[sacw] SACW #1 | 21 Mar. 02

[Harsh Kapoor]

South Asia Citizens Wire - Dispatch #1 | 21 March 2002
http://www.mnet.fr

* For daily news updates & citizens initiatives in post riots=20
Gujarat Check: http://www.sabrang.com

__________________________

#1. Pakistan: Political parties and civil society organisations join
hands against violence and target killings
#2. ETHNIC CLEANSING IN AHMEDABAD : A Preliminary Report (SAHMAT Fact=20
Finding Team)
#3. 10 Point Secular Action List To Counter-Hindutva (Raja Harish Swamy)
#4. Statement Urges US Congress and International Governments to act=20
recent events in India
#5. Statement from Shanti Abhiyan and PUCL Gujarat on the sorry=20
state of labouring people in wake of the riots in Gujarat
#6. Manufacturing Faith (Ram Puniyani)
#7. Third Orientation Course in South Asian Peace Studies

__________________________

# 1.

[Received from Beena Sarwar in Karachi]

March 20, 2002

PAKISTAN: Political parties and civil society organisations join
hands against violence and target killings

KARACHI: The country's major political parties, trade union
and non-government organisations and concerned citizens came
together on a joint platform to unequivocally condemn the
growing violence and targeted killings of doctors,
particularly in Karachi, with serious nation-wide
consequences.

The meeting, convened by the Joint Action Committee for Peace
at PMA House on Wednesday, March 20, resolved to support the
doctors' countrywide strike on March 30, and urged people
from different segments of society to unite for a broad-based
struggle against violence.

The meeting demanded the resignation of the Interior Minister
for his failure to implement the policies outlined by the
government, and for the implementation of a major campaign
for de-weaponisation of society.

The meeting agreed that killings of doctors, lawyers, judges
and other sections of society is aimed at instigating fear
and retaliation, and further demanded that root cause of the
problem be checked. This root cause was identified as the
forces of reaction and regression, that have gained strength
since Pakistan's involvement in the Afghan war during Gen.
Ziaul Haq's time. It was demanded that any kind of propaganda
that is used to incite hatred and violence be firmly checked
by the unity of the people.

It was resolved that the government of Gen. Pervez Musharraf
should refrain from lip service and take concrete steps to
apprehend the culprits and contain violence. This
ineffectiveness has practically encouraged sectarianism,
although the current spate of killings falls in the realm of
targeted killings.

It was resolved that the judiciary must play its due and
responsible role in curbing this menace. The meeting
condemned what was termed as Pakistan's 'shadow government'
and demanded that the role of the intelligence agencies be re-
defined.

The meeting condemned the attack on a church in Islamabad as
well as yesterday's killings of religious scholars in Lahore.
With Easter coming up on March 31, the meeting expressed
concern at the safety of Pakistan's Christians, and asked
political parties to take up this issue from their own
platforms as well, in order to isolate the sectarian elements.

The meeting expressed sorrow at the deaths of two young
female students in Karachi due to rash driving, and demanded
that the culprits be apprehended. It noted that most
commercial transport is owned by members of the police force,
which is one reason why such negligence goes unpunished.

Those present at the meeting included Raza Rabbani, general
secretary PPP, Dr Farooq Sattar, Kunwar Idris, and Khalid bin
Waleed (MQM), Mairaj Mohammad Khan, general secretary PTI,
Yusuf Mastikhan, general secretary (National Workers Party),
Abdul Khalid Junejo (JSM), Wakil Swati (ANP), Nazim Haji
(Reformers), Omar Baloch (LPP), Ayub Qureshi (PTUF), Sartaj
Khan and Dr Riaz Ahmed (International Socialist Party),
Ghulam Akbar (Democratic Labour Federation), besides Dr Habib
Soomro, general secretary PMA Karachi, and Dr Tipu Sultan,
president PMA. Various non-government organisations were
represented by Hilda Saeed (Shirkat Gah), Zahid Farooqi
(Urban Resource Centre), Anwar Rashid (OPP), Admiral (rtd)
Hasnain, Hameed Maker (Helpline Trust), Abdul Hai (HRCP),
columnist M.B. Naqvi, Amir Hamza Marwat (Pakhtoon Fikri
Jirga).
(ends)

______

#2.

