Image Courtesy:debuglies.com

Madhya Pradesh police say that the situation in Khargone has returned to normalcy. However, hate persists on social media, and chat services such as WhatsApp, where toxic content is shared and forwarded without verification everyday. What is most concerning though is that while the police are aware of the proliferation of hate online, the district administration has either not understood the gravity of such messages, or chosen to remain indifferent to it.

Recently a video circulated on WhatsApp showed a group of women in Ubdee swearing to boycott Muslim shopkeepers. In the video, women at the Radha Vallabh market had a “swearing-in” ceremony in Ubdee village of Khargone. Addressing a Hindu God, they pledged not to buy goods from any Muslim shop, nor sell their products or services to any person from the Muslim community. “Today, we pledge that we will not buy cloth, chappal or any other item from vidharmiyon [blasphemers]. We will also not sell anything to them. Lord Mahakaal, give us the strength to come through on this promise,” the group said in Hindi. Before starting bhajans, the group asserted unity, resolved to “correct them” and create a new society.

Another audio note narrated a man threatening shopkeepers to not cater to minority customers. The near-4 minute video narrated an entire phone call between a local shopkeeper and an aggressive caller who demanded that local shops stop dealing with Muslim customers. The medical shop owner in the district was threatened for selling his products to Muslim women. The caller who called himself “an artist” said he’s calling all shop-owners in Khargone to demand that people not sell their products to people from the minority community. “Muslims should buy these items from their own shops,” he said. The shopkeeper tried to placate the anonymous caller but he refused to listen. Like the women, the caller voiced the same sentiment that “the other” needs to be “corrected”.

“We should not try to understand Muslims. Hindus are surviving due to curfew. Muslims are not scared of the government,” said the caller before directing the shopkeeper to put up a board saying “Muslims not allowed”. The rattled shopkeeper finally said he will keep the shop closed for some days to circumvent such discrimination by his own hands.

It may be clarified that there was no way to verify or even locate the two people on the call. However, the language and tone of the entire conversation incite communal discord that has led to targeted attacks such as those during Ram Navami and Hanuman Jayanti.

Is the state cognisant of this soft-targeting?

For those new to social media or unaware about its navigation, such forwards become dangerous threats that imply an unrest in society. Considering the communal tone of such media, administration and police at the local level should be actively involved in battling such forms of hate. Yet, conversations with the Khargone administration showed that far from addressing this issue, officials do not even consider these forwards a threat.

When asked about the circulation of such videos and audio notes, District Magistrate Anugraha P. dismissed the messages as “rumours” and asked the media not to encourage them. When asked about measures to address such online forms of hate she said, “For now, we have Section 144 in place. As for these messages, these are only rumours and should be ignored.”

This despite wide coverage in recent years of how WhatsApp message have caused mob lynchings by spreading rumours that people are abducting small children. The response also shows the lack of initiative by the state and central government in addressing these forms of hate. The app, after widespread anger from the Indian community, made provisions to indicate how messages are “forwarded” and “forwarded many times”. However, the municipal administration still needs to be sensitised about the same.

On the other hand, the police are better aware about the power of social media. Bhopal Superintendent of Police Rohit Kashwani said that the police’s social media team is notified about such forms of hate and are instructed to regularly post and keep an eye on social media. When asked about the violation of Muslims’ and shopkeepers’ right to Article 14, 15 and 16 of the Constitution, Kashwani said shopkeepers have been assured of their safety.

“Whoever approaches us with worries, we allay their fears. The social media team is constantly monitoring the situation and whenever we come across such hate we file an FIR under relevant sections,” said Kashwani.

When asked about directions from the Madhya Pradesh administration, there seemed to be no order at the SP-level. Brief inputs from ground suggest that the situation in Khargone has calmed down after the Ram Navami attacks. However, with no initiative at the administrative-level, social media hate still requires due addressal.

Related:

The changing anatomy of hate speech and communal violence
Now a demolition drive in Jahangirpuri?
Curfew back in place after Madhya Pradesh police record first death in Khargone
Khargone’s Muslim outfits accuse police of only arresting Muslims
Did Kapil Mishra’s Ram Navami speech incite communal violence, demolition drive in Khargone?

The post Khargone: Why is the administration ignoring the proliferation of hate on social media? appeared first on SabrangIndia.

