Babri Masjid

Constructed in 1528 by Mir Baqi, a commander of the Mughal Emperor Babur, the Babri Masjid in Ayodhya was a historical mosque situated on a site many Hindus revere as the birthplace of Lord Rama. The conflicting claims over whether a temple was destroyed to build it fueled a deep, decades-long dispute.The timeline below highlights the critical milestones in the history and evolution of the conflict:1528: According to site inscriptions, the Babri Masjid is built by Mir Baqi.1853: The first recorded instances of religious conflict and violence occur at the site.1949: Idols of the Hindu deity Rama are mysteriously placed inside the mosque, causing severe tensions and leading authorities to lock the gates, declaring the site disputed.1980s: The Ayodhya dispute is politicized, with Hindu nationalist organizations (like the VHP and BJP) launching a massive campaign to construct a Ram temple at the exact location.December 6, 1992: A large crowd of Hindu nationalists demolish the Babri Masjid, sparking widespread communal riots across India that result in approximately 2,000 deaths.2019: Following years of legal battles, the Supreme Court of India grants the entirety of the disputed 2.77-acre site to Hindu litigants for the construction of a temple, directing the government to allot a separate 5-acre plot to the Sunni Waqf Board for a new mosque.January 22, 2024: The Ram Mandir is officially opened on the site following its construction.