Revisiting memories of Karseva

In October 2017, I was travelling to Banaras from Itanagar for an important organisational meeting taking a train from Guwahati. Kashi, the original name for Banaras, is a city which always dwells in my heart. There are two reasons for it. Firstly, Banaras is considered to be the holy capital of Bharat, founded by none other than Lord Shiv Himself. Bharat Ratna Pandit Madan Mohan Malviya had chosen Kashi to establish a ‘temple of education’ known as BHU. Secondly, it was the same Banaras where I, including a huge group of Kar Sevaks, were arrested on our march to “Ayodhya Kar Seva Abhiyan for Ram Janmabhoomi Mandir” in  1990. Then, I was just 18 years old pursuing my BA second year study from Ravenshaw College, Cuttack.  The old memory lane reappeared with emotions flooding up no sooner I reached the Banaras station. I  recalled how after our arrest at Banaras, we were taken in police custody to Ghazipur. Ghazipur is a crowded township about seventy kilometres from Banaras. 

During that 2017 Banaras visit, I made up my mind to visit the same Ghazipur jail, as a token of memory,  where we Kar Sevaks were kept in detention for many days. Needless to say here, it was the Ghazipur  Agriculture Hostel premises which was converted into a temporary detention camp. All the proper jails in  Uttar Pradesh that time were overwhelmingly filled up with massive arrests of the Kar Sevaks. My resolution saw the light of day. I along with an old Delhi time friend started our trip to Ghazipur by his car.  While approaching Ghazipur after a long gap of 27 years and visiting the same dormitory we were put in, I  got to be emotional. This short although unforgettable stay at Ghazipur refreshed the memories of our old days of severe struggle due to serious challenges imposed on Kar Sevaks by hostile governments both at  Uttar Pradesh state and Centre towards the Mandir movement for same spot where Ramlala was born. 

A few days ago, on 22nd January 2024, when a beautiful Ram Mandir got constructed and a beautiful  Ramlala statue was getting consecrated on the same spot of Ram’s birth, being in Guwahati, I thought to spend that once in lifetime moment at Mata Kamakhya temple. A grand “hawan yajnya” was performed to meet the occasion. History tells us that since 500 years after the original temple was destroyed by invaders, there had been 76 battles with sacrifices of about 3 lakh Ram bhakts throughout this unique movement. While recalling the different timelines of this Andolan, I happened to reopen my old 1990  Diary. The pages were turning yellow with the impact of long duration, but each line and each paragraph from it was enough to rekindle my bygone days’ memories. 

13 October 1990: Hostel Awareness Campaign

With the help of a small group of inmates from our East Hostel inside Ravenshaw college campus, we had gone for a room-to-room sell of calendars, stickers, and badges with pictures of Prabhu Shriram while standing in front of the proposed Mandir. It had two purposes – to awaken people about the purpose of  “abhiyan” and to support Mandir construction from the small amount of purchase from out of these items.  Surprisingly, everyone from our hostel without any slight opposition bought these items. 

14th October 1990: Ram Jyoti Rath in Cuttack  

The “Ram Jyoti Rath” which had started from Ayodhya arrived in our city Cuttack. We the volunteers from  our college had joined the massive procession to welcome this Rath at the outskirts of Cuttack city putting 

