New Delhi, July 6 -- It was 1989, and the days were just as humid and stifling. My colleague and I were sitting with Mahant Lal Das, the main priest of Ayodhya Ram Mandir. We were discussing the Ram Mandir Movement and its future.

Mahant Lal Das was visibly livid. He believed the movement's direction and approach were flawed and could spark social discord. He didn't deem it appropriate to demolish the Babri Masjid or move it elsewhere. Incidentally, after meeting him, we met Acharya Giriraj Kishore. At the site, we were astounded to see a huge pile of bricks "brought from every corner of India" to build a bhavya mandir (grand temple). The Vishwa Hindu Parishad and the entire Sangh Parivar were "moving mountains" to realize their future a...