In a horrifying incident, a 20-year-old sanitation worker’s body was recovered from a sewer line on November 30, 2021 in Varanasi district, Uttar Pradesh, 18 hours after he was reported missing after descending into the manhole. Colleagues told Amar Ujala that the administration has shown persisting negligence towards labour safety and security.

West Bengal resident Nawab Arif was called to clean a 10 feet deep manhole at Lahurabir crossroads on November 29 afternoon, along with three other contract workers. The youth was originally called on November 26 to put in iron plates and stop the outflow of sewage during the Shahi Nala diversion work. He was called on Monday when the sewer started to overflow again. 

As per the statements of his fellow contract workers, on November 29, Arif was lowered into the sewer line with a rope. After he remained unresponsive for 30 minutes, they grew worried. When they pulled the rope, they realised Arif was caught in the rapid currents and reported the same to contractors. A National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) member told the Hindustan the worker’s leg was stuck and the high pressure in the sewer worsened the situation. Arif’s body was finally recovered at 6 AM on Tuesday.

Following a post-mortem, Arif’s family left for their hometown Malda for his final rites. The Jal Nigam department announced an ex-gratia amount of Rs. 10 lakh for the victim’s family. Meanwhile, Arif’s colleagues declared a strike alleging gross administrative negligence. 

In response to worker’s ire, Jal Nigam Ganga Pollution Control Unit General Manager Phanindra Rai announced an investigative team will look into the incident. Members will provide a report on whether the concerned organisation had the required safety and security resources for the worker. Another question to be considered is why Arif was lowered into the manhole at all, if the sewer was overflowing.

However, Arif’s colleagues and families accused the Jal Nigam of rushing the project under higher influence and overlooking workers’ security. Dismissing the investigation as a ruse, Jal Nigam Thekedaar Sangharsh Samiti members said that at least six labourers died in the last five years due to the negligence of the department.

In 2017, a man and his nephew died in Pilikothi. Similarly, Bihar resident Chandan and Shivpur’s local Rajesh died near the Pandeypur Kali temple on March 1, 2019. NDTV reported the incident happened days after Prime Minister Narendra Modi washed the feet of sanitation workers during his visit to Kumbh, Prayagraj.

In light of all this, it is shocking that the central government in July stated that no deaths pertaining to manual scavenging were reported in the last five years. In doing so, officials had contradicted previous claims from February 2, 2021 that the reported number of deaths stood at 340 across 19 States, with Uttar Pradesh topping the list at 52 deaths.

On Tuesday, the Union gathered at the office near Varuna bridge where they demanded that the district administration address the life-endangering threats faced by sewer cleaners.

Related:

941 deaths while cleaning sewers, septic tanks: Centre informs Rajya Sabha
Centre claims that nobody died due to manual scavenging reported in the last 5 years!
Manual Scavengers: 340 deaths, yet Centre has no intention to make stricter laws!

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A retired District Judge, Ramesh Chandra has written an open letter regarding his wife’s demise due to Covid-19 in Lucknow, highlighting the inept healthcare facilities in Uttar Pradesh.

The letter, according to Bar & Bench, reads, “My wife, Madhu Chandra died due to the administration’s negligence. The present situation is so bad that there is nobody to pick up the dead body. Please help!”

As per the former Judge’s letter, both of them had tested positive for Covid-19 and were under home quarantine. “Since yesterday morning, I have been trying to call everyone, but no one is attending my calls, even the basic home isolation (Covid -19 medicines) was not delivered on time”, reported Bar & Bench.

Reacting to this, Advocate Haider Ali, a relative of the Chandra’s, told Bar & Bench that Madhu Chandra had received both rounds of the vaccine. “Today the mother of a close friend died because of covid. She didn’t even get a bed in the hospitals. Her husband is a retired district judge, he kept trying to somehow get his wife admitted in a hospital but the situation is so pathetic and dreadful that she was not even sent medicines. Also, she was vaccinated (taken both the shots of vaccine)”, he said.

Uttar Pradesh has over 95,000 active infection cases with several people complaining of ambulances not reaching them in time, unavailability of hospital beds, shortage of medicines, etc. A letter written by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath’s cabinet minister (law), Brijesh Pathak states the collapse of the healthcare system in the state, especially the worsening condition in Lucknow.