ETHNIC CLEANSING IN AHMEDABAD : A PRELIMINARY REPORT

SAHMAT FACT FINDING TEAM
To Ahmedabad, 10-11th March 2002

Dr. Kamal Mitra Chenoy
Vishnu Nagar
Prasenjit Bose
Vijoo Krishnan

Full text of the above report is available on-line at the following=20
URL: http://www.mnet.fr/aiindex/sahmatreport032002.html

[ All those interested in receiving a full text version formatted in=20
Word should send a request to <aiindex@m...>

oooo

[Related News Report]
Gujarat carnage was pre-planned: Fact finding team

By Deepshikha Ghosh, Indo-Asian News Service

New Delhi, Mar 19 (IANS) The orgy of sectarian violence in Gujarat that has
claimed nearly 700 lives was premeditated and aimed at the "ethnic
cleansing" of Muslims in the western state, an independent fact finding tea=
m
has alleged.

"All evidence suggests that what happened there was a completely one-sided
and targeted carnage of Muslims, something closer to a pogrom or an ethnic
cleansing," said Kamal Mitra Chenoy, a social scientist who visited the
violence-hit state with three others to investigate the cause of the
violence.

The team presented a preliminary report Tuesday of what it termed "ethnic
cleansing in Ahmedabad", giving accounts of Muslim people, establishments
and religious buildings targeted by huge mobs after the February 27 torchin=
g
of 58 train passengers in Godhra.

The report alleged that the ground for a "communal genocide" in the land of
Mahatma Gandhi (who was born in Porbandar in Gujarat) was cleared before th=
e
Godhra killings.

It noted that the mobs systematically targeted Muslim establishments after
careful planning. Their killing spree was aided by a list, published months
ago in a local magazine, of Muslim-owned shops with Hindu names.

The team pointed out that even in largely Hindu neighbourhoods, the mobs
targeted residences and shops that were even partly owned by Muslims. "This
cannot be possible without careful planning," Chenoy remarked.

The mobs, sometimes numbering several thousands, were armed with weapons
that had to be transported - like cooking gas cylinders. Led by known
politicians said to belong to Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee's BJP,
they also moved around in luxury buses, looting, raping, plundering and
killing.

"Kausar's belly was cut open and her foetus wrenched out and killed before
she was torched," said Chenoy, recounting bloodcurdling tales told by the
victims in relief camps. "People crying for water were given kerosene and
set afire."

According to the report, the toll was closer to 2,000 in the state where
survivors were living in fear of more violence in the run-up to the Muslim
Moharram festival and the Hindu festival of colours, Holi.

Teesta Setalvad, joint editor, Communalism Combat, expressed horror at the
proportions of the Gujarat carnage, believing it surpassed the 1984 riots i=
n
Delhi and the Mumbai violence of 1992.

"This is the first time an entire government was involved in rendering
ethnic cleansing possible."

She condemned the evident complicity of the state machinery and the police
in aiding and abetting the killings.

"To even speak about elections in this situation reveals the callous and
dangerous attitude of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) at the centre and in
the state," Setalvad said.

"Can there be free and fair elections when 150,000 people are displaced,
terrorised and traumatised?"

She described the relief camps for Muslims as little more than tents with
durries spread out. Such a camp in the Shah-e-Alam area of Ahmedabad has
only one mobile toilet with four chambers for some 9,000 people.

The team also located religious buildings that had been razed to the ground
by the killer crowds.

Setalvad could not hide her disgust at the razing of the tomb of noted Urdu
poet Wali Gujarati. "After pulling it down, they built a makeshift temple o=
n
the debris and planted a saffron flag," she recalled.

The next day, the municipal workers removed the debris and levelled the roa=
d
with tar, wiping out the very existence of the historical structure.

To raise funds for relief and rehabilitation in the state, the Safdar Hashm=
i
Memorial Trust (Sahmat) has organised a two-day sale of artworks by 90
artists, beginning Wednesday.

--Indo-Asian News Service

_____

#3.

