It was 1989, and the days were humid and stuffy, just as now. My colleague and I were discussing the future of the Ram Mandir Movement with the main priest of Ayodhya Ram Mandir, Mahant Lal Das. Das felt the movement’s direction and approach weren’t right. He didn’t deem it appropriate to demolish the Babri Masjid or to transfer it. Incidentally, after meeting him, we had to go to Karsevakpuram in Ayodhya to meet Acharya Giriraj Kishore. At the site, we were astounded to see a huge pile of bricks “brought from every corner of India” to build a “grand temple”. The Vishwa Hindu Parishad and the entire Sangh Parivar were “moving mountains” to realise their ambitions.

Upon meeting Kishore, I bluntly asked how he could indulge in “demolition and construction”, ignoring the sentiments of 12-14% of the country’s population. Kishore remained unruffled. He said the temple wasn’t an ordinary one; Lord Ram’s temple will usher in “Ramrajya” in the country. We kept probing for long, but not once did Kishore lose his cool.

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