Author Description

Ayodhya reverberates in India’s religious and political landscape like no other city ever has or ever will. Situated on the banks of the Saryu River, Ayodhya was the capital of the kings of the solar (sun) dynasty, founded by Ikshvaku. Umesh Raghuvanshi writes about the various protagonists who took decisions based either on their faith or on personal agenda and ambition, over many millennia, to create and recreate the city—both literally and figuratively. The author traces Ayodhya back to the times the city was first mentioned in the scriptures many millennia ago, to the grand temple that once existed at Ram Janmabhoomi, to the building of the Babri Mosque by invaders who destroyed the temple, to the legal dispute between Hindus and Muslims, and to the present times, with the building of the Ram Lalla temple. The narrative ends with the defeat of the BJP candidate in Ayodhya during the 2024 General Elections. After India’s Independence, the twists and turns that took place in Ayodhya created a new paradigm for India’s politics and led to the rise of the Bharatiya Janata Party’s brand of politics. This narrative provides an exhaustive chronicle of the legal battles—from the trials and acquittals of those implicated in the mosque’s demolition to the landmark judgments by the Allahabad High Court and the Supreme Court of India—culminating in the definitive verdict on 9 November 2019, which ruled in favor of the construction of the Ram Temple at the site. This book is a testament to India’s enduring spirit and heritage.