FPJ OPED Communal Harmony
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What has retained Communal Harmony?
Terrorists have been striking at Mumbai and other parts of the state like Malegaon. Yet we have not seen the kind of communal violence as backlash after these blasts, unlike in the past where these areas would be on a short fuse. People were invited to send their responses as to what has contributed to the maintenance of peace after the blasts, what has resulted in this transformation of society, what this indicates for the future, etc. A compilation of some of the responses received have been summarised ahead and these reveal some significant learnings.
Civil Society Response
R.Shyam, of SAHER (Society for Awareness, Harmony and Equal Rights) says that, We have always felt that despite belonging to different faiths, human beings share the same bodily needs, everybody feels thirsty, hunger pangs strike every stomach and communal riots only add to such woes by making living conditions worse. SAHER has been working in bringing youth groups from various communities together to understand that it is the youth who need to fight the menace of political manipulation through greater awareness. At the same time, the key lies in cross community interactions which bring to the fore several aspects that help in breaking down stereotypes that categorise communities into essential religious groups.
After the blasts of July 2006, members of all these groups contacted each other through phones and put up boards urging people not to heed rumours. They also assured the police that they would co-operate in maintaining peace in their respective areas. This response of civil society in the form of small community based organisations reflected the maturity of people in the face of adversity.
Often, even before the Police is able to respond, civil society groups immediately swing into action with contact programmes whenever any fascist organisation makes attempts to incite people and divide citizens on religion basis, and this has contributed significantly to keeping the peace.
Increased awareness and exposure by the Media
The press is now everywhere! ….and is becoming more and more powerful in creating awareness and educating people, on a wide variety of issues, including on communal harmony. There is a greater socio-political awareness about people’s rights, irrespective of communal identities, and this is a sign of a society which has matured.
Further, because of media reports showing pictures of, and reporting on violent mobs indulging in arson and creating chaos, people have become sympathetic towards the innocent people under attack, no matter which community they belong to.
The media has also exposed the sycophancy of the political parties who fail to draw from the repositories of harm. Through the various forms of media, including print, television, and especially film and popular culture, people have also learnt about diverse cultures, religions, cuisines and have learnt to celebrate each other’s joys and desire to live together with respect, equality, justice and peace.
Interdependence of people
Harmony and mutual coexistence is intrinsic to any human society based on interdependence and exchange, and the globalised world and changing lifestyles of the day means that a larger portion of the populace belonging to different communities mingle closely at places of work, says Jagdish Khanna. Inter-dependence and intermingling has become a condition of life, not only in the context of religious communities, bit also between countries and continents. This in turn has actually brought people of different communities more closer to each other…..the bond is much stronger than ever before.
The Mohalla Committees
After the riots of 1992-93, the Government of Maharashtra set up Mohalla Committees at each of the Police stations with a view to maintaining peace and communal harmony amongst the citizens belonging to different castes, creed and religions. Meetings of Mohalla Committees are held before the onset of every festival to maintain peace and communal harmony in the locality.
Despite several constraints and attempts to politicise them, the mohalla committees have been working well to spread awareness and communicate the message of communal harmony. Respective community members listen to their leaders understanding and confide in them their fears. Such dialogue stops rumours and kills the falsehoods, thereby letting the truth and sanity of the people prevail. K. Panda, says in fact that the government should arrange district level meets of this kind for wider coverage and interactions, as participation in each others religious celebrations generates love and respect between communities.
Economics and the desire to get on with life
According to K.G.Misra, Chief Executive, Quality Meter, in Mumbai everybody is an owner of at least something, and involved in a continuous process of economics. Further, the people of Mumbai have the rugged experience of living with difficulties and competition and yet with a fair and friendly attitude. Due to the difficulties in living, they have perfected the art of inter-dependence, and share each others concerns and know to love and respect one another. One of the biggest factors that works in maintaining harmony after such incidents is the desire to get on with life.
