Mahant Gyan Das | Aayush Goel
Mahant Gyan Das, the chief priest of the iconic Hanuman Garhi temple in Ayodhya, has long favoured a peaceful resolution to the Ramjanmabhoomi-Babri mosque dispute. A long-time supporter of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Das believes Modi is capable of beating the odds and building the temple by 2019. Excerpts from an exclusive interview:
The Supreme Court is finally fast tracking the case.
If they get the translations [of the documents] done quickly, then no time will be lost. This dispute has been in the courts for more than 60 years. We welcomed the 2010 verdict [of the Allahabad High Court], but since it was not unanimous, we tried for consensus. An out-of-court settlement is best for something like the Ram temple.
Why didn’t it happen?
Everyone was ready. I had talked to all the parties involved. The Sunni [Waqf] Board’s Hasim Ansari, now dead, was willing, too. We wanted to present an out-of-court settlement. That was when [former VHP chief] Ashok Singhal caused an obstruction and wanted to delay it.
What was the VHP’s interest in delaying it?
I don’t know. But I did tell them, let us start working for a solution. I told Singhal and the VHP that they were not a party in the case. It is okay to take the lead and build the temple with people’s money—people were giving lots of money and material. But the day-to-day management of the temple will be with the Nirmohi Akhara.
You think the VHP was keen on raising funds using the temple issue?
The VHP raised funds for this temple. Now they think it is their property. They want it for themselves. It should not be like that. I am saying so loudly, so they think I am opposed to them. I told them that anyone who helps solve the dispute cannot take over the ownership. You build, and you hand it back to the [concerned] people [Nirmohi Akhara]. It was at that point that they fell out with me.
Do you think the Modi government is committed to building the temple?
We feel by the 2019 elections something of the temple will be visible on ground. If the prime minister, deep within himself, wants to solve it, he can. He has the guts, and that is why he could pull off the notebandi. And, it is paying off. If he has the determination to do it, the temple can be built by 2019.
But he has never spoken about it.
The people’s desire and confidence was that if Modiji came to power, the temple would be made. He has been in office for the last three years. He has said nothing on this. But, he is working on the issues one by one. This is a matter of Bharat ki pratishta (the prestige of the country). He can build the temple by fast tracking the issue, talking to judges or [bringing] a law in Parliament. His name will go down in golden letters in Indian history.
Why is Ayodhya in such a sad state in terms of development?
Once the temple is made, not only Ayodhya, but the whole country will develop.
What is the UP chief minister’s view on this?
Yogi Adityanath said it could be done by consensus. That strengthened my stance. I am considered to be anti-VHP. They don’t bother to come here, though many others do. They, too, however, speak our language on this.
How will you go about this now?
If Ram Mandir is not built here in Ayodhya, will it be built in Mecca or Medina? I am in the last lap of my life journey. I would like to see the Ram Lalla temple before I go. It is my last wish.
