Dateline of events starting from Lord Ram's birth to the destruction of the Babri Masjid
5,000 to 800,000
According to Hindu belief, sometime in ancient antiquity, their god/king Sri Rama, an Aryan prince and main character of the epic poem Ramayana, is born. No ancient accounts associate Sri Rama's birth to modern Ayodhya, India.
2500 B.C.
Indus Valley civilization (pre-Aryan) flourishes in Indus basin.
1500 B.C.
Aryans invade India, Dravidian civilization of Indus valley destroyed.
800-600 B.C.
Aryan culture takes shape in Gangetic plains of North India. Rise of caste system, Vedic literature flourishes, no mention of Rama.
400-500 B.C.
Valmiki writes Sanskrit Ramayana with Rama as an ideal human hero, embodiment of chivalry, loyalty, patience and justice.
1517 A.D
Babar invades India, no historical evidence of him ever being in Ayodhya.
1528-29 A.D
Mir Baqi, a Mughal governor, builds the Mosque in honor of Babar. No account of destruction of any Hindu temple or association of Rama with the site in all Medieval literature.
1534-1623 A.D
Tulsi Das writes popular Hindi version of Ramayana, Ram Charit Manas. Sri Ram is raised to the status of full deity, an Avatar (incarnation) of Hindu God Vishnu. Tulsi Das never mentions association of Babri Masjid in Ayodhya with Ram-Janambhoomi.
1759-60 A.D
Raj Chaturman in his Chahar Gulshan (Four Gardens) first mentions of modern Ayodhya as a possible place of Sri Rama's birth, but no association of Babri Masjid with it.
1788 A.D
Jesuit priest Joseph Tieffenthaler suggests the birth of Rama is believed to be in the vicinity of the Masjid. First mention of Masjid as possible place of birth, offers no reference or evidence. Several places in Ayodhya claimed to be Rama's place of birth.
Dec. 22, 1949
A statute of Sri Rama appears in the Mosque at night. Hindus call it a miracle. Report to police by the Mu'adhadhin. The Masjid is declared by the District Magistrate as a disputed property and is closed to Muslims.
Jan. 5, 1950
According to 145 Criminal Procedure code, the Magistrate K.K. Nair 'attaches' the Masjid, locking the doors and appointing Ayodhya Municipal Corporation as a 'Receiver.' Nair (a Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) sympathizer and later MP on the Jan Sangh ticket) gives Hindus permission to worship and take care of their deity. Muslims forbidden to get closer than 300 yards to the Masjid.
Feb. 1, 1986
Acting on the petition of U.C. Pandey, on behalf of Hindus to be able to perform public worship, Mr. K.M. Pandey the district judge, on recommendation of Mr. T. K. Pandey, the District Magistrate, grants Hindus the permission for general worship (without regard to the Muslims opinion). In full glare of media and publicity the Masjid is handed over to Hindus. Proceedings televised to mobilize Hindu public opinion in favor of Congress government. It is rumored that Rajiv Gandhi backed the action to win back Hindu support for Congress. Conflicts flare between Muslims and Hindus. Babri Masjid Action Committee (BMAC) formed to claim Masjid back through legal process. Long arduous legal and political battles ensue.
Nov. 11, 1986
The Bharatya Janata Party (BJP) - Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) coalition lays foundation stone (Shilanyas) for temple on adjoining land claimed by Muslims as part of Waqf (Islamic trust). Bloody 'Rath Yatra' fuels hatred, incites anti-Muslim sentiments and provokes wide spread riots claiming 2000 lives. Dispute is pending before the High Court and the Supreme Court, both want status quo. Muslims declare their willingness to accept the decision of the highest court of India.
Oct. 7 1991
BJP government of Uttar Pradesh (UP) expropriates 2.77 acres of Muslim waqf land adjoining the Masjid and starts construction. Chief Minister Kalyan Singh, ignores many directives of the Supreme Court to stop the work.
July 23, 1992
Prime Minister comes to agreement with Sadhus (Hindu holy men) to stop construction to enable him to find a solution. Chief Minister of UP assures status quo and protection of Masjid.
Nov. 28, 1992
L. K. Advani, the BJP leader, asserts that work on construction of temple would continue irrespective of Supreme Court decision.
Dec. 6, 1992
BJP, VHP, and RSS decide for Kar Seva, 300,000 holy men and volunteers gather for Kar Seva. Police do not intervene. Babri Masjid, a place of Muslim Worship and a monument of history destroyed brick by brick.
Courtesy: Indo-Islamic Foundation of America. "The Babri Masjid / Ram-Janam-Bhoomi Dispute: History, Religion and Politics,"
Material sourced from http://www.muslimonline.org
December 18, 1992.