BANGALORE, INDIA: A verdict after almost 18 years of an unfortunate incident that saw many a violent development in the history of modern India. That is why everyone is anxious to know what would be the verdict of Allahabad High Court on the prolonged battle for the disputed Ramjanmabhoomi-Babri Masjid site at Ayodhya.
While security has been beefed up in many parts of the country, in some parts like Karnataka the governments have declared a two-day holiday for educational institutions. Also some IT players in the Silicon Valley of India have declared half-day holiday, while some others have given the provision to work from home. There are some others who have changed their working hours in such a way that they can end the day before the verdict is out at 3.30 p.m.
Though everyone wants to be secure no one wants their works to be affected. Nor do they want to be economic losers.
And that economic loss is evident from the reactions of group messaging services providers. The Centre's temporary ban on bulk SMS and MMS in view of the Ayodhya verdict has brought immense loss to the players.
As per an unofficial estimate, the enterprise messaging solution (EMS) industry is losing nearly Rs. 2.5 crore a day due to SMS ban.
According to one industry player, Layer7-based security system, which is capable of filtering content of SMS and MMS in a telecom service provider’s network, could have helped Indian government to avoid ban on bulk SMS and MMS service. But such a system is missing in the network of Indian telecom operators.
Tweets of peace
But the ordinary netizens are not much concerned about this economics (or politics for that matter). However, they are eager to know what the verdict and its result would be. And that eagerness is evident from the tweets that flood Twitter.
From the normal reports like “Ayodhya verdict: PM, Sonia Gandhi appeal for peace” to hopes like “Wish Ayodhya verdict go smooth. Pray for peace” to serious observations, the microblogging space is flooded with tweets of all types.
“Liquor and firework shops closed, all rallies banned ahead of Ayodhya verdict. Just shows riots only happen when governments want them to happen,” observes journalist Sagarika Ghose in her tweet.
Another Twitteratti, called Jhunjhunwala is bit more sarcastic when he said “Ranbir Kapoor has asked people to maintain Peace after the Ayodhya verdict. Err - if he wanted Peace he would not have acted in Saawariya”.
The overall sentiments that the bloggers have is that politicians and religious fanatics are to be blamed for all the fiasco. “So the Ayodhya verdict will decide whether to build a temple or a mosque?! I would suggest an asylum to lock up these morons fighting for religion!” reads another tweet.
“Let Babri Masjid stay with whatever renovations required after the damage... political leaders involved to be severely penalized,” commented another user.
But the world outside is bit concerned about the Ayodhya episode. Australia even advised its citizens to exercise a high degree of caution while travelling in India due to likely terror attacks and possible communal tension over the Ayodhya verdict.
But an average Indian would like to think otherwise. Whatever be the verdict, for many, this would be the end to an uncertainty that haunted their peace of mind for decades. The need of the hour is to ease the air rather than adding fuel to the fire.
The statement by the political leaders, religious leaders and even celebrities are aimed at that direction only.
Superstar Shah Rukh Khan's tweet stating that Allah, God, Bhagwan in either of the names we pray to, exists in man’s heart, not in man-made abodes for Him, underscores this sentiments of peace.
Meanwhile, along with political leaders, many Bollywood celebrities have joined together to request people to maintain peace and harmony in its place of going swayed by aggressive rudiments or feelings if displeased with the judgment. They all want peace to be given a chance in Ayodhya, the place without wars according to our mythology.
And as usual, though the media has been asked not to spread news like wildfire, in all possibility, the blogosphere is likely to 'break the news of the verdict'. After all, in our times, the tweet travels like light and the authorities who banned bulk SMS and MMS seem to have forgotten that truth.
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