1853-1949: A Turbulent Era Communal tensions simmered, marked by riots around the mosque's construction site in 1853. The British administration intervened in 1859, encircling the disputed area with a fence. Muslims were granted access to worship within the mosque precincts, while Hindus were permitted to conduct their rituals in the vicinity.
1949: The Inflection Point September 23, 1949, marked the ignition of the Ayodhya Ram Janmabhoomi dispute when idols of Lord Rama were discovered inside the mosque. Hindus revered this as a divine manifestation, sparking a heated debate. The Uttar Pradesh Government issued orders for the immediate removal of the idols, met with reluctance from the District Magistrate, K.K. Nayar, fearing religious backlash and potential violence.
1950-1992: Legal Entanglements and Controversies Legal petitions flooded the Faizabad Civil Court, one seeking permission for Rama worship on the contested land and another requesting idol installation. In 1961, the Uttar Pradesh Sunni Waqf Board petitioned for land possession and idol removal. The turning point arrived in 1986 when a District Judge granted Hindus permission to worship and unlocked the structure
1992: A Pivotal Moment December 6, 1992, etched a historic chapter when thousands, including Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and Shiv Sena activists, demolished the disputed structure, inciting nationwide communal riots and substantial loss of life.
2010-2019: Legal Resolutions and Deliberation: The Allahabad High Court's 2010 decision allocated the disputed land into three equal parts. In 2011, the Supreme Court stayed this decision. The apex court then pursued mediation in 2019, followed by daily hearings. After the completion of the hearing on August 16, 2019, the verdict was reserved.
Finally, on November 9, 2019, a landmark verdict favoured the Ram Janmabhoomi, allotting 2.77 acres to the Hindu side and allocating 5 additional acres for mosque construction.
March 25, 2020: the idols of Ram Lalla were shifted from the tent to a fiber temple, August 5, 2020: groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of the temple took place.
Finally, on January 22, 2024, the grand temple's consecration (Pran Pratishtha) will draw the curtains on this decades-long dispute, ushering in a ceremonious era of worship for Ram Lalla. The journey of Ayodhya Ram Janmabhoomi, rife with legal wrangling and societal discourse, culminates in a defining moment of unity and celebration, marking the onset of a new chapter in its storied legacy.