Degrees Of Saintliness

Within hours of assuming charge, Mahant Nritya Gopal Das declared in the presence of mediapersons how he was not "the VHP’s bonded labourer". The mahant’s sentiments found a strong echo of solidarity in Nagpur where Mahant Avaidyanath, yet another sant associated closely with the Ayodhya movement, declared he wouldn’t accept the VHP’s diktats.

Buoyed by such support, Mahant Nritya Gopal has been quick in revealing that he has a few more tricks up his sleeve. "We want to sort out this issue once and for all," he told Outlook. "The Muslims have to be involved. We have to talk to them." Local observers see this as an attempt to position himself as the perfect candidate for negotiating peace in Ayodhya rather than be used as a mere sidekick or stage prop by the VHP. The latter, expectedly, have been quick in mounting pressure.

The mahant received a rebuff from no less than Acharya Dharmendra, a luminary of the VHP’s shouting brigade, soon after he made public his independence from his parent political group. Dharmendra reportedly called him up and advised him to be a little more circumspect. He is also believed to have asked him not make "sensational" statements without first consulting his political mentors.

That did subdue him but the new trust chief has not let this change his decision to follow the Kanchi Shankaracharya’s footsteps. And when he talks of the temple, his tone is more conciliatory than confrontationist. "Our Muslim brothers should cooperate. Hindus and Muslims should set an example of communal harmony in Ayodhya," he says.

To affirm his intent, the mahant has already had a meeting with members of the Jamaat-e-Islami and Helal Committee, a local organisation that is assisting the Muslim petitioners in the original title suit. "We have met Nritya Gopal Dasji. He seems keen on negotiations," confirms Khaliq Ahmad Khan of the Helal Committee, Ayodhya.

Following the meeting, the mahant has also decided to familiarise himself with all the legal aspects of the case. He is studying the Land Acquisition of Certain Area at Ayodhya Act, 1993, to hold "well-informed" talks with the Muslims. An embarrassed VHP, on the other hand, is looking for suitable escape routes out of this situation. Its president Ashok Singhal has told mediapersons that the VHP has "never been averse to talks", a statement completely contradicting his stand two months back when the Shankaracharya was holding talks with the Muslims.

For the moment, the mahant is providing them a respite. He is leaving for Nashik on a month-long sojourn on the occasion of Kumbh Mela. If he does stand by all that he currently says, the new mahant of the Ramjanmabhoomi Nyas could prove to be even more of a thorn in the flesh of the Sangh parivar than the entire secular brigade put together.