The letter which went viral on social media, was a confidential one and was addressed to additional chief secretary, medical health, Amit Mohan Prasad and principal secretary, medical education, Alok Kumar. The minister wrote, “I am shocked to find that while government hospitals and labs are taking around 4-5 days to give the test reports, private laboratories have been asked to stop Covid testing.”

He also reportedly mentioned the paucity of test kits and testing facilities in the state capital, an issue that other citizens too have been raising. He wrote that there was a need for at least 17,000 coronavirus test kits a day but barely 10,000 were available in Lucknow.

At present, CM Adityanath and former Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav have both tested positive for Covid-19. As per a report in The Indian Express, the state’s recovery rate has reduced to 85 per cent from around 98 per cent at the end of March. Overall, India has recorded its highest number at a staggering 2,17,000 cases in the last 24 hours.

Related:

Uttar Pradesh is reeling under Covid-19 crisis, who is in charge?
State should have done more: Gujarat HC on Covid crisis
Covid-19: Bihar Hospitals face shortage of beds, patients being turned away

The post UP: Former District Judge blames administration for Covid affected wife’s death appeared first on SabrangIndia.

 

अब्बा, एक वक्त मैं अपना बहुत कुछ गंवाने के बाद पूरी तरह परेशान हो गई थी जब मैं लगातार खुद से पूछ रही थी कि मेरे ही पिता क्यों…! उन्हें ही क्यों…! लेकिन यह आपके बताए रास्ते का हासिल है कि वाकयों को उसके बड़े दायरे में देखो और अपनी जिंदगी को भी बड़े फलक पर देखो। मैंने महसूस किया कि मेरी तरह तो हजारों हैं, मर्द, औरतें और बच्चे, जिन्होंने अपने सबसे करीबी और अजीज लोगों को खो दिया और वे भी यही पूछ रहे हैं कि क्यों उन्हें ही..!

बड़ी तादाद में बच्चे अनाथ हो गए और बड़ी तादाद में मां-बाप अपने बच्चों से महरूम हो गए। मैंने यह भी महसूस किया कि मेरी तरह के कुछ लोग गोधरा और कश्मीर में भी हैं। उनकी तकलीफ हमसे जरा भी कम नहीं है। उनका नुकसान हमसे कम नहीं हैं। उनकी मासूमियत भी हमसे कम नहीं है। इसलिए मैं उनसे पूछती हूं जो सत्ता में हैं। उन्होंने उस कत्लेआम को होने दिया था। और फिर समय-समय पर इंसानियत के खिलाफ अपराध होते रहे। और तमाम विनम्रता और संजीदगी के साथ मैं खुदा से पूछती हूं कि क्यों वे नहीं जो नफरत का पाठ पढ़ाते हैं? क्यों वे नहीं, जो सांप्रदायिक असहनशीलता फैलाते हैं? क्यों वे नहीं, जो उसकी बनाई दुनिया के खिलाफ हिंसा का प्रचार करते हैं?

मेरे प्यारे अब्बा, मुझे आपकी बात याद है कि दुनिया में बहुत दुश्मनी है, लेकिन बहुत सुकून, मेलजोल और प्यार भी है। दुनिया में दुख है, तकलीफ है, लेकिन सुख समृद्धि और आगे बढ़ने के रास्ते भी हैं। दुनिया में जंग और बर्बरता है, लेकिन भाईचारा, सुकून और शांति भी है। यह इस बात से तय होता है कि आप कहां से और कैसे इस दुनिया को देखते हैं।
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यह आपकी उम्मीदों और सकारात्मक सोच के साथ तैयार मेरी शख्सियत है कि मैंने देश में प्यार, भाईचारा, सुकून और सांप्रदायिक सौहार्द के हालात को देखना पसंद किया है, चुना है। मैंने यह भरोसा चुना कि गुजरात में हमने जो हिंसा और सांप्रदायिक असहनशीलता देखी, वह महज एक तात्कालिक विचलन थी और उसके गम जल्दी ही गुजर जाएंगे। आपस में बांटने के एजेंडे के साथ नफरत का कारोबार करने वाले हारेंगे और भारत में लोग अपने मजहब और नस्ल, रंग और जाति, सियासी बुनियाद या आदर्श की परवाह किए बिना एक दूसरे के साथ आएंगे, आपके और आपकी तरह के लाखों लोगों के उन सपनों के लिए जो एक, प्रगतिशील, समृद्ध, धर्मनिरपेक्ष और गर्व करने लायक भारत में बसता है।

