Ayodhya: Millennials and members of Generation Z in Ayodhya react very differently to the older generations when it comes to the Ram Mandir — their responses are more practical than their elders’ emotive ones.
And as Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other dignitaries completed the bhoomi pujan ceremony and laid the foundation stone for the temple Wednesday, these young residents expressed hope for a better tomorrow, more job opportunities and increased pay.
Modi himself had said in his speech that the construction of the Ram Janmabhoomi temple would attract people from across the world and lead to economic growth in the area. He said a ‘Ram circuit’ is being created, which will add to overall development in the area.
And that’s the constant theme emerging out of conversations with Ayodhya’s youth, some of whom are even fuzzy about the details of the centuries-old Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid dispute.
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More jobs, better pay
“I don’t know much about the Babri Masjid issue, but I’m glad the temple is being built, as it will lead to job creation in Ayodhya. My father is a contractor and this will lead to greater opportunities for him too,” said Kanchan Pandey, a 20-year-old resident of the temple town.
Pandey, a student of Masters in Computer Application (MCA) at Dr Ram Manohar Lohia Avadh University in Ayodhya, said currently, there were no job opportunities for her in her home town.
“I can’t get a job in my field in Ayodhya. I will have to go to Delhi or other cities. But I am glad things will change in Ayodhya,” she said.
Vishal Kumar Vaishya, a 20-year-old studying in Ayodhya, isn’t even sure when the Babri Masjid was demolished.
“I don’t know too much about what happened — I think the masjid was demolished in 1998, and the site was sealed. But now, tourism will increase, so it’s good,” he said.
The Babri Masjid was actually demolished in 1992.
Renu Gupta, a young graduate residing in Babu Bazaar, added: “I completed my graduation from a college in Ayodhya, and as there were no job opportunities, I decided to go for higher education. I have to decide whether to study here or move out of the town. There’s not much here for the youth. But we hope things will change.”
There are also some youngsters who work in the neighbouring Faizabad, due to the paucity of opportunities in Ayodhya. Seema Nishad, who is in her 20s and was in her home town to light lamps, is one of them — she works in a mall in Faizabad.
“I hope the temple will lead to employment and development. Due to coronavirus, jobs were impacted, and this is a good opportunity to create jobs for the locals. I hope some factories will also come up in the area,” she said.
However, the jobs in Faizabad are low-paying, said 18-year-old Priya Nishad.
“I have just completed my class 12. I want to do a skill-oriented course, and I want to work. But the jobs and pay they offer (in Faizabad) are not good at all, so I haven’t taken up anything yet,” Priya said.
“The construction of the Ram Mandir will definitely change the current scenario. So many people came for the bhoomi pujan that the hotels and guest houses have really benefited,” she added.
Mohini, an 18-year-old student of class 12 who doesn’t use a surname, is happy that the wait is over. “For years my family has told so many stories of the Ayodhya movement. I felt connected to it because of these stories. But I hope now that the mandir is being built, we will also focus on other issues like job creation,” she said.
New hope for older people too
Older residents of Ayodhya were also busy lighting lamps to celebrate a “new home for Ram Lalla”, and remembering their days of struggle.
Despite the tight security in place, people had started thronging the banks of the Saryu river since early in the morning, expressing happiness that the Ram Mandir would finally become a reality. Some also chanted ‘Jai Shri Ram’ and waved saffron flags in the streets.
But even among these people, there’s a sense of hope for a better future.
Dinesh Mishra, a resident of Hanumangarhi in Ayodhya, said: “I had also participated in the Ram Janmabhoomi movement, and this day has finally come because of PM Modi. I hope this will usher in a new era for Ayodhya too.”
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highly optimistic will agree on job creation.. making uPites work in UP…. UP-hill task with cast creed religion fractured society not easy only Hope I see If Yogi uses Stalin type of administration something good may happen
make ayodhya like Medina or Jerusalem it teems with visitors and devotees round the year .. keep potty pandas out of sites and keep it clean hop e UP Govt has right competenc e to manage other wise hand over to delhi or Tirupati Trust for better management
Still something is better than nothing.
Absolutely true. There will be vast opportunities for job creations. Mala makers, parshad makers, saffron cloths, making of Pandits, Astrologers, palmists, tantrik, Hakims, vaids, safaisewaks, pakora wala, puri bhaji halwa shops, toys as replica of Ram dhanush ban, mukats, cloths, Hanuman gadas, Local Gaiks, Tilak makers and so on. VHP also likely to build 4 lakhs Ram Temples in villages as replica of Ram Temple beginning in UP and its completion well before 2022 state elections. They will also ask for donations of minimal Rs11 from 10 crores peoples and subsequently build Ram Temples in each villages of New Bharat well before 2024 General elections. Bharat Mata ki Jai Vande Matram Jai Hind Jai Siya Ram
What you say is very true. Real jobs can only by people themselves and Govts input will be less.
Training and discipline is necessary for the Indian workforce and until any Govt has the guts to tackle this problem; India will be bogged down with communialism card being played by politicians.
In the West jobs being created by Govts and other sectors did not hold good due to unworkable pay structures where even non skilled labour wanted very good quality of life.
In the end all job losses were blamed on the Govt.
Let India not follow this example for short term gains.
Very true that Ayodhya Ram Mandir is more than immotive issue. But what? Ten fiftees will get a job to sweep the temple premise, hundreds will get a shop (10*5 ft) to set up a start up to sale flowers, mithai, coconut, incense sticks a part of which will come back at discount, hundreds will get a job of home guards or security guards for managing traffic and parking etc, many will get shop to set up restaurants and hotels, many will be able to run hotels for residential purpose, many can run rixa and taxis, many will get a job in administration work of temple management, many trustees will earn a hefty amount from daily collection in hundi share unofficially, many banks will setup ATM and branches to get deposit from temple management, anything I missed? Not including ferry services on the river Sharayu etc. Don’t take this as sarcasm for which I am used to.
The temple for that matter any temple is a spiritual, employment model by involving all almost through out the year.