Ram museum in Ayodhya, temple with tourism twist

Concept note says museum for both devotees and tourists

New Delhi, May 14: With devotional songs, preachings of Lord Ram and daily yagnas on the menu, the plans for the government’s Ram-Ramayana museum in Ayodhya could well be the template for a temple.

It was in October last year that Prime Minister Narendra Modi first expressed his intentions of building a Ram Museum and a site was identified in Ayodhya in Uttar Pradesh. But it was not to be under the Akhilesh Yadav government which refused to allocate the land.

After the political landscape changed in March, the Yogi Adityanath government released the 25acre land on the banks of Saryu river, and the museum will now be built in collaboration between the Central and UP governments at a cost of `225 crore.

According to a concept note obtained by PTI, the main structure — to be located about six km from the disputed Ram temple site — will be like a “grand temple” and will open into a “Ram darbar”. It will have cutting-edge technology such as virtual reality and 3D displays to showcase ancient traditions. The concept note says the museum is for “devotees as well as tourists” and will depict the preachings of Lord Ram. The note was prepared by Ram Autar, chairperson of the Ramayana Circuit National Committee formed by the Centre.

A researcher in studies of Lord Ram describes him as a historical figure and not a figment of one’s imagination, though there is no academic evidence that Lord Ram existed beyond the pages of mythology and folklore. His teachings are not restricted to Hindus. Lord Ram has an all pervasive significance for people of all religions, Mr Autar said.

He and other proponents of the museum deny there is any political agenda behind the museum, although it is scheduled to be completed just before the 2019 general elections.

THE museum will be located about 6 km from the disputed Ram temple site. It will be like a “grand temple”.