मेरे प्यारे अब्बा, आपकी दी हुई सबक मुझे यह ताकत देती है कि मैं गुजरात कत्लेआम के दौरान हजारों बेघर हो चुके लोगों, औरतों और बच्चों की मदद के लिए आगे बढ़ूं, जो जिंदगी के बेहद असह्य और तकलीफदेह हालात में जी रहे हैं। मेरे दिल में किसी खास व्यक्ति या समुदाय के लिए कोई कड़वाहट नहीं है। मैं आपके दामाद नाज़िद हुसेन के साथ हूं और अपनी काबिलियत के मुताबिक बेसहारा लोगों की मदद के लिए बहुत बेहतर काम कर रही हूं। हमारे साथ कई लोगों, संस्थाओं और संगठनों की भी मदद है। हम लोगों के पुनर्वास, उनकी सुरक्षा की गारंटी और गुजरात में इंसान सुनिश्चित करने के लिए काम कर रहे हैं।
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हमें हिम्मत दीजिए अब्बा! और इस देश को भी हौसला दीजिए, जिसके सम्मान के लिए आपने बिना किसी भेदभाव और बिना किसी स्वार्थ के जिंदगी भर काम किया। हमें आशीर्वाद दीजिए और राह दिखाइए, ताकि हम हम आपके दिखाए रास्ते को साफ-साफ देख सकें, उस पर चल सकें। दया और संवेदना का रास्ता, एकता और अखंडता का रास्ता, शांति और सौहार्द का रास्ता, ताकि हम गुजरात की उस त्रासदी को दोहराए जाते नहीं देखें।
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शुक्रिया… हम आपसे प्यार करते हैं… हम हमेशा आपसे प्यार करेंगे… हम हमेशा आपको याद करेंगे…!

(समाप्त)

अनुवाद- अरविंद शेष

अब्बा, हमें हौसला और हिम्मत देना- 2

अब्बा, हमें हौसला और हिम्मत देना- 1
 
 

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आपकी लाइब्रेरी में कानून, साहित्य, दर्शनशास्त्र, इंसानियत, धर्म, राष्ट्रीय एकता और आपकी अपनी कविताओं की हजारों किताबें जो आपने अपनी अगली पीढ़ियों के लिए संभाल के रखी थीं, वे आपको समझने के लिए काफी थीं। वे सब खाक में तब्दील कर दी गईं। आपके दफ्तर में अब गौरैया नहीं हैं, उनके घोंसले जला दिए गए। मुझे याद है कि आपने अपने दफ्तर में गौरैयों को घोंसला बनाने, अंडे देने, उनके चूजों को उड़ान भरना सिखाने के लिए कितनी मेहनत की थी। आप अपने दफ्तर की एक खिड़की हमेशा ही खुला छोड़ देते थे, तब भी, जब हम सब समूचे घर को बंद कर कहीं बाहर गए होते। सिर्फ इसलिए कि गौरैया हमारे घरों में आजादी से आवाजाही कर सकें। जब वे गौरैया घोंसला बनाने के दौरान कुछ गंदगी फैलाती थीं, तो दिन में कई-कई बार आप अपने दफ्तर की सफाई खुशी-खुशी करते थे। जब उन गौरैयों को नन्हे चूजे होते थे, तो आप घर के पंखे चलाने वाले बिजली के स्विच पर टेप लगा देते थे, ताकि गलती से वे चल न जाएं। पंखों से चूजों के घायल होने की बनिस्बत आप गरमी को बर्दाश्त करके काम करना पसंद करते थे। हम आज भी उन गौरैयों को याद करते हैं।

