Jodhpur (Rajasthan): On January 22, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the Lord Ram temple in Ayodhya. To see a temple in Ayodhya was the dream of lakhs of 'Kar Sevaks', who went to Ayodhya in of 1990 and 1992. There were many among them who never returned. Among those who sacrificed their lives for the temple was 22-year-old Setharam Parihar of Mathaniya village in Jodhpur, who had gone to Ayodhya but could never return.
Setharam left for Ayodhya in October 1990 without informing his family. When the trains stopped, he boarded a truck and left for Ayodhya with his 21 companions. The family came to know only after two days that despite his father's refusal, Setharam had gone to Ayodhya. On November 4, 1990, he was reported to have been shot. He was shot in the mouth because he was raising slogans.
Kamaldan, his friend, claimed that the Uttar Pradesh targeted those who showed more enthusiasm. His body reached Mathaniyan on 5 November 1990. Now after 33 years, Parihar's dream is going to come true. The Shri Ramjanmabhoomi Teertha Kshetra Trust has also sent an invitation letter inviting the Parihar family for the consecration ceremony.
His family is happy that the Ram temple has been built. His younger brother Virendra Parihar said in 1990, when the Ram Mandir agitation was at its peak, Setharam became a part of it. "For this work he often did not come home. When Kar Seva was announced in October, Setharam's father had told Setharam Ram not to go to Ayodhya, as he was unwell, but still Setharam went to Ayodhya without informing him. His father came to know after three days," added Virendra Parihar.
According to Virender Parihar, there was a firing in Ayodhya on November 2. "Two days later, we received information from some villagers about the martyrdom of Setharam. I was in class 10. My brother's mortal remains came home on November 5. The entire village gathered for the funeral. Even today, a fair is organized in my brother's memory at his tomb. A Ram temple has also been built near Setharam's Samadhi," added Virender.
Setharam's son Mukesh said that the family will leave for Ayodhya on November 20. "My grandmother is 90-years-old and is unwell but since we have received an invitation, she is eager to visit Ayodhya," said Mukesh.
Mukesh said that he was 2-years old when his father died and after he grew up he came to know his father had sacrificed his life for Ram Mandir.
The group of Kar Sevaks from Jodhpur district was led by Prof. of JNVU. Mahendra Nath Arora. He was also shot on November 2. The bodies of both Arora and Setharam Parihar had arrived together. Members of both the families have been invited to Ayodhya.
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