As Purnima Kothari packs her bags to visit Ayodhya, tears stream down her face. She can’t forget what happened 33 years ago. Purnima still remembers the day when both her brothers, Ram and Sharad Kothari, went to Ayodhya in 1990, never to come back. Both were karsevaks (people who offer their services for free to a religious cause). Ram Kothari was 22 years old and Sharad was 20. Just after Diwali in 1990, they left for Ayodhya.
Purnima says, “They walked all the way from Banaras to Ayodhya. The first day they went inside and, amid all the security, they actually planted their flag. The next day they saw newspapers report that nothing had happened and karsevaks could not do anything. So they decided to go a second time. This time, there was violence. Both my brothers were hiding, but they heard someone crying. They came out and were shot by some goons.”
As Purnima narrates this story, tears still flow out of her eyes. “Sangh seniors came and invited my daughter to the Ram Mandir consecration. We are very happy because we know that our brothers’ sacrifice will not go in vain. When Modiji will participate in Pran Pratistha, my brothers will be smiling from above,” she says.
Purnima and her daughter will leave for Ayodhya from Kolkata on January 11, and they will stay there till the 23rd, a day after the consecration ceremony at the Ram Mandir.
Purnima’s parents saw both their sons die for the Ayodhya temple movement, but according to her, they were happy that Ram and Sharad gave their lives for their faith.
Every Diwali, Purnima goes to Ayodhya to relive her memories with her brothers. But she feels that this time her brothers’ souls will finally find peace.
Purnima’s house is full of memories of her brothers. She says that she sees the Ram Mandir as the fruit of the sacrifices and devotion of the common man. “If a memorial for those who died for it comes up in the area, then that will be great,” she says.
Purnima also thanks Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying that finally, it was his endeavour that actually led to the realisation of the Ram Mandir dream in Ayodhya.
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