मुझे याद है कि एक युवक कालिया जब अपने पांवों के जख्मों की तकलीफ से तड़प रहा था, तो आप उसे डॉक्टर के पास ले गए और खुद उसके घावों की मरहम-पट्टी की थी। उसने बताया था कि जिस वक्त कोई उसे छूने तक के लिए तैयार नहीं था, तब आपने उसे कुर्सी पर बिठा कर खुद नीचे बैठ उसके पांवों को देख रहे थे और तब वह खुद को शर्मिंदा महसूस कर रहा था। उन सालों के दौरान आपने जिनकी मदद की, उनमें से दर्जनों लोग आपकी रहमदिली और उदारता की याद दिलाते हैं। उनमें से कई यह भी जानते हैं कि कैसे आप उन्हें घरों का रंग-रोगन करने, दरवाजों को पेंट करने, किचेन या टॉयलेट या घर में गैराज को नई शक्ल देने के बारे में बताते थे। यह सब इसलिए नहीं कि वह जरूरी था, बल्कि इसलिए कि आप चाहते थे कि वे अपनी जिंदगी को बेहतर बनाने के लिए खुद कुछ काम करें। वे सभी आपको याद करते हैं।

अब्बा, मैं जानती हूं कि अगर आप चाहते तो अपनी वकालत की प्रैक्टिस और अपने सियासी कॅरियर के जरिए काफी पैसे कमा सकते थे। लेकिन इसके बजाय आपने हमारे हिंदुस्तानी स्वभाव के मुताबिक बिल्कुल सादा रहन-सहन और ऊंचे खयालातों की जिंदगी चुनी। अगर आप चाहते तो एक बहुत ताकतवर और रसूखदार सियासतदां हो सकते थे। लेकिन इसके बजाय आप अपने गुरु और आदर्श महात्मा गांधी के मूल्यों के साथ बने रहे और आपने देश के लोगों के लिए काम करने का रास्ता चुना। सांप्रदायिक एकता और सौहार्द, राष्ट्रीय एकता और इंसानी गरिमा पर आपकी लिखी कविताएं आने वाली पीढ़ियों को रास्ता दिखलाती रहेंगी।

यह आपकी उम्मीदों और सकारात्मक सोच के साथ तैयार मेरी शख्सियत है कि मैंने देश में प्यार, भाईचारा, सुकून और सांप्रदायिक सौहार्द के हालात को देखना पसंद किया है। मैंने यह भरोसा चुना कि गुजरात में हमने जो हिंसा और सांप्रदायिक असहनशीलता देखी, वह महज एक तात्कालिक विचलन थी और उसके गम जल्दी ही गुजर जाएंगे।
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आपने न जाने कितने दिलों को छुआ। ज्यादातर हिंदुओं और मुसलमानों ने साथ आकर आपके लिए दुख जताया। आप शांति के एक दूत थे, इंसानियत और इंसानी गरिमा के पैरोकार थे। खुद को हिंदू मानने वाले चंद भटकाए गए लोगों ने गुजरात और गुलबर्ग सोसाइटी में आपके और हजारों मासूम निर्दोष लोगों के साथ जो किया, उस पर हमारे ज्यादातर हिंदू दोस्तों ने अफसोस और शर्मिंदगी जताई। गुनाह का एहसास और उसका बोझ अपने दिल पर लिए ये दोस्त अक्सर हमारे पास आकर गुजरात कत्लेआम के लिए हमसे माफी मांगते। मगर जैसा आप भी करते, उसी तरह हमने उन्हें कहा कि आप वे नहीं हैं जिन्हें इसके लिए बोझ महसूस करना चाहिए।

यह हिंदुत्व नहीं है। उस कत्लेआम के लिए यह हिंदुत्व जिम्मेदार नहीं और इस पर आरोप नहीं लगाया जाना चाहिए। भटकाए गए कुछ अतिवादी दरअसल चरमपंथी हैं और चरमपंथ के पीछे चलने वालों का अपना ही मजहब होता है। हिंदू दरअसल मासूम, रहमदिल, भगवान से डरने वाले और कानूनों के मुताबिक चलने वाले नागरिक होते हैं, ठीक उन मुसलमानों की तरह जिन्हें उन चरमपंथियों ने गुजरात में निशाना बनाया और मार डाला। हमने यहां और सभी जगहों पर अपने सभी दोस्तों को यही बताया है। हम उन्हें प्यार करते हैं, उनकी और हमारी तहजीब के लिए उनकी नेकनीयती की इज्जत करते हैं। यही तो आपने भी किया था। हम उनके सराकारों को साझा करेंगे और इस समाज और देश में फासीवाद और नफरत का जहर फैलाने वालों के खात्मे के लिए काम करेंगे।

