peace initiative | SabrangIndia News Related to Human Rights Mon, 06 Nov 2023 12:28:57 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.2.2 https://sabrangindia.in/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Favicon_0.png peace initiative | SabrangIndia 32 32 As the ruling party peddles hate, the people of Assam live in harmony and hope https://sabrangindia.in/as-the-ruling-party-peddles-hate-the-people-of-assam-live-in-harmony-and-hope/ Mon, 06 Nov 2023 12:28:57 +0000 https://sabrangindia.in/?p=30869 Several everyday examples of harmony in the north eastern state of Assam signal hope amidst a dominant politics of hate and exclusion

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For decades, the people of Assam have been held ransom to the politics of exclusion, even outright hate. The ongoing citizenship crisis has caused its own share of schisms. Of late, especially since the change of political guard since 2016, hate has been spewed by elected officials. The north eastern state with 61.47% Hindu and around 34.22% Muslim population, throws up powerful tales of denial and discrimination as genuine Indian citizens face an unaccountable state on issues of NRC exckusion, the “D” Voter list (Doubtful voters declared by lower down officials of the Election Commission) and the ever rampant ‘Declared Foreigners’ notice by the Assam Border Police. CJPO’s intrepid Team Assam has been intervening every day each week, converting despair into hope as month on month, thanks to para legal aid and cases fought in the Foreigners Tribunals and even constitutional courts, individuals of varying ethnicity, are declared (after onerous legal battles) Indian.

According to the population census there are just nine (of the total of 33 districts) where the Muslims are in a majority. A state rich in tea estates (fields) and the folk culture of Bodo, Mishing, Phake, Dimasa, Kachari, Khamti, Khamyang, Khelma, Rahba, Tai Aiton, Goriya and other tea-tribes owns up unique local cultures, where people weave the threads of a syncretic canopy.

  • Shivsagar

In the Bodwa Chowk locality of Shivsagar two Muslim men planned the Hajj pilgrimage, which is regarded as one of the mandatory religious duties. There is a tradition of greeting the Hajjis before their departure and then after arrival with token gifts and warm wishes. Friends and relatives meet and wish them to express joy and request for special prayers.

Remarkably, the Hindu well-wishers of the Bodwa Chowk invited Hqajjis on an auspicious feast and presented the traditional ‘Gamchha’ to compliment them for this devout accomplishment. As reported here, the Hindu community of the Bodwa Chowk also organised a pooja on the feast day. This gesture of humanity and affection to respect and accept different faiths is poignant. Iliyas Ahmad, a leader from the social organisation ‘Khudai Khidmatgar’ said ‘It’s a slap on the face of people who spread hate.’

  • Hailakandi

According to a report of The Asian Age, an Auto-rickshaw driver in Hailakandi, Assam has often crossed the curfew-restrictions to save two lives. While the breaking of an imposed curfew is not a lawful activity but what if it can become a saviour of humanity? Maqbool, a real-life hero of love and harmony, reached and picked the pregnant lady Nandita and her husband Ruben Das when she was going through pain and Ruben was not able to manage a vehicle. At such a critical time, Maqbool arrived with his auto-rickshaw and took them to the nearest hospital. Everyone has greeted and appreciated his step. Later Nandita gave birth to a beautiful daughter and named her ‘Shanti’. She told ‘We need more such examples of Hindu-Muslim unity.’

Curfew is usually declared at times where police authorities consider it necessary as there is a breakdown of social harmony or ‘law and order.’ The hope generated by down to earth Maqbool itself serves as an example to restore the peace.

  • Dhubri

Have Muslims constructed temples? Visit Dhubri district in Assam where is located the ancient Durga temple, refurbished by Amrit Badshah in 2022. An absence of regular maintenance meant that this temple needed an urgent renovation. Hence the young social activist Amrit took this task on. He stated – ‘I had publicly announced that whatever repair, construction left for this particular Durga Temple, I will do diligently.’

He works as a secretary at the Assam Pradesh Congress Committee. While hate and venom are spewed by some, such examples are the best deterrant. Temples and mosques are more than mere religious edifices. These centres of social and religious gatherings, represent local and religious cultures, dear to different sections of the population.

