National

Not Another Ayodhya

A showdown is averted for now as VHP-Bajrang Dal activists target a Sufi shrine in the Western Ghats

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Not Another Ayodhya
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IN more ways than one, the Vishwa Hindu Parishad and Bajrang Dal have done a shilanyas at a remote shrine known as an icon of Hindu-Muslim amity—a foundation for friction that could ultimately fuel communal hatred and rupture peace across the country. The serenity at the cavernous Guru Dattatreya Baba Budan Swamy dargah may well be a thing of the past. For, leaders of these groups have vowed to keep the fires burning, literally, till this shrine is 'liberated'.

 On December 3, more than 10,000 supporters of the saffron brigade came close to triggering off a bloodbath at the shrine which nestles in a valley in the picturesque Western Ghats. The now familiar rath yatras—this time with portraits of Dattatreya—wound their way to the Baba Budan range. Fiery speeches ensued, and as two saffron flags were raised outside the shrine, anti-Pakistan slogans filled the green valley. Stones were hurled at a lone tea adda, the actual target being the next-door office of Syed Peer Mohamed Shakadri, the 14th generation sajjada nasheen at the Baba Budan dargah. Blocked by a 2,000-odd police, the leaders remained set on installing an idol of Ganesha inside the shrine.

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The icy wind notwithstanding, police officers began perspiring as half-a-dozen mathadipathis tried to duck the security cordon and walk in with the two-feet-tall idol of Ganesha. Tempers ran high as the top brass attempted to reason with the seers—such an installation even outside the cave was tantamount to violation of court orders, and would ignite violent passions outside.

 Late in the afternoon, the seers agreed to offer pooja to the idol outside the shrine, and then hand it over to the Mujrai department as an 'offering'. Following this, Swami Sadanandji of Ajjampura math thundered: "The shrine will be liberated or a bloodbath is certain." The list of shrines to be 'liberated' from Islamic traditions seems to be growing: activists have announced similar plans for a dargah in Raichur, Karnataka.

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While a showdown was averted, the leaders have demanded the appointment of a Hindu archak, an administrator to manage funds accruing out of donations at the shrine, a ban on slaughter of cows and camels, and an end to construction of tombs in the vicinity of the shrine. And that pooja be permitted at the site every Thursday, and all full moon days. The day-long religious ceremony at the shrine has prompted Shakadri to lodge a police complaint against the Dal's activists. He plans to follow up the complaint in the local court.

Within the Sangh itself there's divergence of opinion on the issue. The Dal's convenor, Pramod Muthalik, made a public plea for a diktat from VHP leaders for direct action at the shrine. As for the BJP, the drubbing in recent assembly elections was signal enough not to tread on a touchy issue. Ananth Kumar Hegde, a BJP MP who announced that 'suicide squads' would sneak in to liberate the shrine, chose to travel out with his bride than burn bridges with the people of Chikmagalur. Ditto with Srikantappa, the MP from Chikmagalur.

But Dal leaders are confident that sooner or later, the BJP will toe its line. Warns Prakash Sharma, the party's national secretary: "This is not another Ayodhya, but we will turn it into one if our demands are not met. Every political party which is supporting the cause of Hindus will benefit from this liberation." Things are clearly unlikely to remain tranquil at the shrine. "We plan to set up a permanent police outpost here," says IGP B.Y. Bhosle, who led the massive police deployment.

For centuries, the shrine had been a symbol of Hindu-Muslim amity. Says Syed Mukhtiyar Ahmed, 55, the muzavar appointed by Shakadri: "The Hindus call the deity Datta, and Muslims revere him as Baba. There's a platform where they say Dattatreya did penance, and we say it was where Baba offered prayers". The four tombs outside the shrine are Baba Khalandar's disciples, Malik Tujai, Malik Wazir, Malik Kabu and Malik Safir. A tunnel at a corner of the cave supposedly leads to Mecca, say Muslims. Hindus say it actually is the path to Kashi.

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Legend has it that Dattatreya has the attributes of the three Hindu deities—Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva, and is the son of sage Athreya, one of the seven important sages of Hindu mythology. There's confusion about Dattatreya's mother, Anasuya, who for the Muslims is Ayesha.

Much of the information available about Hazrat Bada Hayath Meer Khalandar, the Muslim saint who made this cave his abode, is also legendary. He is said to be a close disciple of Prophet Mohammed. The site later turned into an important centre for Sufism in South India, with inams and jaghirs (grants from royal families and other patrons).

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Says Shakadri: "Any place of worship is for peace and well-being of the people. It's not right to rake up controversies. Yeh aman ke liye galath hain." The shrine, says deputy commissioner K.S. Manjunath, is worshiped by Hindus and Muslims alike. In 1975, a district court handed over the shrine's management to the Muzrai department and appeals by the Waqf board for total control were dismissed by the high court and Supreme Court.

K. Keshava Acharya, endowment commissioner, explains that the district administration had declined pleas by the Shakadri for complete control over the shrine besides management of the property. "We've acted on complaints of misuse of funds, a three-member committee is going through the accounts." Shakadri, on his part, dismisses allegations of cow slaughter and misuse of funds. "I wish someone from the government would ask us about the problems here and why we aren't able to keep this place neat and tidy," he says.

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In Chikmagalur, there are no takers for the Hindutva card being played by the VHP and the Bajrang Dal. A day before 'liberation' day, a majority of the people chose to remain curious onlookers at a rally of the rath yatris. Says Tejraj Jain, a local businessman: "It's obvious some people are trying to derive political mileage by raking up this issue now. I wonder why they kept mum during the last five decades.

The VHP and Bajrang Dal have also aroused resentment among other minorities. The All India United Christian Voice (AIUCV) has held rallies against attacks and threats by activists. On December 4, all Christian schools in Bangalore offered prayers and fasted to express sympathy with victims of religious persecution. "We want all communities to fast and pray for peace," said former director general of police F.T.R. Calaso, who now heads the AIUCV.

Yet, the hardcore activists are determined to stoke the fire. For three days, the local administration had allowed them to install a bronze idol of Dattatreya. But what was a temporary solution in order to avert a showdown may prompt the activists to spark off a new row, sooner, or later, or during the Urs of Baba Khalandar in March 1999.

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