MAHATMA Gandhi’s beloved hymn, ‘Raghupati Raghav Raja Ram, Patita Paavan Sita Ram…’, reverberated through the precincts of the Ram temple in Ayodhya during the ‘Pran Pratishtha’ ceremony, which was led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The PM described the consecration of the Ram Lalla idol as an extraordinary and historic moment that would enrich Indian heritage and culture and take the country’s development journey to new heights. It is, indeed, the fervent hope of the entire nation that this monumental occasion will mark the dawn of an era of peace and communal harmony.

Gandhi had envisaged an India where there would be no room for inequality, injustice and intolerance. He had visualised Ram Rajya not as ‘Hindu Raj’ but as the kingdom of God on earth, where the prince and the pauper had equal rights and even the lowliest citizen ‘could be sure of swift justice without an elaborate and costly procedure’. For him, Ram and Rahim were one and the same deity. ‘My Hinduism teaches me to respect all religions,’ Gandhi had said.

Lord Ram’s ideals of truth, honour and righteousness are most relevant in this conflict-torn age. India has a long way to go before it can turn the Ram Rajya of Gandhi’s dreams into reality. Prosperous coexistence of various communities is a must for a nation which projects itself as a global leader or Vishwaguru and aspires to become the world’s third-largest economy by the end of this decade. India should not let hatred and bigotry stall its all-round growth. President Droupadi Murmu has described the Ayodhya event as the commencement of a new cycle in the nation’s resurgence. The onus is on every Indian to ensure that this optimism is not misplaced. The fact that the consecration ceremony has taken place in the run-up to Republic Day and Gandhi’s death anniversary should spur us to rededicate ourselves to the cause of protecting the Constitution that celebrates diversity and inclusivity. 

(This article was first published by The Tribune, India).