on Shriram and Hanuman Ji’s badges. With a huge number of Rambhakts, this “shobhayatra” passed through Chhatra Bazar to Kathjodi. Beating the drums and bells, we welcomed the Ram Jyoti Rath. We made a cordon with the “lathis” around the Rath to control the flooding crowd. I noticed even the police on duty were offering “Pranaam” to the Ram Jyoti from out of uncontrolled devotion. Particularly, I  couldn’t find any difference between common ladies with sarees and lady police in uniform. Rambhakti  was so intense. At Badambari bus stand I climbed atop a bus roof to see the vast ocean of uncountable  heads. People were rushing towards the Rath as if a queen bee, but with electrifying bhakti. I saw many with tears rolling from their eyes. This scene was so heart touching. The Rath went through Dolamundai,  Ranihaat, Bakshi Bazar, Chaudhury Bazar, High Court and Shaikh Bazar. We reached our final stop near  Chandi Mandir taking so much of strain but not losing our zeal. After completion of today’s Yatra, we had to walk back to Ravenshaw campus, another 5 kms. Luckily, I ran after a running trekker and was successful catching it and reached Ranihat. I took my hostel dinner. At the East hostel common room, I saw the TV  and was overwhelmed viewing the Ram Jyoti Rath Yatra news. However, the newspapers of the day were full of nationwide Ram Mandir Andolan negative news with statements and speculations from political parties. 

18 October 1990: Special Deepotsav with Ram Jyoti 

It was the day of auspicious Deepavali. We from our college had gone to the nearby Vishwanath Mandir to bring the Shriram Jyoti. Keeping the flame inside a safe clay pot, we led it to different college hostels in a small procession and kindled “deepa”, while chanting devotional Ram dhoon and sometimes with thunderous slogans on Ram and Ram temple, simultaneously, bursting crackers. Exceptionally in my hostel, I was the only one wearing a Shriram headband and Bajrangwali batch to everybody’s peeping. 

19 October 1990: My Resolution 

Today was the day when I decided to go for Kar Seva to Ayodhya. For some days, I was bit tensed as the stirring news of police high-handedness, lathi charges, arrests and even firing on Rambhakts in UP coming up. But on this day, after a firm decision of whatever might happen I shall go, I felt a deep divine inspiration  in my heart. At my hostel, my senior Pulak Bhai too made up his mind to go Ayodhya. 

20 October 1990: My Father’s Long Letter 

At college study centre I was reading International Relations. I got someone’s surprising touch from behind. It was Babu, son of Dasbabu Mausa, neighbor from my hometown Baleshwar. He was the special messenger of my father with an urgent seven-page long letter. For a few seconds I was scared of something untoward. Even Babu didn’t reveal. He asked me to read the complete letter first. My father had already an  intuition of what was going on in my mind. Thus he had tried his best to convince me why I shouldn’t join  Kar Seva. In his serious and passionate write up, he had given innumerable instances from Mahabharat,  Ramayan and Shrimad Bhagwat Geeta. All his traffic routes were leading to one goal – I should pin point to  study without any slight thinking of Kar Seva. “The Kar Sevaks are being severely tortured there daily”, he  had warned me. In fact, it was a caring father’s letter to his unconvinced son.  

21 October 1990: Grand Preparations for Ayodhya

Babu left for Baleshwar today. I had given him a diplomatic answer – “Everything upto Ram”. Once Babu  vanished, I and Pulak Bhai had gone to Buxibazar to join a grand meeting of the finalised Kar Sevaks. It was  a moment of great jubilation and the atmosphere spiritually charged. The meeting decided that Shri  Prabhanjan Ray, a 6.2 ft high strong man with butterfly moustache, will lead our huge team of Kar Sevaks. I  was feeling secured that we have got a determined leader, at least physically. It was decided we shall start  on 26th October to Ayodhya by Neelachal Express with proper reservations. A bad news for me was  awaiting. Sangram Bhai of West Hostel will start on 28th instead due to certain personal issue, but one Lulu  Mohapatra of West will join us – the trio from Ravenshaw. Two more from East were on try list. 

22 October 1990: News of Tight Security in and around Ayodhya  

I saw different newspapers which were having frontline news about the serious happenings around  Ayodhya and the tight security cover by UP administration so that not even a single bird can breach it – “parinda bhi par nahi maar sakta”. At the same time, I too was running short of money for the coming big  trip, thought of lending some amount from a close friend. Since morning, I was having slight fever and little  cough. 

