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.
Denne historien er fra March 17, 2024-utgaven av THE WEEK India.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent ? Logg på
Denne historien er fra March 17, 2024-utgaven av THE WEEK India.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
Political discourse needs red line
The state of political discourse presently on display must surely seem like the norm to younger Indians, who might not have had any exposure to a more tolerant, courteous brand of adversarial politicking. Yet, as their parents would know, this was not always so.
Road to Paris, via India
All roads at Paris Fashion Week seemed to lead to India this season, even as the world’s most celebrated fashion week wound up earlier this week.
PURE MAGIC
A Potterhead and a Downton Abbey fan remembers Dame Maggie Smith
All eyes on Sharvari
A ₹130-crore blockbuster, unequivocal acclaim for two other films, and an upcoming release with Alia Bhatt as co-star— here is the girl Bollywood can’t get enough of
Priyamvada, the glittering star
A sheepish confession: I was dreadfully unaware of the super celebrity status of the very attractive, highly accomplished co-speaker at the just concluded Jaipur Literature Festival International’s first edition in Seattle.
For God's sake, do something!
Plip!…. Plip!….Plip!” “Do Something! For God’s sake, do something!” she wailed.
IT'S SHOWTIME!
The Coldplay mania shows the power of live entertainment and its immense business opportunity
Trump will not concede if he loses narrowly
In his book, All in the Family, Fred C. Trump III, reminisces about the night when Donald Trump decided to run for president for the first time.
EAR TO THE NEIGHBOUR'S GROUND
Not just at Nanda Devi, America's CIA and India’s Intelligence Bureau set up listening devices to monitor China at Khardung La, too
LALU NO LONGER ACTIVE; NITISH ALMOST A LAME-DUCK CHIEF MINISTER
Sheikhpura House is, at the moment, one of the most sought-after addresses in Patna.