From Babri Masjid to Ram Mandir: An Unfolding History from Narasimha Rao to Narendra Modi

As soon as I look at this coin, the chronology of history starts to unfold. In 1991, the Congress party won 244 Lok Sabha seats and formed the government at the Centre, with Narasimha Rao as the Prime Minister. On November 19, 1992, the National Unity Day was celebrated with great enthusiasm.

In December 1992, when Hindus were gathering to demolish the Babri Masjid, several politicians and security agencies tried to reach out to Narasimha Rao, urging him to immediately send the army to protect the mosque and prevent the country from descending into communal riots. However, the responses from the Prime Minister’s Office were that he was either sleeping or busy with prayers. And then, on December 6, 1992, the Babri Masjid was demolished.

After the demolition of the mosque, members of the Jamait and Jamaat met with Narasimha Rao, and it was alleged that Narasimha Rao had promised the Muslim community to rebuild the mosque. On November 9, 2019, the Supreme Court of India, in the exercise of its constitutional powers, ruled that the entire 2.77 acres of disputed land, including the Babri Masjid site, would be handed over for the construction of the Ram Mandir.

On August 5, 2020, Narendra Modi performed the ground-breaking ceremony for the construction of the Ram Mandir at the site of the Babri Masjid. Then, on January 22, 2024, Narendra Modi inaugurated the Ram Mandir. Finally, on February 9, 2024, the Modi government honored Narasimha Rao with the Bharat Ratna award.