23 October 1990: LK Advani’s Rath was Stopped  

Historic day for Bharat when Advani ji who was undergoing a historic Rath Yatra from Somnath to Ayodhya  to create public awareness for the Mandir Andolan, was arrested at Samastipur, Bihar. The BJP led by its  Parliamentary Board President AB Vajpayee withdrew support from the National Front government of VP  Singh. Advani was one of the architects of the temple movement. His arrest kindled passion among the Kar  Sevaks all over the country. In the evening, at a very short notice, we gathered at Mangalabag and led a  massive “mashaal shobhayatra” upto Chandi Mandir through Bakshi Bazar. It was a great grand success. A  “Bharat bandh” call was given for tomorrow. I was extremely tired after this long procession. I got a tempo  and came standing behind, holding its back rod and later, by begging a lift from someone’s scooter. I  reached my hostel at night. Inside Prashant Bhai’s room, we planned how the Bharat bandh call will be a  success by making Ravenshaw closed for tomorrow. We at around 11:30 PM night visited from room to  room mobilising the boarders. Prashant Bhai, myself and Amulya Bhai had to go to West Hostel and met  Sangram Bhai at 12:30 AM. 

24 October 1990: The Historic Bharat Bandh 

A mixed day for us as we could not make Bharat Bandh a complete success in our college although it had a  grand nationwide impact. According to our plan in the morning, we had gone to the college main entrance  gate. There, we had to encounter with the Leftists who were bent on making the Bandh call a flop. They  were leading students to overpower us to keep the college gate opened. Courageous Sangram Bhai  managed the tensed situation well. We had gone to Commerce block and asked for the support of students  to protest against the undemocratic arrest of Shri LK Advani. We were successful. But at the Arts block we  had to fight a lot, with little success. Later, I learned that Sangram Bhai was seriously injured from out of a  scuffle with rival student union. I rushed to West hostel to meet him. Few of my close friends fiercely  argued for my bold stand on Ram Janmabhoomi Mandir. It took me hours to dismantle their strange logic  that the disputed land should be used either for a hospital or a school. I considered them too liberal  without proper understanding of the terrible pattern of our medieval history. In the evening, at our  Ravenshaw college chowk, the Leftist students had gathered for a public meeting, where speakers one  after another were contributing to an already hot atmosphere. 

25 October 1990: My Fight with High Fever 

It was a bad day for me with high fever perhaps due to restless activities. I sheltered beneath my shawl  which was not even enough. I took medicines and felt little relaxed. Today, my Ayodhya program was given  a final shape despite a sick body. I had to prepare for tomorrow. 

26 October 1990: As a Kar Sevak to Ayodhya 

I made a small preparation, taking a better airbag from my friend Sanatan. That would be more suitable  even to walk for miles if need be. News of roads to Ayodhya being blocked and Kar Sevaks walking for  miles was pouring in. Prashant Bhai gave his warm sweater and muffler arguing Uttar Pradesh will be  colder than Odisha. Sadly, at the last moment the two almost sure sought Kar Sevaks from my hostel  declined to go. I felt slightly disappointed. Finally, it was me and Pulak Bhai from East Hostel and Lulu from  West Hostel. We had to reach Dolamundai Jagannath temple to join the grand farewell procession to  Cuttack railway station. A good number of my hostel mates had assembled at the station to see me off, as  if I was going to some battle field. I offered them chocolates. In return, they offered me few teardrops – a  very much unforgettable emotional expression. After Cuttack station, our train crossed river Mahanadi. I  was immersed into deep thoughts on my journey from Mahanadi upto Saryu. On way, our train crossed  Baleshwar, my hometown. In my mind I begged apology to dear father who had urged me not to visit  Ayodhya through a long letter. 

