The burning of train and passengers near Godhra Railway Station was reminiscent of the partition period. During the post Independent period, though we have witnessed communal violence on many occasions, but, none of the nature of burning of a train and passengers. People who designed and executed the act were aware of the repercussions, and therefore, they chose that method. They have succeeded in their design in raising communal frenzies out of all proportion. Some people and some section of the society are trying to justify the reactions as natural. However, the fact remains that both the act at Godhra Railway Station and aftermath in the form of reactions in Gujarat are shameful for the society as a whole. It has not done good to anyone. Neither side has gained anything. To avenge killings of one set of innocent people by killing another set of innocent people is not taught by any religion. What happened in Gujarat is an indicative of degeneration of civilized society.

Communal violence is always bad and usually manifested by ghastly acts. But, what happened this time in Gujarat was very much in difference to previous such scenes. Until now many of us, including minority community, believed that the villages were a safe places to live in, irrespective of whatever happened in the towns and cities. Many people who have close contacts with villages would endorse the views that even a single household of minority in a village predominated by Hindus, by and large, felt safe and secured, while few cities and towns were burning. Hindus have been known to be tolerant. Even Hindus have always claimed to be tolerant. Infact Hindus have been proud of being tolerant people. Particularly, such tolerance was more visible in our villages. The situation changed this time in large number of Gujarat villages. It must have baffled the sociologists who believe that the villages are more homogenous, and therefore, not vulnerable to communal or other events. Why this happened and who aroused the passions among our villagers is a serious subject to be thoroughly investigated. In many of the tribal villages in Dahod and other tribal districts, the looting of the possessions and properties of the minority community was widespread. The elements which instigated the villagers for such looting forgot one basic universal principle that those who create monsters are often destroyed by such monsters in next round of ugly events. On all such conceivable unpleasant events, looting may become a common feature. Only victims and targets may get changed. Another serious aspect is that who would dare to establish trades and business in the villages if the traders and businessmen become vulnerable in the villages ? As such our villages lack the necessary comforts for good living. Safety and peace were the prime attractions to stay in the villages. When such safety is threatened, who would opt for the villages to live in ?

This time the sections or some sects of minority who are known for their peaceful co-existence and non-provoking behavior also became victims of violence. Such sections or sects have lost faith in their neighbours, belonging to the majority communities. One important indicator of civilized people is that they instinctly come to the rescue of their neighbours in case of need. We have clearly lost that civilized aspect. It took lacs of years for beasts to become civilized human beings. It may not take even few years in becoming beast again. Perhaps, the reverse process has started. Who can stop this reversal of so called civilized society ? It is time that the so-called Thekadars or self-proclaimed saviours of Hinduism ask themselves what they think of Hinduism and Hindu civilization. If they are proud of Hindu civilization, they should know they are acting against the ethos and highly cultured values of such great civilization.

People, in both the communities (minority as well as majority) have lost their sanity and sensitivity. As a nation, we suddenly find we are leaderless. There seems to be a void in terms of the stature of the national leader who commands respect of each section of the society. It is rightly said there is no tall man in this huge country at present. Everyone climbing down from Delhi to Ahmedabad and Gujarat expresses partisan views, trying to blame other party or other community for the ugly development. In this tragic hour, our leaders do not think as one person to calm down the communal passions. 10-15 of our top most political leaders cutting across the political lines should have jointly visited the State and should have resorted to hunger strike till the passions calmed down. What Mahatma Gandhi used to do alone, could not be thought of collectively by our top leaders. This is real tragedy of our large and diversified nation.

Where do we go from here ? If we do not do something special and substantial at this juncture, situation would worsen and we would witness still worse communal scenes in future. Something drastically needs to be done to prevent such happenings and to heal the wounds of people who are physically and psychologically hurt. Such hurts cannot be healed by the Government by offering monetary compensation. It is the responsibility of the majority community to heal the wounds. Can we not think that the majority community should play a major role in rehabilitating the families who are uprooted in such violence ? If Gujarat can do it, it would set an example for others to follow in future. One time highly reputed Gujarat has been substantially dis-reputed in recent years. This is an opportunity for large hearted Gujaratis to re-establish their reputation as very charitable and helpful community. Gujarat should not forget the legacy inherited from great sons of Gujarat like Mahatma Gandhi, Sardar Patel, Ravi Shanker Maharaj and many such greats of the yester years.