(जारी)……

अब्बा, हमें हौसला और हिम्मत देना- 1

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मैं पूर्व सांसद एहसान जाफरी की बेटी हूं, जिन्हें गोधरा घटना के बाद शुरू हुए गुजरात कत्लेआम के दौरान 28 फरवरी, 2002 को उनके ही घर में बर्बर तरीके से जला कर मारा डाला गया। मेरे लिए आज भी यह यकीन करना मुश्किल है कि अब वे नहीं हैं, उन्हें इस तरह बेवक्त हमसे दूर कर दिया गया, बेहद क्रूरता और बर्बरता के साथ। चूंकि उन्हें जिंदा जला दिया गया और हमें उनका शरीर भी नहीं मिला, तो मैं अब भी उनकी मौत के बारे में नहीं सोचती। गुजरे तमाम दिनों के दौरान मैं भरोसे और नाउम्मीदियों, भाईचारे और इंसानियत में अविश्वास, हमारी विरासत के मूल्यों और ज्ञान के साथ-साथ गुजरात में अधर्म या अनैतिकता और कत्लेआम के सरेआम नाच के बीच बेतहाशा झूलती रही। इस बीच मैंने अपनी जड़ों और मजहब का सामना किया। मगर मेरे पिता से मिले सबक और मेरे परिवार को मिली ताकत का शुक्रिया कि मैंने फिर से अपना भरोसा और संतुलन हासिल किया है। बहुत थोड़ा ही सही, मैं अपने दुख से उबर सकी हूं।
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बहुत थोड़ा, क्योंकि आज भी मैं अपने जज्बातों पर काबू रखने में नाकाम हो जाती हूं, जब मैं यह सब सोचने लगती हूं कि तलवार से कैसे उन्हें चीर डाला गया, वह आग जिसमें उन्हें जिंदा जला दिया गया, वे लोग जिन्होंने उन्हें मार डाला। लेकिन अब मैं आपके साथ अपने पिता की उन यादों को साझा कर सकती हूं कि वे मेरे लिए क्या थे, अपने परिवार, देश के लिए उन्होंने क्या-क्या सहा और कैसे हम सबको उन्होंने फख्र करने लायक बनाया।
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वे मेरे हीरो थे। जिस पल भी मैं आंखें बंद करती हूं, मेरे बचपन के दिनों से लेकर मेरी शादी और विदेश जाने तक की मेरी जिंदगी के तमाम दौर किसी रील की तरह बार-बार दौड़ने लगते हैं। उस जिंदगी में वे हर पल मेरे साथ थे, और अब जब मैं यह चिट्ठी लिख रही हूं, वे मेरी हिम्मत और हौसले की शक्ल में मेरे साथ हैं।
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मेरे प्यारे अब्बा, मैं आपसे बहुत प्यार करती हूं। हम सब आपसे प्यार करते हैं। हम सब आपको बहुत याद करते हैं। हम सब आपकी प्रतिबद्धता, आपके भरोसे, आपकी हिम्मत, आपके मूल्यों और त्याग के लिए आपका शुक्रिया अदा करते हैं। आपने हमें निस्वार्थी बनना और केवल खुद के बारे में नहीं सोचना सिखाया। अम्मी उस वाकये को याद करते हुए कभी नहीं थकतीं जब आप अपने पुराने घर के एक कमरे में सो रहे थे, तो एक लालटेन बिस्तर पर गिर गया था और बिस्तर में आग लग गई थी। उसी बिस्तर पर आप और अम्मी एक ओर सो रहे थे। अचानक महसूस होने पर आप जैसे ही जगे और आपने आग देखा, तो तुरंत बिस्तर पर से भागने के बजाय आपने अम्मी को जगा कर बचने के लिए कहा। लेकिन जब वे जगीं और आग देखा, तो तुरंत ही दरवाजे की ओर भागीं। उन्हें यह ध्यान नहीं रहा कि आप कहां थे और उन्हें क्या कहने की कोशिश कर रहे थे। अब इसके चालीस साल से ज्यादा गुजर चुके हैं, लेकिन अब भी वे उस वाकये को याद करती हैं और अफसोस से भर जाती हैं कि आग देख कर दरवाजे की ओर भागते हुए उन्होंने आपका हाथ क्यों नहीं पकड़ा।
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लेकिन अट्ठाईस फरवरी को उस वक्त वे घर में ऊपर थीं, जब आप पर बर्बरता ढायी गई और जिंदा जला दिया गया। आप तब उन सैकड़ों मर्दों, औरतों और बच्चों को बचाने की कोशिश कर रहे थे, जिन्होंने हिंसक और कातिल भीड़ से जान बचाने के लिए आपके घर में पनाह ली हुई थी। वह अफसोस अब उनके लिए बर्दाश्त करने के काबिल नहीं है। उन्होंने देखा कि कैसे एक अलग हालात में चालीस साल पहले का वह वाकया फिर से सामने आ गया।          (जारी)…..