27 October 1990: The Arrest and Police Custody 

I saw the first morning sun from the windows of Neelachal Express. Pulak Bhai declared like a reporter we  have crossed Mughal Sarai and Kashi is coming. Musi Bhai reminded us about the tragic murder of Integral  Humanism ideologue Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya into pieces at Mughal Sarai railway station. We offered  our “Pranams” to holy river Ganga. At Kashi station we were surprised to see unusually heavy police forces  around. My heart was beating more than usual. We were following strict instructions not to behave like  Kar Sevaks and not to be in group to create unnecessary suspicion, rather act like strangers to one another.  We were successful crossing Kashi station. 

The next station Banaras was waiting to test our patience. One police intelligence officer was cleverer.  Wearing a “Jai Shriram” headgear and shouting passionately “Jai Shriram”, he appeared. We mistook him  to be another fellow Kar Sevak. One after another, we fell into his trap of joining his sloganeering. Slowly  and gradually, the whole compartment, then the neighbouring compartments and like wild fire, the whole  train started sloganeering “Jai Shriram”. Our thunderbolt slogans had already identified us who exactly we  were. The vast platoon of police around Banaras station were eagerly waiting for this situation to arise.  They arrested all of us like fish caught in net. Our team leader Prabhanjan Ray became so annoyed on us – the “emotional idiots”. Not a single could escape. It was such a painful moment. I cursed myself at that  particular moment – for why I had come all the way, to be arrested? Meticulous Pulak Bhai consoled me – the massive country wide arrest of the Kar Sevaks will give way to the dictator regime collapse like a  colossus. 

I was tired enough after hours of sit-ins and later slept on the bare platform ground. The magistrate, a tall  young man, was very well-behaved, mixing and a jesterous person. But his helping hand man was so rough 

and ill-mannered and abusive, at times, even physically manhandling the Rambhakts. After a long time, we  were taken to one nearby school where we were served with dry “puri-subji”. Hesitating, I had to eat those  and then, took a nap on the veranda of the school. New groups of Kar Sevaks were arriving from time to  time. Their physical appearances, dress and languages attested the beauty of diversity and of an all India  participation of the movement. We couldn’t understand each other’s conversations, but Ram was a  common integrating factor. I could see one mother with her little Kar Sevak child around her bosom. This  single scene was proof enough how our so-called intellectuals then writing heavy outpourings in leading  newspapers were cut off from ground realities to understand the soul of Bharat. Soon, the mini India  gathered under a huge tree inside the school premises. Lead and follow patriotic and devotional songs  from different languages filled enthusiasm in us.  

In the evening we were sent to Ghazipur by a bus. My health started fast deteriorating with nonstop  vomitings. It got to be truly serious. I thought as if I would be joining Ram’s lotus feet very soon. We Kar  Sevaks were brought to one Agriculture College Hostel turned jail in Ghazipur. For the rest few days it  became our place of stay. An aged Kar Sevak seeing my wretched condition offered me some drops of  “Pudin Hara” with water. 

28 October 1990: Life at Hostel Turned Jail 

The trauma of last night was still ruling, with fever in body. Pulak Bhai was taking much care. However, the  river Ganga was not far away from our presently detention camp. The police in charge was satisfied with  the good behaviour of the inmates. He permitted the Kar Sevaks for holy “Ganga Snan“ in the morning. The  Kar Sevaks formed a group and started devotional “kirtan” while walking ahead for holy bath. It was a  beautiful scene. I stayed put due to sickness. 

While taking a walk around the campus, I saw a colossal stone-work. It was historic Lord Cornwallis tomb  just beside our place of stay. When Governor General Lord Cornwallis was traveling on his mission to the  north-west, he died at Ghazipur on 5th October 1805 out of fever. The British inhabitants of Calcutta raised  this monument in his honour. The tomb consists of a dome supported by 12 erected columns on a high  circular platform, overlooking the Ganga river. I went inside, saw the tomb, took rest under the shadow of  a tree nearby. I returned after an hour and took more rest at our barrack-type dormitory. 

