The story you’re referring to appears to center on Balbir Singh, a former karsevak from Panipat, Haryana, who was actively involved in the 1992 Babri Masjid demolition. According to multiple reports, Singh was born into a Hindu Rajput family and had been influenced by organizations like the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and Shiv Sena from a young age. He participated in the demolition on December 6, 1992, claiming to be among the first to climb the central dome of the mosque and strike it with tools like hammers, spades, and pickaxes, alongside others from his region. He even kept a brick from the structure as a souvenir. Upon returning home, he initially received a hero’s welcome in some circles but faced condemnation from his own family, who viewed his actions as a violation of India’s Constitution and principles of nonviolence (his father was reportedly inspired by Mahatma Gandhi and had helped Muslims during Partition).

Overwhelmed by guilt amid the ensuing riots and political fallout, Singh underwent a period of introspection. He came into contact with Maulana Kaleem Siddiqui, an Islamic cleric running a teaching center in Phulat village, Uttar Pradesh, partly through his fellow karsevak and friend Yogendra Pal (who had already converted). On June 1, 1993—about six months after the demolition—Singh embraced Islam and adopted the name Mohammed Amir. 12 11 To atone for his role in the destruction, Amir vowed to build or renovate 100 mosques across India. By various accounts from 2017–2019, he had completed around 90 of them, often collaborating with Yogendra Pal (now Mohammed Umar). Amir relocated to Hyderabad, married a Muslim woman, and began running a school to promote Islamic teachings. He expressed readiness to testify in court about the demolition and face any legal consequences, emphasizing a desire to improve Hindu-Muslim relations. Amir passed away in July 2021 under reportedly suspicious circumstances in Hyderabad’s old city, with some sources noting he died as a Muslim. 4 9

A similar parallel story exists for Yogendra Pal, Singh’s close associate during the demolition. Pal also reportedly felt deranged by the post-demolition riots, converted to Islam around the same time (becoming Mohammed Umar), and joined Amir in the mosque-building efforts as part of his redemption. 19 14

However, this narrative is contested by some right-leaning sources, which argue it’s a fabricated or exaggerated tale pushed by “Islamist-leftist media” to malign the karsevak movement. They claim the Balbir Singh often cited in these stories is not the same individual as the “famous” Balbir Singh who was the first to attack the Babri dome (a Sikh karsevak from Delhi who remained Hindu and proud of his actions). Instead, these sources suggest the conversion story involves an unrelated or lesser-known person from Haryana, and no actual atonement-driven conversion by key demolition figures occurred. They point to interviews with other karsevaks to dispel the “lie,” asserting it’s propaganda without evidence of the original Balbir Singh ever converting. 10 15 The controversy highlights ongoing biases in media coverage of the Babri event, with mainstream outlets like India Today and Anadolu Agency presenting the redemption arc as factual, while sites like OpIndia frame it as misinformation.

COST OF BUILDING MANDIR, ECONOMIC, including riots, loss of lives etc

Cost of Demolition of the Babri Masjid

The 1992 demolition of the Babri Masjid in Ayodhya was carried out by a mob of Hindu activists and was not a formally budgeted or government-funded operation, so there are no official financial costs directly associated with the act itself. 0 1 Subsequent inquiries, such as the Liberhan Commission (which investigated the events over 17 years), incurred costs of around ₹8 crore to the Indian government. 0 Broader economic fallout from the demolition and riots included disruptions to transport and exports in 1992-93, as noted in India’s Economic Survey for that period, though specific figures for demolition-related economic losses are not quantified in available sources. 28

Cost of Building the Ram Mandir

The construction of the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya, which began after the Supreme Court’s 2019 verdict allocating the site to a Hindu trust, has an estimated total project cost of around ₹1,800 crore. 29 32 33 34 36 37 As of March 2025, the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust reported spending ₹2,150 crore on the ongoing work, with completion expected by April 2025. 30 Funding primarily came from public donations, exceeding ₹3,000 crore, collected through a nationwide campaign. 29 32 Some reports mention higher figures like ₹18,000 crore, but these appear to confuse construction costs with projected economic benefits from tourism rather than the temple build itself. 31

Human Cost of Hatred (Casualties and Broader Impacts from Communal Violence)

The “human cost of hatred” likely refers to the deaths, injuries, and societal divisions stemming from the Ayodhya dispute, particularly the 1992 demolition and ensuing communal riots. Official estimates indicate around 2,000 people were killed in riots across India following the demolition, with the majority being Muslims. 10 11 13 14 17 18 Some accounts cite up to 3,000 deaths, including violence in cities like Mumbai, Delhi, and others. 2 Early reports from December 1992 noted at least 200 deaths in the initial days. 12

Beyond fatalities, the violence led to widespread injuries, displacement, and property destruction. 18 Socially, it deepened communal divides, polarized politics, and contributed to ongoing religious tensions, with ripple effects including attacks on minorities during related events like the 2024 temple inauguration. 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 Economically, studies on civil violence in India highlight reduced growth, investment losses, and long-term impacts on affected communities, though precise nationwide figures for the Ayodhya-specific events are not always isolated. 19 28 The dispute also spilled over internationally, triggering violence in Bangladesh (1992) and affecting minorities in Pakistan. 14 15 23