Ayodhya verdict: Striking indifference

Hyderabad: For a large portion of Hyderabad’s youth, Saturday marked the beginning of a normal, uneventful weekend. While crores of people across the country stayed glued to their TV sets and mobile phones to learn about the Supreme Court’s Ayodhya judgment, many seemed disconnected.

The youngsters felt they had little at stake.

Ahmed (name changed), 27, with roots in Godavarikhani and a resident of Kondapur, said, “I am neither happy nor unhappy with the verdict. I have become tired of hearing about Babri Masjid in family get-togethers. Ayodhya is thousands of kilometres away. Why should a temple or a mosque in Uttar Pradesh affect me here?”

He requested that his name not be reported. “I don’t want any trouble tomorrow,” he said nervously.

Many others said the Supreme Court’s verdict “needs to be respected”. Echoing anchors on news channels, they said the verdict was a “balanced”. None of them could describe exactly what the verdict was.

Praneeth, an IT employee travelling on a Metro Rail train, said his friend had briefed him about the verdict. “From what I hear, both Hindu and Muslim parties are satisfied with the SC judgment. It is definitely a good thing,” he said.

His friend who was travelling with him nodded in agreement. Asked what he and his friend felt about the Sunni Wakf Board’s claim to the land being dismissed, Praneeth said, “I am not so sure about that. I am sure the judges are right.”
People like Praneeth and his friend were in the minority. Most youngsters who Deccan Chronicle spoke with were unaware of the verdict.

Lipika, an IT employee living in Kukatpally, wore a sheepish grin when asked about her views on the verdict. She apologised and said she actually didn’t “really read newspapers”.

Muslim youth, all of whom wanted to be anonymous, shrugged off the verdict.

A resident of Tolichowki said, “The people of my community have not had a say in many things for several years. We weren’t expecting the verdict to be in favour of the Muslim parties. So today was not exactly disappointing.”

Another youngster, a 25-year-old resident of Jubilee Hills, said, “Most of my friends do not know the significance of the Babri Masjid demolition. For them it is only something their parents talk about. They are not invested in the dispute.”

Insulated from political developments and unaware of social upheavals, the youngsters seem like they have moved on from a dispute they barely wanted a stake in.