30 October 1990: Impossible Became Possible  

A historic day for Bharat. Country’s electronic media initially declared that there was no Kar Seva done in  Ayodhya due to deployment of unprecedented forces around Janmabhoomi site and massive arrest of Kar  Sevaks. But Shri Harish Srivastava, a former minister of UP govt, who was also detained at our place,  informed from reliable source that the historic first Kar Seva had been successfully done at about 11.50  am, although the scheduled time was in between 9.45 am to 11.00 am. We were in a state of utter  confusion and anxiety. But in the afternoon, I was inside washroom when from outside the high voltage  and nonstop slogans of Jai Shriram came in. It was getting tremendously louder and louder. I had an  intuition that it was due to the authentic confirmation of Kar Seva news. I rushed to the spot. All the  inmates had gathered. To my ultimate bewilderment I found my guess to be correct.  

After about 15 minutes of continuous sloganeering, with the effort of Harish ji and team leaders, the Kar  Sevaks were calmed down. Then Harish ji broke out the confirmed news saying – History has been created. 

The UP Police had barred all bus and train services to Ayodhya. But most Kar Sevaks reached there by foot.  Some crossed the Sarayu river by swimming. The police had barricaded and imposed a curfew. About  28,000 Uttar Pradesh Provincial Armed Constabulary personnel were deployed in Ayodhya. Despite that, at  around 10 am, Shri Ashok Singhal who had disappeared since yesterday reappeared all of a sudden along  with Vamadev and Mahant Nritya Gopal Das and they led thousand Kar Sevaks to Janmabhoomi site. Ashok  Singhal was wounded on the head by a police baton. At around 11 am, a Sadhu managed to gain control of  an Armed Constabulary bus in which the police were holding detainees. The Sadhu drove the bus right  clearing a way for the others to follow on foot. The security forces were caught off guard and were forced  to chase away thousands of Kar Sevaks, who stormed through the heavily guarded site to perform Kar Seva  ultimately. 

Harish ji broke into tears showing the blue stripes on his son’s back caused due to police lathi charge. It  brought tears and anger to everyone present. The rest day was full of celebrations like that of a victorious  army. There was no television at the premises. I and Pulak Bhai sneaked out of the compound in evening in  search of latest TV news. But all three neighbouring homes we knocked were not having TV sets. A doctor  who opened the door assured us to arrange an English newspaper tomorrow morning. 

02 November 1999: The Brutal Firing on Kar Sevaks  

After just 72 hours of “the D-day of Kar seva”, the police again opened fire for the second time on 2nd  November to chase away the Kar Sevaks visiting Ramlala, through “galis” of Hanumangarhi (later named as  Shaheed Gali). This indiscriminate police firing killed innumerable Kar Sevaks which included the Kothari  Brothers, who were killed after being dragged out of their house of stay. The news of such heinous  shootings was suppressed deliberately from the media glare, but some local and international media  outlets had covered them. 

From our Ghazipur supposed detention camp, we got due permissions from police authorities to return  back to Odisha. All were apprehensive about our safe return due to curfew in various cities of UP and  tensions in areas vulnerable to communal riots. The farewell scene from our camp venue was truly  touching. By bus we arrived Banaras and then took the Neelachal Superfast train from Mughal Sarai station  to Odisha.  

These above paragraphs are memories of the historic Kar Seva from my 1990 diary. However, as a nation,  Ram Janmabhoomi movement will be written as a sustained endeavour with unparalleled sacrifices to heal  up a wounded civilisation. It further included subsequently the hilarious demolition of the structure  erected after demolishing a previous place of worship in 1992, the Supreme Court decision in 2019,  followed by the biggest contribution drive for temple construction in 2021 and finally, the house to house  “akshat” distribution program across the country to perform the most soul stirring “Pran Pratishtha”  ceremony of Ramlala “at the same site” on 22nd January 2023 in Ayodhya. One of the main architects of  the Ram Janmabhoomi movement Shri LK Advani was conferred with the country’s highest award Bharat  Ratna in 2024, which was a matter of great joy for the Rambhakts. The Sanatan truly moves on.

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