Re: [racchabanda] Rushdie on the Religious Riots in India
Sreenivasarao Vepachedu
blackened arm, its tiny fingers curled into a fist, protruding from the
remains of a human
bonfire in Ahmadabad, Gujarat, in India." Rushdie
What about the 60 Hindu women and children charred to death in Godhra train
carnage? Which one is defining? Depends whether you are Muslim, secular
Hindu, Dalit Christian, Christian or fundamentalist Hindu.
Courtesy: http://www.kanneganti.com/
cvenella
(Moderator's note: This would be the last post allowed on the subject
of the recent carnage in the name of religion. We are not denying the
importance of the events nor the need to discuss them; it is just that
we are operating within a restricted charter. There certainly are
other fora available for discussing these important matters. -- Moderators)
--- In racchabanda@y..., "Sreenivasarao Vepachedu" <vepachedu@i...>
wrote:
Hope the list members excuse me for going out of the charter.
Given the issue is so important and has dangerous consequences
- not only in Gujarat but all over India - and this violence
is an dangerous indicator of the kind of fascism and fundamentalism
we are being asked to get accustomed to - I am responding back.
Hence, I am requesting the moderators to send it out in complete.
regards,
-Srinivas.
-------------
Where did Rushdie say that he endorses or doesn't condemn Godhra
train incident?
As far as I know - NO ONE, I repeat no one, has yet said that
it was okay to burn Hindus on the train.
And we should only condemn the violence against muslims?
So, please do not try to dehumanize the victims - Hindu or Muslim.
Everyone of the "secularists" have asked for unconditional
investigation and bringing the murderers to justice - independent of
religious and political affliations.
(read what Rajmohan Gandhi said in today's Hindu opinion;
read thru all the editorials the day after the train incident).
You seem to be overlooking the difference -
In Godhra, all i see is that the murderers are a bunch of
local muslims or who knows, some terroristic voilence.
And even if agree that the incident is premeditated -
none of the scenrios can justify the aftermath organized violence
against the whole muslim community.
Aftermath voilence is not some typical Hindu-muslim communal voilence
and some random events or spoteneous reactions.
It's much more beyond the usual incompetence and typical event.
All the reports point to one thing:
The targets are clearly marked out -
the arsonists proudly boast about thier actions
(read the "ten commandements" leaflet
that's being circulated by VHP in Gujarat (appended below,
brought to public notice by Mallika Sarabhai, renowned dancer),
go and read on hinduunity.org web site, today's rediff) -
Gujarat State apparataus incitement, deliberate inaction and
abetting the violence is all too obvious - in words and in action.
And that is what people without saffron eyeglasses are condemning
or seeing a dangerous trend in.
As a sample of this fascist voilence, I am appending two
reports from the attacks against IIM peace rally
and a letter from V K Tripathi, IIT Prof. about the events.
I humbly request again - please let's not dehumanize the deaths.
And let's act to put an end, in whatever way we can,
to this dangerous trend in the country.
regards
-Srinivas.
--------
яяяяяяяVHP Leaflet
яяяяяяя
Dear friends:
The following is a communication a SANSAD friend has received from
Mallika Sarabhai, the renowned dancer from Ahmedabad.
This is a leaflet being distributed in the lakhs around the State. We
need you to pass this on to warn people of the ggravity of the
situation.Please help to pass it on to the press and to people who
will help us fight it fearlessly
mallika
The creeping fascism in Gujarat:
A TRANSLATION OF THE CIRCULAR LETTER IN GUJARATI
DISTRIBUTED IN THE STREETS OF AHMEDABAD by the VHP
*****************
VISHWA HINDU PARISHAD (Raanip)
SATYAM SHIVAM SUNDARAM
JAI SHRIRAM
WAKE UP! ARISE! THINK! ENFORCE! SAVE THE COUNTRY! SAVE THE RELGIION!
Economic boycott is the only solution! The anti-national elements use
the money earned from the Hindus to destroy us! They buy arms! They
molest our sisters and daughters! The way to break the back-bone of
these elements is: An economic non-cooperation movement.
Let us resolve -
>From now on I will not buy anything from a Muslim shopkeeper!
I will not sell anything from my shop to such elements!
3. Neither shall I use the hotels of these anti-nationals, nor their
garages!
4. I shall give my vehicles only to Hindu garages! From a needle to
gold, I shall not buy anything made by Muslims, neither shall we sell
them things made by us!
5. Boycott whole-heartedly films in which Muslim hero-heroines act!
Throw out films produced by these anti-nationals!
6. Never work in offices of Muslims! Do not hire them!
7. Do not let them buy offices in our business premises, nor sell or
hire out houses to them in our housing societies, colonies or
communities.
8. I shall certainly vote, but only for him who will protect the
Hindu
nation.
9. I shall be alert to ensure that our sisters-daughters do not fall
into the `love-trap' of Muslim boys at school-college-workplace.
10. I shall not receive any education or training from a Muslim
teacher.
