Truth and Reconciliation Commission is the answer.
Justice Liberahan Report has brought the Ayodhya issue once again to the fore. No actor in the Ayodhya drama has covered himself in glory – the Sangh Parivar and the Secular Brigade. The Hindu-Muslim divide is a historical legacy of the Moghul Rule which was accentuated during the British Rule. This resulted in the partition as well. While Pakistan became the homeland for the Muslims of the Indian sub-continent, India became a homeland for Hindus, Muslims, Christians, Sikhs,Jains and others. However, the partition itself increased the gulf between Hindus and Muslims – Hindu anguish on the destruction of temples which is visible all over the North India and the Muslim fear of discrimination and the fear of progress left them in a time-wrap. The periodical Hindu-Muslim riots were the most visible manifestation of the same. The Ayodhya was the most potent expression. The only way, we as a nation, leave the legacy of the past is to have a Truth and Reconciliation Commission to establish the truth and forgive the mistakes of the past in the same way that the Great Nelson Mandela did to unite South Africa. This has to be done not to incriminate anybody. We have to free ourselves from the feelings of guilt, revenge and fear. We have to face the facts. Truth liberates and prepares the stage for reconciliation and progress. If we don't learn from history, it will repeat itself.
November 29,2009.
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