Ram Mandir is more than an emotive issue for Ayodhya’s youth — it means new opportunities

PM Modi said at the bhoomi pujan ceremony that the Ram Mandir would lead to economic growth in Ayodhya, and youngsters are eager for more jobs, better pay.

Ayodhya residents Seema and Mohini make a rangoli on the day of the Ram Mandir bhoomi pujan | Photo: Suraj Singh Bisht | ThePrint

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.

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.”