How LK Advani’s Rath Yatra Turbocharged Ayodhya Ram Mandir Movement, Transforming India’s Politic

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi declared that Lal Krishna Advani, the patriarch of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), will be bestowed with India’s highest civilian honor, the Bharat Ratna. This announcement comes in the wake of the ‘pran pratishtha’ of the Ram temple in Ayodhya, a long-cherished goal of the BJP.

PM Modi presided over the ‘pran pratishtha’ ceremony of the grand Ram temple in Ayodhya on January 22, fulfilling the BJP’s 34-year-old resolution that was adopted in Himachal Pradesh’s Palampur. Advani, who was the party chief when the Mandir pledge was adopted, expressed his sentiments, stating, “When Narendra Modi consecrates the (Lord Ram’s idol at the) temple, he will represent every citizen of our India. I pray that this temple inspires all Indians to adopt the qualities of Shri Ram,” in an article penned prior to the event.

The Ram Janmabhoomi movement, which culminated in the construction of the temple, holds Advani at its core. His September 1990 ‘rath yatra’ altered the trajectory of Indian politics significantly.

Advani’s leadership saw the BJP pivot towards Hindutva ideology after its lackluster performance in the 1984 Lok Sabha elections. The Ayodhya movement gained momentum following the unlocking of the Babri Masjid in 1986, with the foundation stone ceremony of the Ram temple conducted on November 9, 1989, just five months before the BJP adopted the resolution at Palampur.

The Ram Mandir resolution proved instrumental in catapulting the BJP’s seat tally under Advani from two to 86. The party’s resurgence continued, with it becoming the principal opposition party in 1991, securing 120 seats.

Advani’s ‘rath yatra’ from Somnath in Gujarat to Ayodhya in Uttar Pradesh was aimed at intensifying the demand for the grand temple. Despite being arrested en route in Bihar, the yatra galvanized public support and bolstered the BJP’s electoral fortunes.

Reflecting on the significance of the Ram Janmabhoomi movement, Advani asserted, “For us, Ayodhya will always remain a potent symbol of a national awakening.” The movement was not merely religious but served as a catalyst for a broader discourse on secularism in India.

The culmination of the legal battle in 2019, with the Supreme Court paving the way for the construction of the Ram temple, marked a historic moment for the BJP and proponents of the movement.

The conferment of the Bharat Ratna upon Advani acknowledges his pivotal role in shaping the political landscape of India and realizing the aspirations of millions associated with the Ram Janmabhoomi movement.

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