“My life has finally come full circle. It will be more so on January 22,” says Purnima whose brothers Ram Kothari (22) and Sharad Kothari (20) were killed in police firing in Uttar Pradesh’s Ayodhya following the Babri Masjid demolition on December 6, 1992. The two had left their Kolkata home for Ayodhya the previous month to participate in the Ram Temple movement as kar sevaks.
The temple will be inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on January 22.
“It feels like I have got back my brothers. I can’t express my happiness in words to be able to see the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya. The sacrifice of my brothers and several others did not go in vain. Had they been alive, they would have been proud. This is a moment of fulfillment for our family,” says Purnima who will be in Ayodhya to attend the temple consecration ceremony.
“I still remember that day. It was a day after Bhai Dooj. My brothers told my maternal grandmother to prepare their favourite dish before leaving. Before stepping out of the house, they turned back to take one last look at us. It was fate that they would never return. They died for a cause. On January 22, I will offer a prayer to God to mark the sacrifice they made for this day,” she further said.
For the last 33 years, Purnima has been regularly visiting Ayodhya in memory of her late brothers and prayed for a favourable verdict in the case. She has seen every step of the process to build the Ram Temple — from earmarking of the land to the construction of the shrine, she says.
Pointing to the portrait of her late mother Sumitra Devi Kothari, who passed away in 2016, Purnima said, “My mother had full faith in Modi ji that he would realise the dreams of crores of Hindus one day. She could not witness this historic moment. But she was right in her assessment. If I get an opportunity, I will touch Modi ji’s feet and thank him.”
Her mother was in Ayodhya when the historic verdict came in 2019 and also witnessed the Ram Temple bhoomi pujan (groundbreaking ceremony) later, she says.
The 52-year-old says she along with her daughter has been invited by the Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trustto attend the inauguration ceremony. “I will attend the havan puja there starting Tuesday (January 16),” she said.
Purnima runs the Ram-Sahard Kothari Smirti Sangha which offers various social services. The organisation has been allowed to put up a kiosk in Ayodhya for ten days to offer seva to devotees and visitors.
Purnima feels that BJP veterans Lal Krishna Advani and Murli Manohar Joshi, who were at the forefront of the Ram temple movement, must try to come to the inauguration ceremony. “They were our idols at the time and their contribution in this regard cannot be measured. They were our inspiration and they must attend the ceremony,” Purnima adds.