Kashi imbued with divinity; even when an idol is removed, its energy remains

With elections looming, Varanasi is once again poised to become the epicentre of the discourse on a contentious issue.

- PRATUL SHARMA

Historian Vikram Sampath's new book, Waiting for Shiva, contributes to the sparse literature on the Gyanvapi case. Sampath delves into historical records, scriptures and the competing claims presented in court to offer a comprehensive examination of the matter.

In an interview with THE WEEK, he suggested that Hindus and Muslims should engage in dialogue outside the realm of courts and political influence to resolve contentious issues amicably. Edited excerpts:

Q/ The demand for the Ram Temple became a movement. Similar support is missing in the Gyanvapi case.

A/ I think this is a better route. The Ayodhya movement was an important one to awaken the Hindu community, which was in a decades-long slumber. Now that they are awake, there is no need for such a big movement. That is where works like this (book) come into the picture, where civil society, scholarship step in and ensure that the message goes out to the masses. With social media and the proliferation of media, the message can reach a large number of people without actually making it a big movement.

Q/ We cannot delink the issue from politics. With elections approaching, the BJP is usually the beneficiary of a polarising debate. The government is also seen as supporting one side.