Such a strict economic boycott will throttle these elements! It will
break their back-bone! Then it will be difficult for them to live in
any corner of this country. Friends, begin this economic boycott from
today! Then no Muslim will raise his head before us! Did you read
this leaflet? Then make ten photocopies of it, and distribute it to
our brothers. The curse of Hanumanji be on him who does not implement
this, and distribute it to others! The curse of Ramchandraji also be
on him! Jai Shriram!
A true Hindu patriot.
N.B. The kites we use at Uttrayan (Kite flying day) are also made by
them. The fire-works are also made by them. We should boycott those
too. Jai Shri Ram (Ranip)
*************************************
IIMA Experience
яяяяяяяяяяяяяя
All,
A first-hand account on recent happenings in Gujarat - the experience
of students and faculty of the IIM, Ahmedabad. The degree of hatred
and intolerance in the local communities is quite appalling.
----------
Subject: IIMA's experience
Dear All
The last few days have been the most trying for all in Gujarat. Some
of us (faculty and students) were in deep anguish over what had
happened at Godhra and Ahmedabad over the last few days. We had seen
the city burn and were unable to do anything to prevent it. We saw on
the media, faces of families plead for safety with police and saw
pictures of families charred in the train and in their private
vehicles. We saw people beaten and then burnt to death. And all this
while our helplessness rose.
Yesterday morning about 60 of us - some faculty members and a number
of students sat outside the IIMA gate for a day long "fast for
peace". We set up durries and sat there quietly, put up posters
asking for peace and condemning the violence in Gujarat, and set up
signup posters where any citizen could sign for peace. Our purpose
was to express our anguish over meaningless violence, help build
confidence in civil society in the city and express support for non-
violence in this land of Gandhi. And all of this was done peacefully.
People started stopping by to sign our peace request poster - in
couple of hours there were over 300 who showed solidarity by signing
it.
But there were others too. As soon as we set ourselves up, a Maruti
esteem stopped by and four people stepped out and condemned us for
what we were doing - they accused us of being negligent of the
majority community's woes (we could not convince that we were sitting
in peace for all who have been affected in all violent incidents in
Gujarat), deplored us of where were we when killings were happening
in Kashmir, taunted us that we should sit in at Juhapura (one of the
areas that saw large scale violence) and see if we would survive
there and warned us that we were here in the city to teach management
and not indulge in "politics".
Over a period of two hours several groups came by, shouted at us and
asked us to go inside the campus. They felt that we were portraying a
negative image of an area that was otherwise peaceful. Several well-
wishers amongst the dhabas outside the gate and from within the
campus also advised us that we should leave lest some people may hurt
us. By this time, word had spread in the city about a group of people
from IIMA who were holding a peace sit-in - by the way, this was the
only civil society expression in the city till then.
Media also came to know about it. Just then a crowd of twenty people
walked over towards us. Most of us were sitting quietly and few of us
were standing around. The crowd was very aggressive, repeated the
same story (as others had done) to us, kept saying that if were
Hindus then we should go indoors - we peacefully stood there without
getting provoked; our faculty & students kept sitting with placards
in their hands despite them being shouted at or being pushed; some in
the crowd pleaded with us to go away, some threatened us and the
institute, some counseled us and all condemned us as sympathizers of
the minority.
Soon we started seeing people showing up with cricket bats and
wickets. The group tore all the posters and signature sheets and
burnt some of them. They started pulling the durries from underneath
those who were sitting. At this time we decided to walk away and go
back into the institute. The crowd was happy, their mission was
accomplished, and they raised slogans of Jai Shree Ram and Bharat
Mata ki Jai and walked way. Quiet once again prevailed at the IIMA
Gate.
The boys and girls from IIMA who were joined by several students of
CEPT/Gujarat University and staff of GIDR, PRL etc. were face to face
with boys & men like them – somewhere between 17 and 35 years - all
wearing decent clothing, some speaking impeccable English, mostly
logical, many were assiduously trying to explain to us their
positions; they may have been students and businesspeople and clerks
as there must have been fathers and brothers amongst them. Some said
that there were two VHP municipal counselors amongst them. While
there was peace in the eyes and face of those sitting, there was
anger in the eyes of those who did not want us there. And all of us
saw the face of (un)civil society.
This was a first such contact for many - at one level it has shaken
all of us - not because of the aggression that we faced but because
we lost the freedom to express peacefully. And this is the land of
Gandhi. We came back in and continued our fast individually. We are
very proud of our students who sat with Gandhian ahimsa in their
heart and peaceful defiance of violence on their face. What they
learnt was self restraint, self respect, tolerance and the need for
peace.
I write this because I met several brave boys and girls who any
parent, any employer and the entire society will be proud of. They
have allowed to keep our faith in civil society alive. The entire
event, however, was education for all of us.
This time the violence had some new characteristics: it was very
targeted - shops, houses and establishments of the minority community
were singled out and destroyed; violence spread away from the old
city to newer and more affluent areas of the city; and prominent
citizens (e.g., former member of parliament, sitting judge of the
high court, former chairman of MRTP commission etc.) were also not
spared.
