Abdul Bari Masoud | Clarion India
NEW DELHI – The Ram Mandir inauguration ceremony in Ayodhya on Monday, as expected, was orchestrated with an eye on the coming general elections.
Domestic media, already singing paeans for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, went gung-ho over the whole affair, conveniently forgetting that the temple construction on the ruins of the Babri Masjid was perhaps a show of majoritarian will over justice and fair play.
With focus on Prime Minister Modi’s speech and the extravagant touch to the event, the corporate-controlled and upper caste monopolised mainstream Indian media, particularly electronic media, was virtually submerged in the event’s coverage.
In fact, the media was busy in churning out stories after stories on the event over several days and weeks. The reports stressed that the long, centuries-long wait had finally come to an end and depicted the event as a triumph for India. But there were a few exceptions in the Indian media who did not toe the government and RSS lines. Notable among them were The Telegraph, The Hindu, The Deccan Herald, the News 24 channel, the Wire, and other social media platforms.
While the absence of the four Shankaracharyas was mentioned in passing in the media coverage, certain news outlets also offered their answers and views behind their choice. The head of the temple construction committee, Nripendra Misra, addressed the topic in an exclusive interview with NDTV. He acknowledged the importance of the Shankaracharyas as spiritual guides who enforce the practice of Sanatan Dharma (eternal religion). He made it clear that he was trying to send a message to the country rather than confront them.
It is significant to note that in the days leading up to the Ram Temple consecration ceremony the Union government blocked about a hundred social media accounts. This action is in accordance with the Center’s prior instruction to state police chiefs to keep an eye on any suspicious activity or attempts to undermine law and order and social peace before the ceremony. A group of cyber specialists from multiple organisations, such as the Ministry of Information Technology, CERT-IN, the Intelligence Bureau (IB), and the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C), has been sent to Ayodhya.
In contrast to the Indian media, the foreign media was critical of the event in its coverage, describing it as ‘Dawn of a new era for India’.
Foreign media covered the event extensively. According to news agency Reuters, “the event is being portrayed as a Hindu awakening,” signifying the end of centuries of oppression by colonial and Muslim regimes. The agency stated that Modi’s campaign for a third term in the general elections of 2024 is expected to heavily rely on this event.
According to a New York Times story on the event’s significance, Hindus place a great deal of religious significance on the location. The building of the temple also symbolises the more recent success of Hinduism in India as a political identity.
When Modi stressed in his speech that it was the start of a “new era” for India, the BBC featured his remarks. News outlets also reported that Hindu seers boycotted the gathering, calling it “a political event.” Critics charged that the government was taking advantage of a religious holiday in a secular nation as defined by the constitution. In the lead-up to Monday’s ceremony, members of the Ayodhya community told the BBC that the event brought back memories of grief and dread for Muslims, the largest minority in India.
The Washington Post said that Modi is expected to benefit politically from the temple dedication in the run-up to the national elections. As to the report, the Ram Temple project’s success has given Hindu nationalists new momentum, who contend that additional mosques should be destroyed and replaced with temples around the nation to right historical wrongs. The publication also emphasised the concerns expressed by others who disagree, believing that India has deviated from the original plan because of “state-encouraged religious festivities.” The paper quoted Nilanjan Mukhopadhyay, a Modi biographer, saying that the event marked “an era when the PM is the high priest of Hinduism, blurring all lines between religion and politics on the one hand and between religion and the Indian state on the other.” “We are on our way to becoming a de facto theocratic state with Hinduism becoming the official religion,” Mukhopadhyay added.
CNN noted that the event carried on a long-standing commitment made by Modi and the BJP administration, which was a major factor in their ascent to power in 2014. The news channel reported that Modi did not specifically address the nation’s Muslims, many of whom are hurt and saddened by what has happened in Ayodhya, or the Babri Masjid, in his speech. In fact, he mentioned progress and “the beginning of a new time cycle.”
Bloomberg’s coverage emphasised Prime Minister Modi’s declaration of a “dawn of a new era” and observed that the PM played a pivotal role in the inaugural ceremony, skillfully fusing spectacle, politics, and religion — a style that he has championed.
The inauguration of the Ram Temple has sparked a significant amount of discussion on social media, with hashtags such as #RamTemple, #Ayodhya, #RamMandir, #BabriZindaHai, and #AyodhyaRamMandir prominently trending. These hashtags were used to share live updates, historical background, personal stories, and opinions related to the event.
The current social media trends surrounding the temple inauguration largely revolve around expressions of joy, religious sentiments, and discussions about the historical and cultural significance of the event.
There have been a lot of posts, pictures, and videos documenting the inauguration ceremonies, preparations, and celebrations on social media sites, including Facebook, Instagram, and X platform. While some users dissected the theological, political, and social consequences of the event, others gave their thoughts, prayers, and best wishes.
One user wrote, “Ram Mandir Pran Prathistha Jay Shree Ram, it’s a blessing of God to be living in this time of creating history.” Another user posted on X: “Tears of happiness keep flowing from my eyes every moment today.”
Celebrities, including musicians, sportspersons, and Bollywood actors, also shared their views on social media. Sharing his excitement about the historic moment, Ajay Devgn wrote, “I can’t believe I’m lucky enough to witness something as historic and auspicious as #RamMandirPranPrathistha in my lifetime. We are proud to see how our entire nation has united to welcome Ram Lalla back home in Ayodhya!
Dharmendra posted, “JAI SHRI RAM… EKTA AUR BHIICHARE KA PAIGHAAM SHANTI SKOON FRIENDS, LET US RESPECT EVERY RELIGION TO BRING PEACE AND PROSPERITY IN OUR MOTHERLAND.”
Comedian-actor Kapil Sharma also posted a video of the Ram statue on X. He wrote: “Many congratulations to all Ram devotees on this auspicious day of the Prana Pratistha ceremony of Lord Shri Ram in Ayodhya. May Lord Shri Ram bless everyone. #JaiShriRam #AyodhaRamMandir
Moreover, the incident has spurred talks about secularism, religious pluralism, and the place of religion in public life, among other topics with wider ramifications for Indian culture.
