The Mosque of Ayodya: Metonymy of Communalism in India
Pedro Matias Santos
In 1528 a mosque was built on the ruins of a hindu temple. Babri Masjid was built in Faizabad district of Uttar Pradesh in the city of Ayodhiya by Mir Baqi, commander of the first Mughul Emperor Babar, after demolishing the Hindu temple dedicated to Rama. The mosque was named «Babri Masjid» after the Emperor Babar. The thing is that the site of the demolished Hindu temple is considered to be the birthplace of Hindu god Rama and therefore called Shri Ramjanmabhoomi. In so being the site is claimed by both Hindus and Muslims. So Ayodhiya is par excellence the metonymy of communalism, i.e., conflict between religious groups in the Republic of India, in this case between Hindus and Muslims. Being Ayodhya one of seven most holy places in India for Hindus.
