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The central issue that arises out of developments connected with the demolition of the Babri Masjid in Ayodhya on 6 December 1992 is whet her the question relatingto the civilizational base of the Indianstate has finally been put firmly on the agenda, or whetherit can again be put off, as it was after the First World War when Mahatma Gandhi took over the leadership of the nationalist movement from Lokmanya Tilak, who soon passedaway. In the perspective of history, the answer has to be in the affirmative.
The failure of the Marxistideologyinall its manifestations in practice, the collapse of most communist regimes all over the world and the disintegration of the Soviet Union itself have together created conditions in which Indiannationalism can no longer be presented effectively in anti-colonial and civilization-neutral terms. Its civilizational base,structure and character cannot now be kept covered up for long by an ideological shroud. I am aware that an umber of assumptions are implicit in these statements. These shall be substantiated as we proceed.
Author : Shri Girilal Jain
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