From: "Raja Harish Swamy"
Subject: 10 POINT SECULAR ACTION LIST TO COUNTER-HINDUTVA
Date: Sat, 16 Mar 2002 21:17:02 -0500 (EST)=20

Fellow Indians, If we have to give the fascists a fight, here is a=20
contribution:
This is in response to the ten point fascist leaflet that had been
discovered by Malika Sarabhai. please take a look and suggest
corrections, modifications, additions, deletions--after which we
should make every effort to FLOOD it everywhere--as far as possible;
translations highly necessary--every Indian language, sent to as
many publications in India as possible, students, youth groups,
friends, acquaintances, businesses, everywhere.
Ten Point Program of Secular Action to counter fascist propaganda
for every true Indian:=20=20
1) I will NOT judge a person by her or his religion, race or
cultural background, but by the content of their character.=20
2) I will NOT support any business that supports the hatred of
Muslims, Christians, Dalits or any other minority in India. I will
buy from ALL Indians, except those who support the hatred of
Muslims, Christians, Dalits and other minorities.=20
3) I will NOT accept communal hatred as a political ideology, even
if my family, friends or acquaintances support it. I will voice
opposition to every expression of hatred in my family, and
community, peacefully, but with conviction. SPEAK---EVEN IF YOUR
VOICE SHAKES!!!=20
4) I will work hard to change the minds of my family and friends who
mistakenly admire the ideas of Hindutva. Towards this, I will strive
to learn everyday, about the lives and concerns of Indias
minorities, with empathy and respect. I will put myself in THEIR
shoes to understand MYSELF better.=20
5) I will work hard to engage in LEARNING about the history if
India, as a history of many peoples and many cutures. I will work
hard to learn about who the real freedom fighters of India were, and
why their sacrifices are now being destroyed by those spreading
religious hatred.=20
6) I will NOT participate in any JOKE, SONG, or POEM which
denigrates, dehumanizes, or vilifies Muslims, Sikhs, Christians,
Dalits or any other Minorities of India. Every such joke is a dagger=20
into the heart of secular India. I will challenge those who find=20
entertainment in hatred and bigotry, with facts and knowledge.=20
7) I will JOIN HANDS throughout the land with like minded, secular,
democratic individuals and groups, to strengthen the Indian peoples
democratic revolution, by spreading the message of peace, communal
harmony, and united struggle for equality, human rights and physical
security.
8) I will build bridges EVERYDAY, even in the most insignificant
way, by showing an attitude of respect for all my FELLOW INDIANS. I
will make it a point to make friends ACROSS religious and cutural=20
bounds, learn a new word or phrase in my friends language everyday,
share with him or her a little about myself, my culture and
practices everyday.=20
9) I will REMEMBER the sacrifices made by INDIANS who gave their all
in the struggle for freedom; I wil do this remembering that the
struggle continues, and that I must search everyday for ways to=20
contribute my part to the struggle for freedom, equality and secular
democracy.=20
10) I will GREET my fellow Indians on their happy cultural or
religious occassions, and express my sympathies and support when
there is tragedy or mourning; the happiness and sorrow of my fellow=20
Indians is like my own hapiness and sorrow.=20
I WILL STRIVE TO WORK HARD TOWARDS BECOMING A BETTER PERSON, TO
BECOME MORE ENLIGHTENED AS A HUMAN BEING, TO HELP OTHERS BECOME=20
ENLIGHTENED, TO HELP ALL WHO SUFFER, SO THAT THEY MAY ALSO ENJOY
EQUAL RIGHTS IN A DEMOCRATIC, EGALITARIAN AND ENLIGHTENED SOCIETY. I
WILL NOT STOP WORKING FOR THE DREAM OF A SOVEREIGN, SECULAR,
SOCIALIST, DEMOCRATIC INDIA.

_____

#4.

STATEMENT

JOHN P.D.,
Washington, DC.

March 18, 2002

Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), the parent branch of India's=20
ruling BJP party (Barathiya Janata Party) at the end of its=20
conference held in the southern Indian city of Bangalore on 7th March=20
2002 made it clear that the religious minorities in India should=20
understand that their real safety lies at the mercy of the majority=20
Hindus.=20

Such a statement by the RSS, (most ministers of Prime Minister=20
Vajpayee's cabinet including himself are drawn from the RSS), is a=20
cause for grave concern not only among over 195 million religious=20
minorities in India but also to many Hindus; as well as the=20
Constitutional institutions which for over a half century tried to=20
promote pluralism, democracy and equal rights to everyone in India.=20
Brute majority-ism has never been the standard of India nor the ethos=20
of its people.

