India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated a major temple to the Hindu god Ram in Ayodhya in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh, marking the culmination of a four-decade campaign by far-right Hindu groups to build the temple.
The temple, popularly called Ram Mandir, will be built on the site that was a 16th-century mosque until 1992 for Muslims.
Hindus claim the Babri Mosque was built on the site of a temple during the time of the first Mughal ruler, Babar, on land that was the birthplace of their chief deity, Ram. Muslims continued to pray until 1949, when idols were allegedly placed in the mosque by Hindu priests.
A 2019 ruling by India's Supreme Court transferred ownership of the land to a Hindu trust. The temple's inauguration is seen as a symbol of religious triumphalism that is transforming India's secular democracy into a Hindu nation and further polarizing politics, likely to benefit the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) months before general elections.
Here is a timeline of the mosque-temple dispute:
1528 – Mosque built
The Babri Mosque was built by the Mughal commander Mir Baqi during the reign of the first Mughal king Babur.
1853 – First recorded conflict
A Hindu sect claims that during Babur's reign a temple was destroyed to make way for the mosque.
1859 – The British build a fence
The British colonial administration divided the site into two separate areas for Hindus and Muslims. Muslims were allowed to pray inside while Hindus were allowed to pray in the outer courtyard.
December 23, 1949 – Mosque becomes “disputed property”
According to police reports, the government declared the mosque a “disputed property” and locked its gate after Hindu priests allegedly installed idols of the Ram deity inside the building. After that, Muslim prayers will no longer be prayed in the mosque.
1950-61 – Civil suits filed
Four civil lawsuits have been filed with the court, ranging from the right to perform Hindu rituals at the site to a Muslim group demanding declaration and ownership of the site.
1984 – Hindu Temple Committee
Far-right Hindu groups, including the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP), form a committee to push for the construction of a Hindu temple.
1990 – BJP’s Ram Temple campaign
BJP leader Lal Krishna Advani is leading a nationwide campaign to build a temple on the site of the mosque. The nationwide campaign left a trail of violence that led to Advani's arrest in the eastern state of Bihar.
December 6, 1992 – Hindu nationalist mob tears down the mosque
Tens of thousands of Hindus gather in Ayodhya and demolish the 16th century mosque. There are riots between Hindus and Muslims across the country.
December 16, 1992 – Liberhan Commission
Ten days after the mosque was demolished, the central government formed the Liberhan Commission to investigate the incident.
2003 – Archaeological survey
Archaeologists begin a forensic investigation to determine whether a Hindu temple existed at the site. According to the research, there is evidence of a temple beneath the mosque, but many archaeologists and Muslims dispute the findings.
June 2009 Liberhan Commission Report
The commission presents its report 17 years after the mosque was demolished. The report names several BJP leaders and its ideological mentor Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) as responsible for the demolition of the mosque. Some senior BJP leaders, including Advani, are facing trial.
September 2010 – Website to be “shared”.
Three Allahabad High Court judges rule that Hindus and Muslims should share the disputed site. The court says two-thirds of the 2.77-acre (1.12-hectare) site belongs to Hindu groups – the Nirmohi Akhara sect and Ramlalla Virajman – and the rest to the Muslim group (Sunni Central Wakf Board, UP).
May 2011 – Judgment suspended
The Supreme Court stays the Supreme Court ruling after Hindu and Muslim groups appealed.
March 21, 2017 – Out-of-court settlement
India's chief justice proposes out-of-court settlement between Hindus and Muslims.
April 19, 2017 – Conspiracy allegations
The Supreme Court revives conspiracy charges against top leaders of the ruling party – Advani, Murli Manohar Joshi – and 13 others in the mosque demolition case.
December 5, 2017 – Supreme Court Hearing
The Supreme Court is hearing 13 appeals in the dispute.
January 25, 2019 – Five judges hear the case
Chief Justice of India (CJI) Ranjan Gogoi constituted a five-judge bench to hear the case, overruling an earlier order by then CJI Dipak Misra to constitute a three-judge bench. The new bench comprises Chief Justice Gogoi and Justices SA Bobde, DY Chandrachud, Ashok Bhushan and SA Nazeer.
The top court is setting up a mediation panel headed by former Supreme Court judge FM Ibrahim Kalifulla to reach an out-of-court settlement.
The Supreme Court says mediation efforts failed.
August 6, 2019 – Daily Hearing
Supreme Court begins daily hearing on Ayodhya land dispute.
October 16, 2019 – Hearing closed, order reserved
The Supreme Court concludes the hearing; The five-member bench reserves the verdict.
November 9, 2019 – Supreme Court Ruling
The Supreme Court rules that the land must be given under certain conditions to a trust that will oversee the construction of a Hindu temple. A separate piece of land in Ayodhya will be given to Muslim groups.
February 5, 2020 – Trust established
A 15-member Shree Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust will be formed to oversee the construction and management of the temple.
August 5, 2020 – Prime Minister lays the foundation stone
Modi lays the foundation stone of the temple and unveils its memorial plaque.
September 30, 2020
A Lucknow court acquitted senior BJP leaders, including Advani – a former mentor of Prime Minister Modi – from the case due to lack of evidence.
January 22, 2024 – Temple Dedication
Although the construction of some wings is still pending, the Ram temple is consecrated.
A grand ceremony will be held in Ayodhya with prominent personalities, Hindu spiritual leaders and Modi.
The ceremony includes a procession of idols and installation of a Ram statue in the inner sanctum of the building.
The temple will be opened to the public and devotees from Tuesday.