The Kanchi Sankaracharya is making another attempt to resolve the Ayodhya dispute through mediation. He has been in secret talks with leaders of both Hindu and Muslim communities to develop a proposal. While some details of the proposal are unclear, it reportedly does not involve a court settlement or building a neutral structure on the disputed site, as both would hurt religious sentiments. The Sankaracharya has the support of Prime Minister Vajpayee in his reconciliation efforts but faces skepticism from some Hindu and Muslim organizations who question his role in the issue. He remains determined to find a solution that delinks politics and religion regarding Ayodhya.
The Kanchi Sankaracharya is making another attempt to resolve the Ayodhya dispute through mediation. He has been in secret talks with leaders of both Hindu and Muslim communities to develop a proposal. While some details of the proposal are unclear, it reportedly does not involve a court settlement or building a neutral structure on the disputed site, as both would hurt religious sentiments. The Sankaracharya has the support of Prime Minister Vajpayee in his reconciliation efforts but faces skepticism from some Hindu and Muslim organizations who question his role in the issue. He remains determined to find a solution that delinks politics and religion regarding Ayodhya.
The Kanchi Sankaracharya is making another attempt to resolve the Ayodhya dispute through mediation. He has been in secret talks with leaders of both Hindu and Muslim communities to develop a proposal. While some details of the proposal are unclear, it reportedly does not involve a court settlement or building a neutral structure on the disputed site, as both would hurt religious sentiments. The Sankaracharya has the support of Prime Minister Vajpayee in his reconciliation efforts but faces skepticism from some Hindu and Muslim organizations who question his role in the issue. He remains determined to find a solution that delinks politics and religion regarding Ayodhya.
giving an anTawa tpamto Pnime Minister Atal Bihari Vqipayee
land next to the disputed site for puja.
This did not work out . There is much speculation-on the seer's proposal. But those close to him say there are two'solutions' which will not have his blessings. One, a court settlement and two, the building of a neutral structure. A court decision, he ' has maintained, would hurt the sentiments of either of the communities. The disputed site is sacred to both Hindus and Muslims and so a neutral structure is also ouL of the question. The Sankaracharya rhas rbeeri B secretive this time because he does not ARVIND JAIN want the initiative to be destroyed in
The smlllng salnt the beginning itself. Journalists are
welcome to seek blessings,'but my lips are sealed until July 7l' He too has The Kanchi Sank ar acharya is eminently learnt lessons from his last experience. Some Hindu and Muslim suited for the peacemaker's role organisations have questioned the seer's right to intervene in the issue. By FAIIYA IMAM ALl/Kanchi obviously emerged from these But he remains unfazed. "Politics must confabulations. All he would say, a be delinked from religion if the anchi Sankaracharya month &Bo, was that he "was working Ayodhya issue is to be solved," he has Jayendra Saraswati is a in tand.em with leaders of both said. But politically speaking, his gentle but tenacious person. religions." strength comes from having a hopeful The gentleness aids him in being Last time, the seer managed to get ally in Prime Minister Atal Bihari persuasive and the tenacity goads him the Viswha Hindu Parishad to the Vajpayee, who has encouraged to try and try again. FIe will need both negotiating table. The Muslim leaders (actuallypersuaded, many say) him to these qualities in abu.ndance as he were a bit reluctant. This time, the mediate. makes yet another effort to solve the \IHP has scaled up its rhetoric and has The Sankaracharya has studied rffi Ayodhya problem. made critical remarks on the issue in detail. He has received inputY The Kanchi mutL officials privately Sankaracharya but the Muslim leaders from former bureaucrats, diplomats term it the Ayodhya match. (The seer, have responded positively. and top politicians who visit the mutb. it is said, likes cricket.) The TheVHP leaders queeredthe pitch 'Also, he has read up alot onAyodhya," Sankaracharya, however, must know by statirrg that Kashi and Mathura said a mutt official. by now that it is a rather sticky wicket. issues would be taken up. (In a He has also done much for the That is probably why he is being previous interview to The Week the temple town, focusing on the socio- very careful this time. His previous Sankaracharya had expressed the hope economic uplift of the Ayodhya effort was bogged down in that'Ayodhya-like" issues would' not populace. The seer set up the Kanchi fundamentalist sloganeering. Since be raised again.) Probably the AyodhyaNagara Development Trust a then he has not talked about 'formula organisation is smarting from the last year ago with five trustees (two Hindus Ayodhya'. But he was in constant touch experience. The Sankaracharya had and two Muslims from Ayodhya and with religious leaders of both the persuaded the VHP leaders to agree to one official from the mutt). communities. The latest proposal, abide by the court verdict. In return, The trust promotes self- which he has forwarded to the All he promised, he would tryto persuade employment of members of both the India Muslim Personal Law Board the Prime Minister to allot them the communities. It embodies the Sankaracharya's ability to balance religiosity with the neeos of the Tho sssr har astrnnf",ally tm Uqipryso conlrlrunity. The exact'balance' which is needed to resolve the Ayodhya whf;r supports hir rscolrfiiliatlnrt iltorre. rssue. I 40 FJTi?!7Jil Jury 6,2oo3