The radical extremist leaders, after their carnage in the western=20
state of Gujarat two weeks ago, where they massacred over 700 people=20
systematically in a couple of days, broke into the state assembly of=20
the Eastern state of Orisa last week and vandalized the well of the=20
House. The radical religious extremist groups such as RSS, VHP and=20
BJP do proclaim that they are the guardians of the democracy in India=20
while in practice the group leaders so far has not shown neither=20
regard nor any respect for democratic institutions. (They define=20
democracy as the majoritianism). These groups teach hate to the=20
school children in the schools run by them and to the general public=20
through various campaigns and programs. Christians too have been the=20
victims of this hate campaign.

Condemning the attack on the Orisa Assembly, senior Indian National=20
Congress leaders reminded that what they witnessed in Gujarat and in=20
Orisa is a symptom of the disease and not the disease itself. The=20
disease is the fundamentalist radical Hindu philosophy harbored by=20
the RSS, they said.

In a significant move, last Sunday in the Naroda police precinct of=20
Ahmedabad, where the bloodletting still continues, a complaint=20
against Naroda BJP legislator Maya Kodnani, the VHP joint general=20
secretary Jaideep Patel, and the midlevel police officer K.K.=20
Maisurwala of the Naroda police station, were booked for dacoity and=20
arson. The case was filed in connection with the gruesome massacre=20
and looting on February 28.

Another Member of Parliament Mr. Eduardo Faleiro who visited the riot=20
affected areas wrote a letter to the Home Minister (Internal=20
Affairs). In his letter he says, "in spite of assurances from the=20
Union and State Governments, Gujarat still continues to burn....=20
Defenseless people of different (religious) communities are being=20
attacked and are dying in Gujarat."

As per, a fact finding delegation comprising of Indian=20
Parliamentarians, there are about 50,000 internally displaced people=20
in several relief camps in the city of Ahmedabad alone and another=20
25,000 to 30,000 people have been displaced in other cities in=20
Gujarat.=20

The delegation further reports that the food being provided by the=20
State Government in these camps are unfit for human consumption. The=20
State Government having allowed life and property of the minority=20
religious community to be systematically destroyed has now abdicated=20
its constitutional duty to provide relief to the victims.=20

We urge the US Congress and the International governments to:

Urge the government to immediately provide relief materials to the=20
people in camps.

Urge the Indian Government to ask the Chief Justice of India to=20
appoint a sitting Judge of the Supreme Court to hold the inquiry into=20
the religious riots.

Urge the Indian government to investigate the role of police force in=20
aiding the Hindu mobs during riots against the religious minorities.=20
Officers found guilty must be punished.

In a recorded interview to a news portal, Rediff.com Prof. Keshav Ram=20
Kashiram Shastri, the chairman of the Gujarat unit of the VHP, stated=20
that the shops in Ahmedabd were looted on the basis of a list=20
prepared by his party men in advance. "In the morning we sat down=20
and prepared the list" he revealed. The US should raise serious=20
concerns about such practices by the groups close to the ruling=20
national and state BJP government. These kind of practices pose a=20
major and serious threat to the future of the democracy.

A hand bill is being widely circulated by the groups close to the=20
State and National government in Delhi urging the Hindus to boycott=20
the businesses run by religious minorities, especially the largest=20
religious minorities, the Muslims of India. We urge the international=20
governments and the US government to strongly condemn such nazi era=20
practices against a section of the populace by the leaders of a=20
majority Faith.

____

#5.

SHANTI ABHIYAN and PUCL Gujarat, India

PRESS RELEASE

Date: 20-3-2002

BEREFT OF EMPLOYMENT DAILY WAGE LABOURERS ON THE VERGE OF STARVATION.

This month, it is uncertain how many days they will be able to get=20
wages. But who cares ?

