Politics Of Heritage Sites

For many observers the destruction of the Babri Masjid in 1992 stands as a pivotal event in turning India from a pluralistic and secular society to one founded on a monolithic concept of ‘Hindu’ identity. An effort to purge Muslims from Indian history and marginalize them in the present, the project of tearing down the mosque and replacing it with a temple to Rama has played a central role in the narrative of India’s transformation from the Nehruvian vision of social justice to Modi sarkar.