The Future of Lord Ram's Temple: A Call for Reform in India
" "Whenever I get an opportunity, I always go to have a darshan of Lord Ram, my personal deity. Whether I can visit a Ram Mandir or not, I chant his holy name, my favorite Ram Bhajan sung by Anup Jalota: 'Mere maan mai Ram... tan mai Ram, rom mai Ram hai.' Ram Mandir is more than a physical place; it symbolizes the deep faith and connection that I hold for Lord Krishna. The phrase 'Ram Mandir nahi hai toh kya hua... apne maan ko prabhu kirtan se mandir bana lo' captures the essence of maintaining spiritual connection in every aspect of life, even in the absence of physical temples.
" "21st Century Reforms Over Temples and Statues
" "No, the 18-19 century has long passed; it is now the 21st century. The nation needs reforms that address critical issues, such as poverty and economic growth, rather than focusing on the construction of temples and statues. For a nation where over 70% of the population is living in poverty, constructing a temple will do little to alleviate the suffering of Indians. Instead, the country's focus should be on reforms that help these people to move out of poverty and live a more dignified life. The building of Ram temple on the funds of poor Indians is ironic and empathetic. The country, which cannot help its people, can donate for the construction of a grand temple to uphold its religious ego and gain political power over the poor population whose psychology is hijacked in the name of Hindutva and Lord Ram.
" "The Paradox of Poverty and Luxury
" "Why should those who truly care for India and its people not visit Ram temple? The reason is simple: it would project a negative image of India to the world. When visiting the temple, they would see a luxurious temple structure in stark contrast to the thousands of poor and hungry people outside seeking alms. Foreign tourists will see the irony of a lavish Ram temple for a storybook king, while the real people of India are deprived of basic necessities. This misalignment is a reflection of how the temple construction funds are being exploited by a political and religious group, who are using religion to brainwash the public into donating their hard-earned money for temple construction and lavish living without contributing to the national economy in any productive manner. The funds spent on temple construction will be a waste, as it will take nearly 20 years to recover the investment, while in the meantime, key resources such as cheap petrol, power, gas, water, and the value of the rupee continue to degrade.
" "The Implications of Temple Fundraising
" "The funds donated for temple construction are not being used for productive work that benefits the country. Instead, they are being used by government officials and temple trustees to live lavish lifestyles without contributing to the national economy in a productive manner. The GDP, which measures the economic output of a country, does not reflect the actual spendthrift nature of temple construction. The temples do not produce any tangible products, nor do they provide any skills to the people that can benefit India. The money invested in temple construction is a waste of resources that could have been used for more beneficial purposes, such as poverty alleviation, education, and healthcare. The construction of a lavish Ram temple is a misallocation of resources at a time when the country urgently needs reforms and growth to uplift its poorest citizens and build a more prosperous nation.