Temple to be sign of cultural nationalism'

The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its ideological fount, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), are all set to pitch the Ram Temple in Ayodhya that will open to devotees after a grand ceremony on January 22 as not just a site of reverence and religious significance, but as a symbol of "cultural nationalism".

- Smriti Kak Ramachandran

The temple will pave the way for a new "governance model drawing from soft Hindutva", leaders aware of the development said, seeking anonymity While efforts are underway by the party and Sangh offshoots to oversee celebrations across the country to mark the idol consecration and organise tours for devotees, BJP and Sangh functionaries are giving shape to a new narrative about the temple.

"The next step is Ram Rajya Lord Ram was maryada purshottam, a man of impeccable ideals, a ruler who was just and welfarist. The concept of Ram Rajya was supported even by Mahatma Gandhi, who saw it as a model state where everyone was happy and well provided for," an RSS functionary said.

The construction sanctioned by the Supreme Court will evolve into "a model of governance that the BJP has been promising, Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas", said the functionary who has been a part of the temple campaign.

The BJP, which is expected to leverage the construction of the temple for electoral gains as it prepares to face a combative Opposition in the Lok Sabha polls, is keen to embed its electoral narrative with references of the temple being a symbol for "cultural nationalism", "cultural pride", and "political will".

Just as it had done ahead of the Kashi Vishwanath temple redevelopment, the party does not want the construction to be confined to a religious prism but is keen to sell it as an example of developmental agenda.