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I am the daughter of the former Member of Parliament, Ehsan  Jaffri, who was brutalised, burnt  in his own house and killed on February 28 during the Gujarat violence that took place in the wake of the Godhra incident. It was hard for me even to believe that he is no more, that he was taken away so untimely and with such cruelty and brutality. As he was burnt and we did not find his body, there is no closure for me on his death. During the past 5 months I have swung wildly between the extremes of faith and hopelessness, brotherhood and utter disbelief in humanity, our ancient values and wisdom, and the displayed dance of immorality and violence in Gujarat. Over this time, I even confronted my roots and religion. But thanks to the power of my father’s teachings and the support of my family, I have now regained my balance, overcome my grief, even if only partially.

Partially, because I still fail to control my emotions while thinking about the sword that ripped him, the fire that burnt him, the people who killed him. But I can now share with you my memories of my father, what he was to me, what he endured in the services to his family, his country, and how proud he has made us all.

He was my hero. The moment I close my eyes the entire period of my life from my early childhood to the day I got married and left my family in India, plays back. Repeatedly. He was with me every moment of that life and he is with me, in spirit, now as I write this letter.

My dear Abba, I love you. We all love you. We all miss you. We thank you for your devotion, your faith, your courage, your values, your sacrifice. You have taught us to be selfless and not put ourselves first. Ammi is never tired of recounting the incident when in the bedroom of your old house while you were sleeping, the small kerosene lamp on the side of the bed fell off and the curtain caught fire. You were sleeping on the side of the fire and Ammi was next to you. As the heat woke you up and you saw the fire, instead of jumping out of the bed immediately, you first woke Ammi up and asked her to get to safety. But when she woke up and saw the fire, she thinks she quickly jumped out of bed and ran to the door without even knowing where you were or what you were trying to tell her. It is more than 40 years since, but she still remembers and regrets that incident and feels guilty of putting herself first that day and not grabbing your hand as she ran to the door.
In the wake of what happened on February 28, as she was upstairs in the house while you were being brutalised and burnt in your efforts to save the lives and honour of over a hundred men, women and children who had gathered in your house seeking protection from the violent mob, the guilt has become unbearable for her. She sees that 40 year old incident replayed yet again if under different circumstances and with not so bearable consequences.

Thousands of books in your library, the books on law, literature, philosophy, humanity, religion, national unity and your own poems articulating your understanding of all that, have turned into ashes – the treasure you had safeguarded and saved for your children and grandchildren. The sparrows in your office are no more — their nests burnt. I remember how you used to encourage and assist the sparrows to make their nest in your office, lay eggs, rear their chicks and teach them to fly. You would keep one office window open all the time, even when we went out and locked up the entire house. Only so that the sparrows could get in and out freely. Several times a day you would happily clean the mess the sparrows made in your office in the process of making their nests. When the sparrows had little chicks, you would put a tape on the fan switch never allowing it to be turned on even by mistake. You would work in the heat rather than risk injuring the chicks by the fan blade. We also miss those sparrows.

Kaliya, the young boy who had foot infection, cries and recalls how you took him to the doctor and used to personally dress and bandage his wounds. He also talks of how he, whom no one else would even touch, used to feel embarrassed to sit on the chair while you would sit down and tend to his feet. Dozens of those whom you helped over the years also come and reminisce about your kindness and generosity. Many of them also know how you asked them to white–wash the house, paint the doors, or remodel the toilets, kitchen, or garage in our house, not because that was needed, but because you wanted them to work and make a living for themselves. They all miss you.
Abba, I know if you wanted, you would have earned a lot of money through your practice of law or your political career. But instead, consistent with our ethos, the Indian ethos, you chose to lead a life of simple living and high thinking. If you wanted, you could have become a very powerful and pragmatic politician. But instead, consistent with the values of your mentor and ideal Mahatma Gandhi, you chose to serve the people of our country. Your poems on communal unity, national integrity and human dignity will continue to guide generations.