There isn=92t a reserve of food in their stomachs and in such a=20
situation, those elements creating communal tension in the past few=20
weeks force the common human being to stay indoors and without=20
employment.
Since the past 22 Days, a targeted attack on the minority community=20
in the name of a revenge for the Godhra massacre has continued=20
unabated. The homes of thousands of people of minority community have=20
been razed to the ground, and the government has proven to be=20
unsuccessful at putting a stop to such events. Sources of livelihood=20
have been destroyed. All these incidents have happened in the=20
presence of the police forces and sometimes they have received the=20
blessings of police as well. This frightening situation is giving=20
shape to another equally grim situation.
In the past 5 years 10 lakhs people have lost employment in Gujarat.=20
No new employment has been generated to rectify this. The government,=20
public and private sector have instead touted the Voluntary=20
Retirement Scheme (VRS) as answer.
Due to the new economic policy of the government, the situation of=20
the common person is worsening day by day. Like vegetable vendors,=20
groups of daily wage labourers move around in areas like Old Padra=20
Road, Nyay Mandir, Railway station underbridge now they have begun=20
to overflow to other, newer areas of the city. In Baroda city,=20
earlier there used to be 3-5 casual labour markets but now these have=20
now increased to 20. These labour markets are not very different from=20
the slave markets of the 14th century. The only difference is that=20
now they are there of their so-called =93own free will=94 to sell their=20
labour. Today, in order to fill their stomachs, daily wage workers=20
have to work for more than 10-16 hours. For example 4,000 - 10,000=20
people have to stand in labour markets for hours each day in Baroda=20
to get employed. Earlier it was believed that these people are=20
migrants from Panchmahal or Chota Udepur, but now in such labour=20
markets one will find new categories of people those who earlier had=20
secure jobs, people who worked in industries that have now closed=20
down, or those who have been retrenched in the name of "Voluntary=20
Retirement Scheme" have now had to join the ranks of daily wage=20
labourers. Some of these workers are such that they use to get Rs.=20
2,500 - 3,000/- per month as permanent employees in industries. Now,=20
in the casual labour market they get Rs.35 - 65/- as daily wages.=20
Since the size of this casual labour market is increasing, the wages=20
have shown a downward trend.
The number of rickshaws that are run on rents has also increased. The=20
number of those who are earning a living in such a manner 50% of them=20
are workers of closed mills of Gujarat. Amongst the new rickshaw=20
drivers, there are of course those who are unable to get other jobs,=20
but also those who have lost their regular jobs or have been=20
retrenched in the name of voluntary retirement. Those who can afford=20
to rent out their rickshaws have bought cars themselves, so that=20
those who drive the rickshaws and those who sit in rickshaws are from=20
about the same economic strata this has made the economic condition=20
of rickshaw drivers more precarious. Around 70% of rickshaws are not=20
able to go on road since last 22 days.
These days one can only get a job for few months and now in very=20
small number as security guards: for this job, a worker gets Rs.=20
1,000 - 1,500/- for a 12 hours shift. Labour laws are given a=20
complete go by in such jobs.
Given such a situation, the communal riots that started after=20
barbarian attack at Godhra on the Sabramti Express and continue till=20
today have made the condition of the common human being even more=20
precarious.
There are people who under normal circumstances also are not able to=20
make ends meet with great difficulty and among them 70% are people=20
who are on the verge of starvation. These people rely on the=20
informal/unorganised sector for their employment. This section of the=20
population has been imprisoned in their houses since the past 22 days=20
and are unable to go out to seek employment. These people are not=20
those who work in schools, banks or in the organised sector, where if=20
people do not show up at work due to curfew, they are still able to=20
get their salaries or wages. These are people who, if they do not go=20
to work on a particular day, are unable to cook food in the evening.=20
On the one hand, these people have been pushed on the brink of=20
starvation and on the other hand, they are being terrorised by the=20
fear of communal attacks. Not only have the nights become like the=20
day for them, it is the day which has become as dark as the night.=20
Children are scared to go to school and their guardians are afraid to=20
take them there. In so many areas, children are unable to sleep at=20
night they ask repeatedly, when will all this stop?
We appeal to all those who have become victims of this extremely=20
serious situation to raise their voice against the violence supported=20
by the State and Government. There are handful of people, who want to=20
instigate the violence, are conducting meetings and spreading rumours=20
and thus poisoning the relations between the two communities. We=20
appeal to people to boycott such people and resist them if they can.=20
The common people should realise that the "real created or imagined=20
differences" between the community should be resolved by dialogue=20
and not by mob violence which affects their lives and livelihood.=20
Because of the prevailing circumstances, the condition of the common=20
person has become worse and the real issues facing them have been=20
sidelined. For this everyone needs to unite and prepare themselves=20
for a long battle against communal forces and exploitation.

