27 Years Of Bombay Riots: A Timeline Of Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid Dispute

The Babri Masjid-Ram Janmabhoomi originated from the site where a mosque was built by Babur in 1528. Hindu groups have been forever claiming that the mosque was built after Babur’s men demolished a Ram temple that sat there initially. The dispute over the land has been in court for decades now. The 1993 Bombay riots, scars of which remain nearly a quarter of a century after it happened, were one of the outcomes of the conflict. Let’s take you through a timeline of the events in the Ayodhya verdict.

1. The Babri Masjid was built in Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh in 1528. The first recorded communal clash over the site took place in 1853 after Hindu groups claimed the site initially housed a temple. 90 years after the Britishers had separated the areas, idols of Lord Ram were placed inside the mosque leading to a court case in 1949.

2. A committee was formed to headline the construction of a Ram temple in 1984. In 1987, a court verdict opened the gates of the mosque for Hindus to worship inside the “disputed structure.” Muslim groups too formed a committee, Babri Mosque Action Committee.

3. VHP volunteers destroyed the Babri Masjid, partially. Then BJP President LK Advani rallied across the country to attract attention and support to build a Ram temple, in 1990.

4. On 6 December 1992, Hindu activists demolished the Babri Masjid. Hindu-Muslim riots followed in parts of India. The Liberhan Commission named LK Advani, Atal Bihari Vajpayee and other BJP leaders in its report, almost 17 years after it began its inquiry.

5. A court verdict stated that seven Hindu leaders along with prominent BJP leaders including then Deputy Prime Minister LK Advani be tried for their role in Babri Mosque demolition. In 2004, an Uttar Pradesh court ruled that the order against Advani be reviewed.

6. The case is ongoing in a Lucknow court. The Apex Court set a nine-month deadline for the verdict in July 2019.

7. A Lucknow bench of three judges from Allahabad High Court began court proceedings in April 2002 to probe into who owned the site.  The verdict pronounced in 2010 stated that the land is divided into three parts: Nirmohi Akhara, Ram Lalla and the Sunni Central Waqf Board of Uttar Pradesh. Hindu and Muslim groups challenged the decision in the Supreme Court.

8. In 2011, the Supreme Court stayed the Allahabad High Court order.

9. A five-judge Constitution bench commenced hearings on August 6, 2019. An amicable solution was not reached by a three-member team appointed earlier this year. The day-to-day hearings at the Apex Court came to an end after 40 days on October 16, 2018.

10. On 17 November 2019, the Supreme Court Bench spearheaded by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi ordered that the disputed land in Ayodhya should be given to Ram Janmabhoomi Nyas for Ram temple. The Muslim community should be compensated with five acres of land at a prominent place in Ayodhya for a mosque. The court also ordered the central government to formulate a scheme within three months to implement the verdict.

6 December 2019 marks 27 years of Bombay riots. Although the entire country was in flames, the strongest reaction to the dispute was observed in Mumbai where people were burnt alive and communal riots claiming over 700 lives.

A lot of celebrities had reacted to the #AyodhyaVerdict. Take a look at who wrote what here:

"The supreme court judgement on #AYODHYAVERDICT shows how all of us can coexist peacefully. This is the beauty of our great country, and I urge everyone to rejoice in the fact that we define 'Unity in diversity' : #KanganaRanaut #AyodhyaJudgment #AyodhyacaseVerdict

— Team Kangana Ranaut (@KanganaTeam) November 9, 2019

What a glorious day.

Our tomorrow’s will be better than our yesterday’s.

I pray for an India that is stronger & unified as we move into a new decade. 🙏🏾#AYODHYAVERDICT

— Vikrant Massey (@masseysahib) November 9, 2019

#AYODHYAVERDICT hail Supreme Court! Let the needful be done. Now moving towards working on issues that will help our nation become the BEST place to LIVE in.

— taapsee pannu (@taapsee) November 9, 2019

My dear Indians, please respect the Supreme Court verdict on #AyodhyaCase today. We all need to heal together and move on from this as one nation !! 🇮🇳

— Huma S Qureshi (@humasqureshi) November 9, 2019

Happy with the Ayodhya Verdict. Hopefully the temple will be built now & we can move on from divisive politics to focusing on ALL our people and making our economy grow. Less religious politics and more economic policies that benefit the nation at large. Jai Hind 👍

— Farah Khan (@FarahKhanAli) November 9, 2019

No one could have said it better than the great father of our nation!

Let us honour the Mahatma by keeping peace and staying united always 🙏#RamMandir #BabriMasjid #AyodhyaJudgment #AyodhaVerdict pic.twitter.com/9Q5VPAgZy6

— Vivek Anand Oberoi (@vivekoberoi) November 9, 2019

Watch Vikrant Massey play the role of Arjun Kapoor’s best friend in Half Girlfriend, streaming on ZEE5.