The nation waited with bated breath. Everyone quite unsure of what one's first reactions would be and what they should be. Each one had one's own version of possibilities and probabilities. We waited for the Verdict with an uneasy calm.
And, finally, Lucknow Bench of Allahabad Highcourt ruled - in favour of people, in favour of tranquility and peace, in favour of unified and strong India. The court ruled - against so-called secularists, against pseudo-secularists, against so-called nationalists, against HINDUS and against MUSLIMS who wanted to be known more by religion and less by nationality, against Congresses and BJPs, against RSS's and BMACs and Vaqfs.
Political masters of the nation, once took India by storm - drew a possibly in-erasable line between two equally great cultures. It once looked like a divide no less than the one caused at the time of partition. Almost every Indian was a Hindu or a Muslim before he was an Indian. Heads rolled - not only in the castles of power, but also in streets (sadly, literally!). Secularists became Pseudo-Secularists, and Nationalists became Fundamentalists. The divide that led to ghettoism in urban areas and mutual mistrust in community. The divided that reduced Indians to 'Vote Banks'.
The divide that took scores of lives for us to realize the importance of cohabitation. Thousands of Indians sacrificed their lives - in post demolition riots, in Mumbai bomb blasts, in Godhra carnage, and in post-Godhra riots - to teach us a lesson: Together We Stand, Divided We Fall. We lost so many of us to the politicization of religion, and to the greed for power.
Perhaps, the shock of Godhra and of Post-Godhra (Irony of this nation! Violence helps us see the futility of the same!) made us see reason. India has moved on! Today, we see political rhetoric centered more on development and less on religion. Major politicians running shy of expressing their religious underpinnings - at least in public. Major political parties showing respect more to judiciary than to Votebank (At least in public!). Militant Hinduism and Fundamental Islamist have finally come to pass.
The court ruling dishes out what India craved for - put the nonsensical issue behind us, and let us traverse the path towards a great nation together. The ruling gives all the concerned parties - something to rejoice, and something to share. It provides everyone with the responsibility to carry on the good work done by the esteemed judges, and gives hopes to more than a billion Indians. It helps us instill our faith in Democratic, Independent, and Strong India.
What the ruling does not give - is anyone a reason to create chaos in the society, and perhaps excitement to the voyeuristic minds. Thank GOD (i.e. Everyone's GOD!)!