For SHANTI ABHIYAN and PUCL

Kirit Bhatt, Rohit Prajapati, Manzur Saleri, Renu Khanna,
Trupti Shah, Jagdish Shah, Deeptha Achar, Chinu Srinivasan, Johannes=20
Manjrekar, Raj Kumar Hans, Iftikhar Ahmad

For More detail you can contact on Email No: (1)=20
chinu@w..., (2) ics@b...,
(3) rohit_trupti@y...

______

#6.

(Issues in Secular Politics, No. 7, Vol. I, March-II)

Manufacturing Faith

Ram Puniyani

RSS resolution at the end of Banglore convention asked the Muslim
community to buy the goodwill of majority community for its own safety and
good. Similarly many a spokespersons from this Sangh Parivar have been
asserting that since the Hindus are the majority, since Ayodhya is a THE
holy place for them, a la Mecca, the Muslims should strike an out of court
settlement with VHP and hand over the 'site' to Hindus for building the
temple of Lord Ram. Many 'advisers' have gone on to say that it is the
Muslim arrogance, which is responsible for the Ayodhya imbroglio and the
accompanying violence in the society.

The assertions made on this wavelength are manifold. To begin with it
states that Ram is a symbol of Indian Nationalism that Ayodhya is to
Hindus what Mecca is to Muslims and finally since Ram was born precisely
at the spot where Babri mosque was standing so the site must be handed
over to Hindus i.e. to VHP, to Ram Jamn Bhumi Nyas, controlled by RSS. In
this scheme of things RSS is synonymous with Hindus. Most of these are
constructs which have very little to do with truth.

Ram is a mythological figure, Valimik wrote the epic with Ram as a Hero.
Interpretations and worship for Ram is not uniform in different sections
of Hindu community. There is no archeological evidence to show that at the
time when Ram is supposed have been born there was any human habitation
around Ayodhya. Archeology does not substantiate the Ram legend in any
way. The popularisation of Ram cult began with Tulsidas who wrote Ramayana
in Avadhi dialect of Hindi and people at large could access this book.
Before that, story of Ram was available only in Devbhasha Sanskrit so its
prevalence was restricted to the upper caste only. As such, Ram is not the
only holy figure in Hindu pantheon. Lord Krishna, Brahma Vishnu Mahesh and
a large number of Holy figures are prevalent in Hindu mythology and in
Hindu psyche. The choice of Ram as THE holy deity may be a bit deliberates
one. The other side of this praise for Ram is seen in the interpretation
of Ram legend by Phule, Ambedkar and Periyar. Phule saw Ram as the
representative of the conquering Aryans, one who was the upholder of
gender and caste hierarchy. The story of Shambuk as upholder of upper
caste ethos is more than obvious. Just to recall Shambuk was killed by
Lord Ram as he was doing penance, an act, which was not permitted to the
low caste. Similarly Ram had no hesitation in oppressing Tadaka to
insulting Shurpnakha or banishing his pregnant wife Sita on the suspicion
of her fidelity.

Ram was never accepted as a symbol of Indian Nationalism in the struggle
for Indian independence. This struggle based on the secular values kept
the holy deities in their sacred precincts while concentrating on the
issues of this world, freedom from the clutches of British colonial powers
etc. To say that Ram is THE prophet of Hindu religion as Mohammad is the
prophet of Islam is not true. All the Prophetic religions have one
prophet, while Hindu pantheon has innumerable Holy figures competing for
the Number one slot. So whatever the birth place of Ram it can not be
compared with the Holy places like Mecca, Bodh Gaya or Jerusalem as those
places are the one's belonging to the 'sole' holy place for the believers
of those religions. This can be done only by undermining the status of
other holy deities like Lord Krishna, Vishnu or Shiva, which may not be
acceptable to many a Hindus who follow them.

