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The Babri Mosque (also Babri Masjid) was a mosque constructed by the Muslim emperor of India ] in ] in the 16th century after an ancient Hindu temple at the site was destroyed. The temple was built to commemorate the birthplace of ], who Hindus believe was an incarnation of ] and ruler of Ayodhya. The '''Babri Mosque''' (also '''Babri Masjid''') was a ] constructed by the ] emperor of ] ] in ] in the 16th century. It is alleged that Babar destroyed an existing temple at the site, which many ] believe was the temple built to commemorate the birthplace of ], a mythical figure who Hindus believe was an incarnation of ] and ruler of Ayodhya.


The mosque was used by Muslims as a prayer site until ], when Hindu activists, who wished to see it replaced with a Rama temple, broke in and placed statues of Rama inside the mosque. Following this, the state government ordered the mosque sealed.
The mosque which was a disused structure was ordered sealed in 1949 by a magistrate after idols of Lord Rama mysteriously appeared and Hindus started offering prayers.


In 1986 the mosque was ordered reopened by a court at the request of the Hindu philanthropic organization, Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP, "World Hindu Council") to allow Hindus to worship there. In ] the mosque was reopened by a lower court at the request of the Hindu nationalist ] (VHP, "World Hindu Council") to allow Hindus to worship there.


In 1990, Lal Krishna Advani, a top member of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) began a campaign tour (a rathayatra, or "chariot-journey") to build support for a Rama temple at the mosque site. His call was to shift the mosque "brick by brick" since the structure was important to Muslims while the land was important to Hindus. The VHP also negotiated with the All India Babri Masjid Action Committee (AIBMAC), an organisation created to represent the interests of Muslims in the mosque, over the site, with VHP presenting evidence to the court. In ], ], a top member of the ] (BJP) began a campaign tour (a ''rathayatra'', or "chariot-journey") to build support for a Rama temple at the mosque site. The VHP also negotiated with the ] (AIBMAC), an organisation created to represent the interests of Muslims in the mosque, over the site, each presenting evidence to the court of their claims to the site.


The mosque was destroyed on December 6, 1992, by a crowd which went out of control. Despite the efforts of RSS volunteers who formed a human chain to prevent the destruction of the mosque, the crowd could not be controlled. The mosque was destroyed on ], ], by a crowd of nearly one million activists (''karsevaks'') of the VHP and other associated groups. The destruction occurred at the end of Advani's ''rathayatra'', and there is some evidence that it was pre-planned by Hindu nationalist groups.


Following the destruction of the disused mosque, communal riots broke out between Hindus and Muslims across India. It is generally accepted that the campaign to restore the site of the Rama temple and the demands for repealing special benefits for Muslims and treating Hindus as equals were responsible for the BJP's meteoric rise to power. Following the destruction of the mosque, communal riots broke out between Hindus and Muslims across India, including in ] (Bombay), which was a largely secular and cosmopolitan city. It is generally accepted that the campaign to build the Rama temple and the destruction of the mosque was responsible for the BJP's meteoric rise to power.


Since then, the ] has been campaigning to have the mosque rebuilt at the same site, while the VHP has been moving forward with plans to build a Rama temple there. In December 2002 the VHP announced that it would construct the temple in a year and a half (i.e., mid 2004). Since then, the AIBMAC has been campaigning to have the mosque rebuilt at the same site, while the VHP has been moving forward with plans to build a Rama temple there. In December ] the VHP announced that it would construct the temple in a year and a half (i.e., mid ]).


⚫ See also: ], ], ], ]
In 2003, excavations were ordered by the court and evidence that the mosque was built at the site of an earlier temple was unearthed. The excavations were overseen by all parties involved and were validated by independent groups. These findings were promptly rejected by the Communists and other political parties which depend on the ] vote bank.

⚫ See also: Ram Janmabhoomi movement, Vishwa Hindu Parishad, Hindutva, All India Babri Masjid Action Committee

Revision as of 23:45, 13 November 2003

The Babri Mosque (also Babri Masjid) was a mosque constructed by the Muslim emperor of India Babar in Ayodhya in the 16th century. It is alleged that Babar destroyed an existing temple at the site, which many Hindus believe was the temple built to commemorate the birthplace of Rama, a mythical figure who Hindus believe was an incarnation of Vishnu and ruler of Ayodhya.

The mosque was used by Muslims as a prayer site until 1947, when Hindu activists, who wished to see it replaced with a Rama temple, broke in and placed statues of Rama inside the mosque. Following this, the state government ordered the mosque sealed.

In 1986 the mosque was reopened by a lower court at the request of the Hindu nationalist Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP, "World Hindu Council") to allow Hindus to worship there.

In 1990, Lal Krishna Advani, a top member of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) began a campaign tour (a rathayatra, or "chariot-journey") to build support for a Rama temple at the mosque site. The VHP also negotiated with the All India Babri Masjid Action Committee (AIBMAC), an organisation created to represent the interests of Muslims in the mosque, over the site, each presenting evidence to the court of their claims to the site.

The mosque was destroyed on December 6, 1992, by a crowd of nearly one million activists (karsevaks) of the VHP and other associated groups. The destruction occurred at the end of Advani's rathayatra, and there is some evidence that it was pre-planned by Hindu nationalist groups.

Following the destruction of the mosque, communal riots broke out between Hindus and Muslims across India, including in Mumbai (Bombay), which was a largely secular and cosmopolitan city. It is generally accepted that the campaign to build the Rama temple and the destruction of the mosque was responsible for the BJP's meteoric rise to power.

Since then, the AIBMAC has been campaigning to have the mosque rebuilt at the same site, while the VHP has been moving forward with plans to build a Rama temple there. In December 2002 the VHP announced that it would construct the temple in a year and a half (i.e., mid 2004).

See also: Ram Janmabhoomi movement, Vishwa Hindu Parishad, Hindutva, All India Babri Masjid Action Committee