Sushil Singh from Maun: The entire nation is currently immersed in the spirit of devotion. The moment is slowly approaching when the consecration of Lord Ram’s idol will take place in the temple on January 22. However, the struggle for the Ram temple lasted for almost five centuries, during which thousands of people sacrificed their lives. Kar Sevaks, including innocent children, endured challenging hardships and imprisonment, actively participating in several major movements for the Ram temple.
The first and foremost contributors to the Ayodhya temple were the Kar Sevaks, who demolished the Babri Masjid on December 6, 1992. The then-government promptly imprisoned these Kar Sevaks. Among them was a two-and-a-half-year-old innocent boy who had accompanied his mother to jail. Sharing the story of the demolition of Babri Masjid by the Kar Sevaks, Shakuntala Devi, the mother of that little child and the former president of the BJP Mahila Morcha in the Maun district, becomes quite emotional.
Shakuntala Devi reveals that her son was only two and a half years old at that time. Determined, she led a group of at least 50 people from Maun to Shahganj. Transportation facilities were scarce, and the group somehow managed to reach Ayodhya while staying concealed. During that time, leaders like Ashok Singhal, the president of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad, Lal Krishna Advani, Uma Bharti, and Sadhvi Ritambhara were prominent figures. The fervor among the activists increased after listening to the speeches of these leaders.
Shakuntala Devi narrates that her husband, Gyan Chand Gupta, made significant sacrifices for the temple. He remained imprisoned in Gorakhpur Central Jail for several months. Shakuntala herself, along with her two-and-a-half-year-old child, was also confined in jail. Remembering her husband, Shakuntala Devi becomes quite emotional. She expresses happiness that the temple is being constructed despite witnessing the demolition of the Babri Masjid in front of her eyes. She has seen the struggle and the temple construction journey unfold while cherishing the memory of her husband.
