people talking Ayodhya-- 'current hot topic'. The disscussions often turned into heated arguments and excitement gripped people. Since the journey was long all passengers had plenty of time at their disposal to the discussions. There seemed to be no end to their arguments and surprisingly almost everyone had a solution to the problem too.

The winter season had just set in. An early sunset, cold winds, fog and train getting late did not bother anyone as most of the passengers cuddled up in their beddings and continued with discussions on the 'national problem'. Surprisingly nobody was bothered about the cold, fog and the railways. 

  The next morning I was in Varanasi to attend the marriage. A large gathering of family members from distant cities had arrived and it was a happy feeling to meet so many at one place. After exchanging pleasantries, to my surprise, the talks suddenly reverted to Ayodhya.

 

Everyone talking of a political issue in a marriage, oh no! But there was a strange scene-- while women sang marriage songs those sitting aside talked about mandir-masjid dispute. Nobody lost the opportunity express his or her views and it was a good opportunity to find what the mood was in different cities. The debate even more intense when it was time to go for food. I was keenly observing the atmosphere and was surprised as nobody talked about the quality of food or the variety dished out at the dining area. Quite unusual it was. 

I spent about three days before returning home to Delhi. Things not different here too. I was going to my office in a chartered bus and the murmurs clearly indicated Ayodhya was the topic of discussion. After reaching the office it was again it was Ramjanmabhoomi-Babri masjid issue. From news point of view it was, indeed, foremost but continued to be a common topic of mutual discussions too. Reporters and correspondents bringing news from different corners and we on the newsdesk continously showered with agency reports from other parts of the country. Office colleagues from other departments were keen to know what was happening and what was the reaction to

Ayodhya issue and they kept on making rounds of our newsdesk to find the latest. In-between the telephone bells too rang up and some unknown person would ask us about the news on Ayodhya. 

By now I was quite tired of the Ayodhya issue and to refresh myself decided to the nearby paan shop to light up a cigarette. Oh no, the paan shop turned out to be the biggest seat of hot discussions on the hot topic and there was no relief for me. Every person at the paan shop posed nothing less than an expert, an intellectual and the paanwala himself showed up like the most well-informed intelligent man.  The transistor at the small shop added fuel to the fire. 

I am shocked and surprised over the Ayodhya wave. Go anywhere from marriage to the office or trip in a train to the bus journey to office there was Ayodhya and only Ayodhya. I wonder if people are geting Ayodhya in their dreams as well!

The society and the nation are confronted with numerous other issues which require our immediate attention but why so much of Ayodhya? Corruption is rampant, prices are soaring, pollution is rising, crime graph heading northwards, standards in education falling each year and performance in  sports declining. But who cares?

There are numerous problems before the country and everyone is worried about Ayodhya. Other things, perhaps, don't matter much for others. What most people are discussing is Ayodhya where the madness has already taken its toll.

(The above write-up by me was published in the English daily, Patriot, on Feb 9, 1993.)