The Rajasthan government’s directive to observe 6 December, the day of the 1992 Babri Masjid demolition, as ‘Shaurya Diwas’ in all schools sparked controversy when it was issued late on Saturday night. Following political and social backlash, the order was withdrawn on Monday citing “unavoidable circumstances.”
The circular, addressed to all Divisional Joint Directors of School Education, instructed government and private schools to organize activities aimed at instilling patriotism among students and staff. These activities included essay competitions on the Ram Mandir movement and Indian cultural pride, painting competitions on the Ram Mandir and Indian warriors, and exhibitions related to the Ram Mandir.
However, Director of Secondary Education Sitaram Jat denied issuing the order. “No such instructions were given to any school. I don’t know how this is circulating,” he told PTI.
The People’s Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL), Rajasthan, called the denial “suspicious” and suggested it was an attempt to conceal the government’s hidden intentions.
The order had already drawn sharp criticism from Congress and Muslim organizations. Congress state president Govind Singh Dotasra said, “This will harm communal harmony in the state.” Congress spokesperson Swarnim Chaturvedi described it as a distortion of history and accused the government of attempting to impose a political agenda on schoolchildren.
Mohammed Nazimuddin, general secretary of the Rajasthan Muslim Forum, questioned, “How is it justified to make students commemorate the demolition of a mosque?”
Thirty-three years ago, thousands of Hindu nationalist men and women demolished the 16th-century Babri Masjid in Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh. The demolition sparked anti-Muslim violence across parts of India, killing over 2,000 people.
In November 2019, the Supreme Court described the demolition as a “serious violation of the rule of law.” On 22 January 2024, Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Ram Mandir built on the ruins of the mosque.
Analysts say the temple’s inauguration reflects a victory for Modi’s Hindu nationalist politics and marked an early signal of his election strategy. Most opposition parties did not participate in the event.