People associated with Ram Janma Bhoomi and Babri Masjid Action Committee should draw a lesson from the recent happenings. They have to ask themselves as to what extent they would like situation to worsen. They have to plainly ask themselves whether their priority is to survive as a nation or to further the interest of their own community. They should better know from history that if nation dies, the community cannot survive. They should go among the common people, particularly, among poor people and ask who is interested in temple building in Ayodhya or for that matter in reconstruction of Babri Masjid ? People on both sides of religious divide want peace and bread and not Mandir or Masjid. The so-called leaders of the majority community should show magnanimity towards the minority community. The minority should also learn to adjust with the changing times. It serves no one inviting perpetual troubles with the majority community, which is increasingly becoming fanatic, atleast more and more people from majority community are showing communal attitudes in recent years. I remember, few years back a Babri Masjid Action Committee Leader, Saiyed Shahbuddin, had frankly admitted that if the majority community becomes fanatic, the minority would have serious problem. We have reached a stage where substantial portion of majority community are now having communal attitudes, which was not common among Hindus few years back. I remember during our university education nearly 40 years back, we as Hindus were ashamed of talking on communal lines. Things have changed so much that large number of our university students are thinking on communal lines, developing hatreds for other religion. This is common among both major religions.

Some people say Hindu fanatism is a backlash of minority fanatism. This may be perhaps partially true, particularly, when politicians have been found taking benefit of such religious divide and hatred. However, history suggests that Hinduism has survived without being fanatics. It has its own strength to survive without resorting to swords or spears. The faith which has survived for 5,000 years against many threats to its existence cannot be threatened for its existence by any force. Our self appointed religious leaders better know this historical strength of Hinduism. So-called religious leaders need to be reminded that it is poor masses among Hindus who have stuck to the faith against all odds and against gross injustice done to them by so-called protectors of the faith throughout the history.

Many Hindu fanatics constantly argue that after partition, all Muslims should have gone to Pakistan. They do not appreciate finer aspect of the Muslims who stayed back. Large number of Muslims stayed back and opted this country, considering it as their motherland. In those days they stayed back with great risk. This has to be appreciated in its proper perspective. If few among them are leaning towards Pakistan, we should not treat entire community as anti-India. After all, there are many traitors and anti-national people among Hindus also. Let us not forget the history that whenever foreigners invaded this country, most of the time the Hindu elements paved way and helped such invaders. We also should not forget massive contribution of Muslims in all walks of life, before and after Independence. India’s overall culture, without Muslims, is incomplete. It is rainbow culture of India consisting of Hindu, Muslim, Christian, Sikh, Jain, Buddhist and Parsi that makes India a beautiful and colourful country.

In this overall communally vitiated environment, what is of great significance is that majority of Hindu intelligencia, majority of Hindu dominated media, print as well as electronics, are relentlessly hitting at the Hindu fundamentalism. If similar strong expressions are expressed by the Muslim community against their own fundamentalism, it would make lot of impact in building a bridge between two communities.

This is the situation calling for sanity on both sides and to think for the nation first and then for the respective religion.

Coming to Gujarat situation, few years back, Gujarat was considered to be the most peaceful State and people being peace loving, amicable and most hospitable. It is now among the most violent states, when it comes to communal situation. Sections of its people are not only violent, but, displaying barbaric behavior, just opposite to the overall culture of Gujarat. Having spent my whole life in Gujarat and being proud to be a Gujarati, I wonder whether it is the same Gujarat ? Sometimes it appears as if Gujarat is under a perpetual spell of curses. Cyclone, devastating earthquakes, consecutive droughts and recurring communal violence have shattered Gujarat and it is now not among the most prosperous state. Gujarat has to rebuild its image and rebuild its socio-economic fabric. For this, pre-requisite is peace and harmony among its otherwise hard working, industrious people. Another pre-requisite for peace and harmony among people is sanity among religious and political leaders, a difficult preposition yet, it is imperative.

God save my Gujarat
God save my country
God is our only hope
As, we have lost our sanity

21.03.2002