Title dispute evokes little interest in villages where interdependence is must for survival.
Malla Kumbara of Honnali village in Raichur was least bothered about the verdict on Babri Masjid-Ram Janmabhoomi dispute on Thursday.
Even as city-dwellers sat glued to their television sets around 3.30 pm to know the Allahabad high court’s judgment on the six-decade-old dispute, Kumbara was busy tending to his livestock.
“I heard there is a bandh in the city. There was some programme about Ayodhya temple on the television, but I don’t have the details,” he said while herding his flock of sheep home.
In Hatti village, Yamunavva had no idea about the verdict. And she was not keen to know it either: she was interested in collecting firewood. The scene at the makeshift sheds set up for the victims of 2009 floods in N Malakapura was different. Kharappa Gowda sat watching the television along with his family and friends.
“We have finished our work in the fields. It’s not about constructing a temple or masjid in Ayodhya. We are just curious to know the case’s outcome, which took so many years,” he said.
Parvathi, a relative of Gowda, looked relieved. “It’s good that the verdict is coming out. At least there won’t be any tension between the communities over the issue,” she hoped.
A temple, masjid and church stood on the same street, reflecting the communal harmony in Thalamari village. The verdict would bring no difference to the village, one of the worst flood-hit areas in the state.
“We, as human beings, respect and depend on each other in our daily life. Some court verdict won’t affect us anyway,” said Raheem Khan, a villager.
Tea shops located in some villages and taluks witnessed discussions on the verdict. The discussions, however, were not about Ayodhya dispute. They were worried if the buses would stop plying once the judgment has been pronounced.
In the district headquarters, Munna and Raja had tried watching the television for sometime, but soon got bored of the proceedings. And they religiously picked up their cricket bats and headed to the nearest ground.
“It’s a four-day holiday for us and there are no restrictions on playing,” Raja said, when this newspaper forced an innings break on the merry group of boys.
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