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Ram temple may take 10 years, says architect

Claims and counterclaims notwithstanding by the different parties regarding the proposed construction of the Ram temple in Ayodhya, the shrine may not become a reality for at least a decade at the present pace of work and available workforce, according to its chief architect.

Chandrakant Pathak, better known by his clan name 'Sompura' who claim to be worshippers and descendants of the moon god, said at present only about 50 craftsmen were engaged in carving the pillars at Ayodhya and some 50-odd artisans in Rajasthan.

''If this workforce goes up to, say, 2,000 to 3,000, who work ten hours a day, it could still take three years for erection of the temple. But once the pillars and other things are ready, it could be assembled in a year's time,'' he added.

Pathak's grandfather was the chief architect during the reconstruction of the Somnath temple undertaken by Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel soon after the country's independence.

''Even without the controversies, temple construction is a slow process. Although the Somnath shrine was rebuilt in eight years during the 1950s, its nritya mandap was completed only last year, when the then president, Dr Shankar Dayal Sharma, inaugurated it,'' Pathak said.

Only a quarter of the temple's 212 columns, Pathak said, had been carved during the past six years.

Then again, a 40-feet-deep gorge behind the present makeshift temple would have to be filled before foundation work could be taken up in right earnest. The filling itself would take at least three months.

Giving details about the proposed shrine, he said the new temple has been planned in the famous north and western Indian 'nagar' style and would be the largest in north India. Its total height at about 132 feet, would rival that of the Qutub Minar while the total constructed area would cover 175, 000 cubic feet.

The two-storeyed temple will have 72 big pillars and 34 smaller ones on each floor. The total length of the edifice would be 270 feet with a width of 126 feet.

The sanctum sanctorum would be 20 x 20 feet while the gudhmandap and rangmandap each would be 63 x 63 feet

The platform of the temple would be 12 feet high, the first floor 18 feet and the second 15 feet and nine inches. The shikhar would be 81 feet and six inches tall.

Both the storeys of the temple would have passages for pradakshana (parikrama). While the one on the first floor will be covered, that on the second storey would be open.

Pathak said the construction would involve a massive quantity of 275, 000 cubic feet of marble and granite.

The best quality sandstone available in the country was being excavated at Bansi Pahad, 40 km from Bharatpur in Rajasthan. The stone could be polished to perfection and was capable of lasting against weather conditions for about 2,000 years, he said.

Pathak's family has been involved in temple architecture for eight generations; his two sons are following in the father's footsteps.

In the sanctum sanctorum would be placed an idol of Lord Ram in his childhood form, this being the Ram Janambhoomi temple. Just above it, on the next storey, would be the 'Shri Ram Durbar', to be capped by the shikhar.

The garbhagriha would have only one door while the mahamandap would have seven doors. Each of its pillars would carry intricate carvings. The walls would be adorned with four feet tall figurines of Devas and Devanganas.

About his involvement in the project, Pathak said the Vishwa Hindu Parishad had contacted him way back in 1984. ''I submitted three proposals within three months to the Parishad which selected the present one,'' he added.

According to first estimates, the temple would have cost some Rs 100 million at the 1984 rates, but with inflation and other factors, the expenditure has risen threefold.

Pathak said he had constructed the Akshardham in Gandhinagar, Birla Mandirs at Gwalior, Nagda and Kalyan and a temple for Hindalco at Mirzapur, UP, besides the Jain temples of Hastagiri and Shankheshwar.

His projects abroad include the Swami Narayan temple in London, the Sarvadharma Mandir in Pittsburgh and Jain temples in Chicago and Houston in the United States.

Pathak was also involved in the delicate work of shifting a Shiva temple in Singapore to make way for a tunnel.

''But the Ayodhya temple is my jewel,'' he added.

UNI

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