Rescuing Ayodhya

The author says, "history of Ayodhya is a microcosm of the history of north Indian heartland"

Ayodhya: City of Faith, City of Discord

Valay Singh 

Aleph; 383 pages, Rs 799

Valay Singh has focused his attention on the history of the city of Ayodhya to find an answer to the eternally contentious issues: Was there a Hindu temple where the mosque stood and was the birthplace of Rama in Ayodhya? He is quick to clarify that the “book does not set the record straight” but explains that he seeks to rescue this ancient city from its current controversy. As he writes, “it is an injustice to define Ayodhya’s history to suit contemporary and often self-serving narratives”.