I started writing about Ayodhya in the late 80’s in Blitz, a Mumbai periodical brought out by a Parsi, Mr Karanjia. No other newspaper, wanted to publish what was then not politically correct. I had three sources, the first was Sitaram Goel, the pioneer of Hindutva, who published my first book (The Wonder that Was India); the second Koenraad Elst, who is the father of us all, and should be duly recognized and honored by the Govt India; and the third, British archives, which said that their archeologists had found Hindu and buddhist artifacts under the Babri Masjid. I went to discover for myself the reality and went there. Imagine my surprise when I saw that Ayodhya was a totally Hindu place, with temples, small streets, ghats, flags, with this lone abandoned mosque on top. Whereas Faizadab, Ayodhya twin city, was a Muslim town, with a live mosque attended regularly by the Faithfuls. Thus, it became clear to me that the Babri Masjid, was only symbol of Hindu hate. I was there also when my friend and mentor Lal Krishna Advani and his kar sevaks brought down Babri Masjid and I CAN CERTIFY THAT IT WAS JUST A MAKESHIFT MOSQUE WITH NOBODY INSIDE. It seems to be thus right and just that Prime Minister Narendra Modi restores the glory that was Ayodhya, and makes Hindus, a much battered civilization - proud again
Francois Gautier
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