Ramjanmabhumi movement is part of the process of Hindu renewal and August 5, 2020 is going to be remembered as the day when the the process of re-hinduization of India’s political domain was established. (1) The millennium-long struggle to defend Hindu civilization started with destruction of a temple on west coast and going to close with construction of another temple. In this respect, Hindu civilization is unique as most of its peers no longer worship same god or profess religion of their forefathers.

Hellenic Polytheism gave way to Christianity during 4th century, worship of twelve Olympians  of the Greek pantheon were banned and world famous Parthenon was converted to a Church. The most notoriously pagan city of antiquity became one of the most Christian. (2)

We saw same phenomenon in China under Mao when he unleashed cultural revolution upon Chinese people. Red Guards vandalised temples, felled sacred trees, burned old almanacs and desecrated tomb of Confucius to get the country rid of superstitions. (3)

Mighty Sassanids of Iran succumbed to invaders from Arabia with their religion in 7th century and Islam became predominant across Iran by 9th century. (4)

With this renewal and re-affirmation, India has an opportunity to emerge as a role model that can retain its civilization heritage and progress into a future of prosperity at the same time. 5th August will not be the end of a journey but start of rejuvenation of another sort; to eradicate poverty, master industry 5.0 and usher in true Ram Rajya.

Sources:

(1) The Hindu Phenomenon by Girilal Jain

(2) The Christian Parthenon by Anthony Kaldell

(3) The Cultural Revolution: A People’s History, 1962—1976 By Frank Dikötter

(4) The Cambridge History of Iran, Volume 4

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