Thanks to your optimism and my upbringing with a positive outlook, I choose to see love, brotherhood, peace and communal harmony in India. I choose to believe the violence and communal intolerance we saw in Gujarat was only an aberration that will soon pass.

You have touched many hearts. A majority of Hindus and Muslims have come together in mourning you. You were an apostle of peace and an advocate of humanity and human dignity. Most of our Hindu friends express regret and shame over what a few misguided radicals who believed they were Hindus did to you and to the thousands of other innocent people in Gulberg society and in Gujarat. Bearing a feeling of guilt, these friends often come and apologise to us for the Gujarat violence. But we tell them, as you would have, that it is not they who must feel guilty.

It is not Hinduism that is responsible for the carnage and should not be blamed. The misguided radicals were extremists, followers of extremism, which is a religion in itself. Hindus are as innocent, as kind, as compassionate, as God–fearing and law-abiding citizens as those Muslims who were made targets and killed in Gujarat by those extremists. We tell this to all our friends, here and everywhere. We love them, respect them and respect their sincerity and faith in our values just as you did. We share their concern and resolve to work together to eliminate the monster of fascism injecting and spreading the poison of hate in our society, our country.
Abba, there was a time when I was totally overwhelmed with my loss, when I repeatedly kept asking myself, why my father? Why him? But thanks to your teachings, the teachings of always seeing the bigger picture of events and the bigger picture of our lives, I have recognised that there are thousands of others like me – men, women and children – who have lost their near and dear ones and who are also asking why them? Scores of children have become orphans and scores of parents have become childless. I also recognise that some of the likes of me are in Godhra and in Kashmir. Their pain is no less than mine. Their loss is no less than mine. Their innocence is no less than mine. So I ask of those in power who have carried out this carnage and who from time to time commit such crimes against humanity, why us? And with all humility, humbleness and a sincere heart I ask God, Why not those who preach hatred? Why not those who spread communal intolerance? Why not those who propagate violence against His creation?

My dear Abba, I remember you telling me there is animosity in the world, but there is also peace, harmony and love. There is pain and misery in the world, but there is also happiness, progress and prosperity. There is fighting and brutality in the world, but there is also brotherhood, peace and tranquillity. It also depends upon where and how you look at the world. Thanks to your optimism and my upbringing with a positive outlook, I choose to see love, brotherhood, peace and communal harmony in India. I choose to believe the violence and communal intolerance we saw in Gujarat was only an aberration that will soon pass. The hate–mongers with a divisive agenda will be defeated and the people in India will come together, regardless of their religion or race, regardless of their colour or caste, regardless of their political orientation or ideology, to realise your dream and the dream of millions of others like you — that of a united, progressive, prosperous, secular and proud India.

My dear Abba, thinking about you and your teachings revitalises my resolve to go out and help thousands of those homeless men, women and children produced in the wake of the Gujarat massacre who have been suffering what is insufferable, who have been enduring, what is unendurable. I am not bitter against any individual, or community. Following in your footsteps, I with your son–in–law, Najid Hussain am working to the best of my capacity and capability, to help these destitute people. We have help from several individuals, institutions and organisations. We are working to provide those people rehabilitation, guarantee their safety and security and work to ensure justice in Gujarat.

Bless us Abba. And bless the country you served all your life with distinction, honour, and a selfless devotion. Bless us and guide us so that we can clearly see and tread the path you showed us — the path of kindness and compassion, of unity and integrity, of peace and harmony – so that we never have to see Gujarat repeated ever again. Thank you. We love you. We will always love you. We also miss you.  

Archived from Communalism Combat, September 2002, Anniversary Issue (9th), Year 9  No. 80, Bless us, Abba!            

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Archived from Communalism Combat,November 2012  Year 19    No.168, Cover Story

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Archived from Communalism Combat, November 2012 Year 19    No.168, Cover Story

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Archived from Communalism Combat, November 2012 Year 19    No.168, Cover Story

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