Week 10: Reading Notes -- Ram Ke Naam

(Image Information: Map of location of Ram Janmabhoomi/Babri Masjid

NordNordWest Source: Wikipedia)

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    Through my Introduction to Hinduism class, I had the opportunity to watch the film "Ram Ke Naam". This film was about the controversy between the Hindus and Muslims regarding a mosque that was built, according to many people, the birthplace of Rama in Ayodhya. 

This film focused on the different views as to whether the mosque should be destroyed and the temple should be built, or whether Muslims and Hindus can coincide in the same place together. This film really portrayed how prevalent the politics in India play into the religion of Hinduism. 

The BJP held the view that the mosque should be destroyed and the temple should be built because this was the land of the Hindus. There were many Indians from the lower caste who also believed we should live in harmony. The Pro-Hindu and Anti-Muslim viewpoints were readily expressed by many people.

It's very interesting to see how many educated people in the upper castes hold these extreme views, while those that are categorized in the lower castes are approaching this situation with more sensibility. Riots arose, people died, and the relationships among Hindus and Muslims still remains in tension today.

No one can pinpoint when Rama was born, or where exactly he was born. It is interesting to see how people who have wealth and power do their actions by the name of God not even realizing the values that God initially intended to preach to its people. 

Unfortunately, this mosque was eventually destroyed. Gandhi originally intended for Muslims and Hindus to live in peace, but the tension between these two groups can be taken back all the way to when kings ruled in India. These two countries were eventually separated, and still, today, both groups live in each other countries. Issues like this regarding violence continue to happen, and it is amazing to see how much wealth, power and politics become the initial spark to it all.

These different viewpoints, the caste system, and how Hindus have perceived of the events over time have played down into generations and somehow gets intertwined with Hindu culture and religion. Hinduism, a peaceful religion, has played a role in some of the biggest events regarding violence. 

This film was able to provide a small insight into how modern Hinduism continues to be represented today. It is sad to see that these kinds of things can be made parallel to events even in the United States. I believe that those Hindus that supported Trump also carried over their Anti-Muslim views, and it is sad that this tension is still prevalent today.

This movie is such a great eye-opener and has allowed me to think what I really feel about the Hindu religion and what it really means to be a Hindu. 

Bibliography: Anand Patwardhan Ram Ke Naam Video