Eye On Polls

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 Eyes on Poles by Badrinarayan.

00:14 Badrinarayan is a social historian and cultural anthropologist.

00:19 The Ram Temple inauguration may certainly influence the processes

00:23 and outcomes of the upcoming General Elections.

00:26 The Ram Mandir Pran Pratishtha ceremony in Ayodhya,

00:30 the inauguration of the Ram Temple,

00:32 is a crucial cultural and religious moment for the country.

00:36 It may have multiple implications.

00:38 First, the temple, which will emerge as an important pilgrimage site,

00:43 is going to have a significant cultural and civilizational impact

00:47 on Hindu communities in India and abroad.

00:50 Second, it may evolve as a major tourist destination

00:54 for people belonging to various religious faiths.

00:57 Third, it may emerge as a symbol of pride for Hindus across the world.

01:02 This sense of pride may have a mobilizational impact too,

01:06 which is likely to have social and political implications in the coming years.

01:11 Since my area of expertise is political anthropology-based analysis,

01:16 people keep asking me,

01:18 what will be the political implications of the Ram Temple inauguration in Ayodhya?

01:23 The event will indeed have a deep impact on Indian politics.

01:28 It may certainly influence the processes and outcomes

01:31 of the upcoming General Elections.

01:34 Both the parties in power, as well as those sitting in the opposition,

01:38 will be impacted by the inauguration of the temple.

01:42 The event may help political parties

01:44 looking to better their electoral performance in the General Elections,

01:48 gain significant political capital.

01:50 In the National Democratic Alliance,

01:52 the Bharatiya Janata Party may emerge as the largest beneficiary.

01:57 The party has been actively involved in the Ram Temple movement struggle.

02:01 Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is the central face of the BJP,

02:05 played a crucial role in resolving this issue

02:08 and facilitated the process of building the temple.

02:11 So, the BJP may get the largest share of the political capital

02:16 generated by the Ram Janbhoomi issue.

02:19 It may help mobilise voters, especially Hindu voters, towards the BJP.

02:24 For this and more, read the latest issue of Outlook.