Coming to Ayodhya if one spares some thought to the issue, the
manipulation of the Hindu Right in raising this as an 'issue of faith'
etc. will make it clear that history has not much to do with the issue and
what is of paramount importance for the Kar Seva politicians is the
political benefits rather than the religious sentiments. Mir Baqui who got
the mosque built could not have gone against the sentiments of his chief,
Babur. In Babar's reign there was a strong growth of syncretic traditions,
while he got the Jain temples of Gwalior demolished on the grounds of nude
idols being there. Baburs' will to Humanyun advises him to respect other
religions especially, Hinduism, as his subjects are Hindus. Babur himself
was no bigot and he gives a good account of his respect for other
religions in his Baburnama. During his reign, in the Guru-Khattri shrine
in Peshawar Hindus offered their hair as an offering, and in Kachwa Muslim
lived among Hindu Yogis and there was a lofty idol house standing next to
a Mosque in Gwalior.

Even Tulsidas, one of the greatest Ram Bhakta's of all the time could not
has missed the Ram Temple demolition, had there been one. He lived just a
quarter of century after Babur and it is totally unlike for him not to
have mentioned this had this taken place as recently as 25-50 years. Also
many a Hindus may claim that since Ram was first son of Ayodhya,
Kaushalya, Ram's mother, must have gone to her mother's place for
delivering Lord Ram.

The claims, which have been made for demolition, also do not mention the
reference source of that time. Ram Gopal Pande's 'Ramjanmbhumi ka Rakta
Ranjit Itihas' mentions that during Babur's reign Hindus attacked the
Babri mosque four times, during Humayun's reign ten times; during Akbar's
reign 20 times, to recover the site of temple. This popular book no
mention is made of the source of this As a matter of fact the first
confrontation took place at the instance of the British who succeeded in
driving a wedge between Hindus and Muslims.

The minor tit bits apart British did want to propagate that Muslim Kings
had destroyed Hindu temples and at every point they went on adding this as
matter of practice. The British chroniclers sowed the seeds of
controversy. P.Carnegy's 'Historical Sketch of tehsil Faizabad, Zilla
Faizabad', Lucknow-1870, and H.R.Neville's Faizabad District Gazetteer,
Allahbad 1905 are a good example of this. Without citing any concrete
evidence the Gazetters just put the probability of a hypothesis that the
temple might have been destroyed to build the mosque. The underlying
current of British officials is best manifest in translation of Babur's
memoirs by Mrs. A.F. Beveridge. She suggests in a footnote that Babur
being a Muslim and 'impressed by the dignity and sanctity of the ancient
Hindu shrine would have displaced at least in part' the temple to erect
the mosque.

The events after the night of 22-23 January 1949 are too well known. Some
miscreants placed the Ram Lalla idols and the district magistrate
K.K.Nayyar ceiled the place. Till that time Namaz was being offered
regularly. After this the matter again was in the deep freeze till the
Margdarshak Mandal of VHP decided to revive it. Till this time RSS was
trying to use the cow protection as the emotive issue to build up
hysteria. It failed. After the social changes which had taken place, now a
big constituency was there which supported this campaign and BJP itself
came forward to reap the fruits of seeds of Ram Lalla idols installed by
force. And rest is (or should be hopefully) history. Court
injunctions-making the Masjid in to disputed site, its demolition under
the leadership of Advani, Joshi and Uma Bharati and declaration of this
day as Hindu Shaurya Divas need not be recounted. During the whole process
a large section of population came to believe the lies spread by Sangh
Parivar. A new 'faith' came into being. This new faith dictated the
politics and continues to dictate the politics to quite some extent.

With the recent failures of Chetavani Yatras and other campaigns launched
by Sangh Parivar, it is clear that this issue is will not succeed in
mobilizing the gullible any longer. Now to build a Mandir is not like
demolishing a mosque. Sangh could demolish it in five and a half hours,
but construction will take much longer, so the brute force, which is the
hallmark of Parivar may not work now. Also if people don't vote around
this issue, if they do not come forward to support the illusions created
by Sants and company any longer, (barring of course the lunatic fringe)
what is to be the face saving formula? How to convince the core supporters
without loosing face? Advice the Muslims to give up their claim and the
line that law of the land should prevail. So tell them subtly that there
has been anti-Muslim pogroms and that they are insecure in this land, tell
them they need security (from its goons) and 'advice' them to give up the
claim from the 'disputed site'! One has come around full circle.
Manufacture a faith, agitate around it, destroy the secular fabric around
manufactured faith and seeing that there is no exit from this dastardly
path, threaten the minorities to behave, to surrender else!

