A Temple Triumphs

Transcript

00:00 Outlook brings to you excerpts from the issue titled 'In the Name of Ram'.

00:04 It analyses the narrative of Ayodhya.

00:07 What was, what is and where will it go from here?

00:11 A Temple Triumphs by Vikram Raj from Outlook.

00:16 Ayodhya is all decked up having undergone a rapid transformation in the recent past.

00:21 Its residents are torn between the temple town then and now.

00:26 A cacophony of sounds created by hammers and pickaxes reverberates through the lanes and

00:33 by-lanes of Ayodhya, days ahead of the inauguration of the Ram Temple.

00:38 Diligent labourers are toiling day and night, giving finishing touches to the temple town.

00:44 Roads have been widened, pavements built and the outer facades of buildings around the

00:49 temple are being embellished with intricate designs.

00:53 The yellow and saffron paint on the front walls of the temple is still fresh.

00:58 The shutters of shops in the vicinity are proudly displaying symbols like trishuls and

01:04 bow and arrows.

01:05 There is a fierce looking Hanuman on one of the shutters.

01:09 Ayodhya is all decked up, watching its own rapid transformation.

01:15 Residents however feel the once serene town has lost its peaceful charm, giving way to

01:21 an overwhelming grandiosity that might not resonate well with everyone.

01:26 The tranquility that once defined Ayodhya has been overshadowed by the imposing new

01:32 identity of the town itself.

01:34 While the increased influx of visitors highlights the town's prominence, it has also led to

01:40 concerns about overcrowding and potential strain on the local infrastructure.

01:46 The present day Ayodhya is a complete contrast to what it was before.

01:50 Commercialisation has taken centre stage.

01:54 Locals have been wondering about the cultural implications of this dramatic shift.

01:59 Transformation after all has come at a cost.

02:02 In the heart of Ayodhya and around 12 km away from the Ram Janbhumi site, the brand new

02:08 Maharishi Valmiki International Airport has come up.

02:11 Nearly 8.3233 hectares of land was acquired from locals, mainly farmers for the construction

02:18 of the airport.

02:19 They were moved to the nearby Ugarpur village where a mere 0.030 hectares of land was allotted

02:28 to them.

02:29 They feel cheated.

02:30 For this and more, read the latest issue of Outlook.