A simple new arithmetic formula that is keeping peace and tranquility in Mumbai and elsewhere is presented by H. Trivedi, who says that since the opening up of the economy, opportunities are galore for Indians. Mumbai and even a medium sized business town like Malegaon are no exceptions. People who used to live hand-to-mouth are harvesting the fruits of this. During the last few riots, it was realised by the people that ultimately they were the worst sufferers and not the netas who used to push them into the vagaries of riots. They know these provocations by radicals can only be countered by not paying heed to it.
Maturing of people: divisive politics exposed
Aparna feels that the repetition and pattern of terror attacks and their aftermath have caused people to evolve and they have learned from their past mistakes. There has been a maturing of people, where they now know that by acting out violent scenes at the behest of the politicians, they are behaving as puppets in the hands of the disruptive forces. People have realised that such riots are motivated by a few for their personal gains.
Today, the common man appears to be a changed force, says Neesha, where even the cab-driver says, the politicians are no different and we are all fed up. The common man has figured out that atrocities committed on any side have nothing to do with the common man.
Role of the Administration
Despite the slow pace and general dissatisfaction with the government, C.C. Dayal says that in his opinion, the administration is doing a good job of tracking down the culprits. The uudiciary can contribute vastly by ensuring quick disposal of cases and awarding strict punishments to those guilty of disturbing peace and inciting violence.
However, public memory is proverbially short, and hence the administration must continue to remain proactive not only in watching the trouble-making groups and sensitive areas before the elections and anniversaries of “events” but in adopting a positive policy to keep up the spirit of harmony by encouraging mingling of people on festivals, educating and highlighting good things about different religions, etc.
Slowly, but surely, the system is getting better, and people feel that as a society, we are moving towards getting and seeing action rather than words. There have also been strong efforts from people in all communities to work together with the administration on the projects of safety and patrolling.
Are we getting used to terror?
Though there has been no physical manifestation of communal violence in the aftermath of the recent terror attacks, some people feel that there could still be religious hatred simmering in the minds of people, and our social fabric is still fragile.
Prachi J. feels that people are, in a way, used to hardships and misery in their daily lives, and as result they have taken mass death and destruction as another leaf in a miserable life. Getting used to terror is the worst effect of repeated violence, and rather than being a progressive effect, this can later prove to have been just the calm before the storm.
We see more and more educated, economically well-to-do families preferring to live in ghettos. Entire areas & housing societies are making and implementing unwritten rules of not allowing other communities to settle in their neighbourhoods. These trends can be more damaging for the peace of the future as against the present peace. This is something that has to be thought about deeply.
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Some NGOs in Mumbai working for communal harmony:
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1.
Sabrang – Hate Hurts, Harmony Works
“Sabrang” means “all colours” and was started in 1993 to provide information on, analyse and expose the machinations of communal politics in India, on the subcontinent and abroad and to publicise the attempt of secular individuals, groups and organisations engaged in fighting them. The organisation stands for equal respect to all religions.
Contact Details:
Ms. Teesta Setalved
Sabrang Trust, PO Box No. 28253
Juhu Post Office Mumbai 400049
Tel: 26602288
Email: sabrang@vsnl.com
website: www.sabrang.com
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2.
Citizens’ Council for a Better Tomorrow
Formed during the communal riots that erupted soon after the demolition of the disputed Babri Masjid in 1992. Shri F. T. Khorakiwala, then Sheriff of Mumbai initiated this NGO, supported by other eminent citizens of Mumbai with the primary objective to work for the mission of peace & harmony and national integration. CCBT was instrumental in the formation of Mohalla Ekta Committees along with the Mumbai Police, citizen groups and NGOs in Mumbai.
Contact Details:
Deepak Negi
CCBT c/o Akbarallys,
130/132, Great Western Building, Ground Floor,
Opp Lions Gate, Shaheed Bhagat Singh Road,
Mumbai – 400 023.
Tel: 22047037 / 22870672 / 22870673.
Email: ccbt@akbarallysco.com
Website: www.sadbhavna.com
3. Working in Jogeshwai since the 1992-93 riots. Also researching on syncretic shrines (shrines that are visited by people from all communities)
Contact Details:
Masood Akhtar and Rama Shyam
SAHER (Society for Awareness, Harmony and Equal Rights)
Jogeshwari, Mumbai
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