Ayodhya: the case against the temple

Book Details

• Publisher: ADITYA PRAKASHAN Indological Publishers & Booksellers

• Language: English

• Edition: 2017

• ISBN-13: 9788185990750

• ISBN-10: 8185990751

• Subject: Politics, Voice of India

About the Book
This book marks the author's final contribution to the ongoing debate surrounding communalism in India, particularly the conflict between Hinduism and Islam. Drawing from his first work, Ram Janmabhoomi vs. Babri Masjid: A Case Study in Hindu-Muslim Conflict (1990), the author expands on the evidence that supports the Hindu claim to the disputed site in Ayodhya, which has long been the subject of heated debate.

The book includes a compilation of papers written between 1995 and 2002, focusing on the argumentation put forth by the anti-temple party and critically analyzing the evidence for and against the existence of a Hindu temple at the site. The author critiques the standard non-temple arguments, which mainly rely on arguments from silence and attempts to discredit evidence from the pro-temple side, rather than presenting substantial evidence of their own.

With a sharp examination of how the narrative surrounding the Ayodhya debate has been shaped by institutional and media power, the book argues that academic-journalistic consensus has intentionally ignored key pro-temple arguments. It challenges the political and academic suppression of the historical truth, urging future scholars to revisit and engage with the data for a more honest portrayal of the Babri Masjid Ram Janmabhoomi issue.

This work is essential for anyone interested in the intersection of politics, history, and religion in India, offering an in-depth analysis of the contentious and politically charged debate on Hindu-Muslim relations in the subcontinent.