And worst still, since yesterday "ten commandments" are being
circulated - some of these are - people should not do business with
the minority community, should not buy food from their shops or go to
their restaurants, should not hire them for jobs, should not see
films that have actors or directors etc form amongst this community
etc. This is systematic violation of freedom in our country and the
entire government machinery, the prime minister, home minister, chief
minister etc., is unable to utter one word of solace to the community.
The CM of Gujarat has ordered a judicial enquiry for Godhra, which is
the right thing to do, but is refusing to do the same in Ahmedabad
and other cities. Such is the face of the government. I hope people
who support and finance these groups within the country and abroad
will learn from this event.
I just now came back from a peace march that was organized by the
Gandhians from Kochrab Ashram to Sabarmati Ashram (both were places
where Gandhiji had lived and are about 8 km apart) - this was
attended by about 1000 people. The mood was somber but there was
resolve to win over this situation. I think Gandhiji is more relevant
today than ever. Hope things are well with you all.
Pankaj
(Prof Pankaj Chandra)
яяяяяяяяяя
This is a message from Dr.Vipin Tripathi, Professor of Physics,
Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi. Professor Tripathi is a
dedicated Gandhian and has devoted himself for peace and communal
harmony.
-------------
Date: Fri, 8 Mar 2002 06:11:10 +0530 (IST)
Another Struggle for Freedom is Needed
V.K.Tripathi
Gujarat violence has passed all limits of brutality. It has forced
millions of people to feel aliens in their own motherland. Nothing
can be more heart shattering. The place where a person is born and
brought up is his motherland. He has right to live with freedom and
dignity. It is a right given by nature, by God, and not at any body's
mercy. Unfortunately, this right has been suppressed for the masses.
The suppression becomes horrifying when people are burnt alive enmass
in religious or caste fanaticism.
On February 27, four compartments of Sabarmati express were put on
fire near Godhara killing 58 people. It was said that these were Kar
Sewaks, but 27 of the victims were women and 14 were children. Those
who never harmed any Muslim were burnt alive. It was a horror against
masses.
Next day, VHP observed Gujarat Bandh. Huge gangs of killers got
engaged in burning alive and massacring Muslims in 37 cities and
towns, including Ahmedabad. The police remained a silent spectator.
Within three days two thousand people were annihilated who had never
hurt any Hindu. This was a pogrom against masses. It was not a
reaction to Godhara violence because the victims in both cases were
innocent masses and the attackers fanatic killers. This barbarism was
more henius than Jallianwalla massacre. Then atleast people had some
solace that they were dying for country's freedom. What solace did
the people killed in Godhara, Ahmedabad and elsewhere have. On the
third day, when violence was at its peak the Gujarat Chief Minister,
closing his eyes to ongoing violence, repeatedly highlighted only the
train episode. That must have encouraged the rioters. The VHP was
openly indulged in it. These people are not the friends of co-
religionists or the nation. In normal times they exploit their own
communities. The Central Government's immediate task is to suppress
violence with a heavy hand and to de-glorify these traitors by
exposing their designs and character and bring them to justice. The
Gujarat Government needs to be dismissed forth with and VHP be banned.
The BJP leaders, including Central Law Minister, are accusing the
secular minded people that they did not react to train attack, they
only react when minorities suffer. This is the same allegation Godse
imposed on Gandhi. Every secular person was deeply pained at the
train violence. All secular organizations, political parties and
minority organizations condemned the attack fiercely, of course not
the way VHP/BJP did by targetting the innocent. The Godhara incident
came to light only after its occurrence while state wide carnage
continued in our full knowledge for days with total laxity of state
government. Of course, it is our deepest regret that we could not
actively intervene in stopping this violence. However, there are
reports that many people saved the lives of the people of other
religion from attacks. These are all secular people and the soul of
India.
The current violence is not without roots. Gujarat has a large number
of textiles mills and other large and small scale industries. Muslims
comprise a significant percentage of workers, specially weavers. The
workers unity bothered the owners and they found communalism an
useful ally. With their support the communalists gained ground over
there. In 1969 Ahmedabad witnessed massive communal riots. Since then
this city has seen very long spells of curfew and violence. The
temple movement helped the communalists to enlarge their base and
capture power. For the last few years they have been violently
harassing and humiliating Christians, Muslims and Tribals. Muslim
communalists also have a very significant presence over there though
no match to their Hindu counterparts. The recent elections in UP
revived the temple campaign again. BJP and Gujarat government helped
the karsewaks to go to Ayodhya, bringing in the scary memories of
early nineties and horror riots of Surat, Baroda, Ahmedabad in 1992.
Such movements are always a blatant expression of arrogance, hatred
and muscle power and breed terrible bloodshed. The blood bath in
Gujarat is an eye opener for all of us. In order to save the nation
from its recurrence we shall have to stop such movements. We should
search our hearts too and refrain glorifying the extremists and
rewarding them politically.
яяяяяяяяя
Courtesy: http://www.kanneganti.com/