Ayodhya!

On this fateful day, 13 years ago, a mosque was brought down in Ayodhya and it changed the Hindu-Muslim equation forever. We have had severe ramifications far and wide -- Mumbai, Bangladesh, Pakistan, UK and where not.

I remember, as a teenager, seeing stickers proclaiming "Let's build Ram temple at Ayodhya" and people collecting donations, without realising what was happening. It is amazing to see how the dispute has gone unresolved over centuries.

Politicians are either interested in fanning the flames further or disinterested in arriving at a solution, deriving mileage out of it irrespective of their stance. (When you think about it, no matter what the issue is -- Cauvery, Kashmir, etc., politicians are going to get us nowhere.) No one wants to bite the bullet! But the ones who are aggravating the situation need to be showered with bullets!

Hindus are characterised by their tolerance and acceptance; it's good to stay that way. No matter what the true history is, possibly the best thing to do would be to build a combined temple-mosque. That would satisfy both communities - I am not referring to the so-called representatives, just the people. Also, that would be a symbolic settlement of peace in a place which has become the flash-point of religious conflict.