And that's where we stand today while reading the resolution of RSS at the
end of its Banglore meeting. Hope the sanity of the society will prevail
over these machinations to break the unity of Indian Nation. Hope India
will prevail over Hindu Rashtra and we can witness the decline of the
fascist maneuvers of the Sangh Parivar.

(Writer works with EKTA, Committee for Communal Amity, Mumbai)

______

#7.

Third Orientation Course in South Asian Peace Studies

The Third South Asian Human Rights and Peace Studies Orientation Course of
the South Asia Forum for Human Rights will be held in Kathmandu, Nepal from
3 August to 17 August 2002. It is a foundation course intended for peace an=
d
human rights activists, media persons, researchers, academics, and persons
involved in policy work on conflict resolution. The course will take into
account various forms of violence, war, and intervention, their impact on
democracy, and will draw on the experiences of human rights and peace
activism, and the moral resistance to war in South Asia and elsewhere.
Registration fee for South Asian participants is US $ 100 (or its equivalen=
t
in Nepali rupee) and participants from outside the region US $ 250 (or its
equivalent in Nepali rupee). Board, lodging and course material for the
selected candidates will be provided by SAFHR. Participants will have to
support their own travel. The age limit for participation is 35 years. Wome=
n
and activists from refugee and minority groups are particularly encouraged
to apply. Applications must reach Peace Studies Desk in the South Asia Foru=
m
for Human Rights (3/23, Shree Durbar Tole, Patan Dhoka, Lalitpur, Kathamndu=
,
Nepal; GPO Box 12855, Tel: 977-1-541026; Fax: 527852, E-mail
south@s...) by 20 April 2002. Applications by fax or e-mail will be
valid. Applications will have to be supported by full particulars, 1000-wor=
d
statement on the relevance of the course to the work of the participant, an=
d
names of two referees whose recommendations should reach independently SAFH=
R
peace studies desk. The application must include all necessary details such
as language skill, experience and nature of current work. The statement has
to include candidate's own idea of peace and human rights activism, and the
relation of the applicant's work with SAFHR's peace studies programme. In
selection of candidates the 1000-word statement will be accorded importance=
.
The 15-day course will be participatory, involve intense course and
fieldwork, include visual studies, and will be preceded by reading and
assignment-work for 2 months. Frontline activists and researchers in human
rights will be sharing their knowledge and experience with participants
towards developing an enriched understanding of issues of justice and peace
in South Asia. Interested applicants may visit the website www.safhr.org.

Application Form
Human Rights & Peace Studies Orientation course

Personal details:-
Name: .................. Organization: ...............
Position: .................. Gender: ...................
Nationality: ............... Place of Birth: ...............
Date of Birth: ............... Ed. qualification: ...........

Postal Address for correspondence:
. ...................... Tel: .................
.................... Fax: ...................
.................... E-Mail: .................

Language (s) proficiency: 1 ......... 2 ......... 3. ........

Names of two referees:-
1. Name: ................ 2. Name: .................
Organization: .............. Organization: .............
Position: ................ Position: ...............
Address: ..................Address: .........

E-Mail: ..............Email:..................
Phone:-...................Phone:..................
Fax: .................. Fax: .

Personal skills: (if necessary you may use extra sheets of paper)
1. Describe your reasons for applying for this course.
........................................
........................................
........................................

2. Describe your significant past and current activities and
responsibilities with an outline of your future planning.
........................................
........................................
........................................
........................................
........................................
........................................
........................................

Signature:- ............... Date:- ..............
Note:
1. A 1000-word essay on the relevance of the course to your work and your
own ideas of peace and human rights activism must be enclosed with the
application. Use extra sheet/ sheets for the essay.
2. Reference letters should reach SAFHR independently by 20 April 2002.
3. Photocopy of this form is also acceptable

--=20
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