  • Barpeta

Again here, people come forward for each other. Vashishta Sharma from the district Barpeta has donated 5 Bigha land to the Jama Masjid of Mandiya for a Qabristan. Local Muslims and Hindus have whole-heartedly hailed his decision. In the 21st century when people contest every patch of land, this generous act stands out as a shining exception.

The egalitarian celebrations of Rongali Bihu and Azan Fakir-

Rongali Bihu or Bohag Bihu is a widely celebrated festival of Assam which welcomes the season of spring, The Assamese New Year! It also lends a festive frame to relish the religious and folk diversity. Muslims actively participate. Bihu celebrations are divided over separate days, with a distinct ritual for each day.

On ‘Goru Bihu’ people take their cows to the nearby ponds or rivers while Mela Bihu, Sera Bihu, Kutum Bihu, Raati Bihu, Sot Bihu and Manuh Bihu are celebrated with folk music, dance and songs followed by particular formalities. The Sera Bihu is celebrated on the last day of the festival when people accumulate for further resolutions and end-day rites. The Bihu not just preserves the spirit of Assamese tribes but Muslims are also a part of the inclusive ethos.

The Azan Fakir, a Sufi saint and poet of Assam who initiated the lyrical tradition of the famous ‘Zikr’ and ‘Zari’ songs is broadly sung during the Bihu carnival. These devotional songs have been alluring the masses through its magnetic sense of spirituality. Till now the Bihu organising committees manage distinct sessions to cherish this evergreen tradition. Fakir was a Muslim who invigorated the dismantling situation of the Assamese Muslims but he also understood the worth of a pluralistic society. The shards of multiplicity still gleam between his melodious words of sagacity.

These local traditions continue to draw in different communities.

The Jama Masjid of Jayantipur, Nagaon, built in early 1570 is considered among the very first Islamic edifices of India. Assam holds a long history of Muslims spread over almost seven decades. The marring of the social landscape by the discourse of “illegal migrants” has considerably exacerbated the ongoing citizenship crisis.

This has been made worse by hate being spewed by those in power. CJP (Citizens for Justice and Peace) has also taken note of a programme of ‘Times Now’ and registered a complaint on April 12, 2023, where the presenter manipulated the audience to strengthen the ‘Mazar Jihad’ propaganda.

The fact that real life fraternity and harmony continues to thrive among citizens is what offers hope, in Assam and all over India. 

 

Related:

India celebrates Durga-Pooja with zest, air of religious unity rules the country

Everyday Harmony: Muslim Man Risks Life to Save a Hindu Girl from Drowning In Madhya Pradesh

Love & Harmony over Hate: Int’l Day to Counter Hate speech, CJP’s unique efforts

An oasis of Sufi harmony, Hazrat Nizamuddin’s tomb stands out

 

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Hate speech does not mar everyday harmony in poll-pound Rajasthan https://sabrangindia.in/hate-speech-does-not-mar-everyday-harmony-in-poll-pound-rajasthan/ Sat, 04 Nov 2023 12:25:23 +0000 https://sabrangindia.in/?p=30832 In the wake of a systemic right-wing hate agenda to polarise the public during the upcoming assembly elections, we must not forget the everyday reality of Hindu-Muslim harmony

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If you love stargazing you would love Rajasthan because after the dusty storms the stars become clear enough for bare eyes. But what about the storms of hate flowing fast, flinging stinging grains of sand in the eyes of the public so that we become blind to the everyday reality of collective harmony?

For the past months, the western state of Rajasthan has been peppered with fuelled hate, inciting prejudice against Muslims, the game plan being to polarise voting-behaviour as the assembly elections approach. Rajasthan goes to polls on November 23. The socio-political moves from ultra, right-wing organisations like VHP, RSS and Bajrang Dal and their mushrooming affiliates have considerably grown in the past few months. The opposition either remains silent or feebly attempts to bust the manipulated hate. It is therefore important to take note of the existing reality, the everyday, heart-warming instances of lived positives that are the natural foil to both fake news and hate-speech. We must also question why psychologists suggest to stay away from the toxic news-shows and why independent journalists like Ravish Kumar recommend that the rational citizens should not consume the godi-media news or irrational information from news hour anchors? These everyday stories of hope are a frequent reminder of our treasured Ganga-Jamuni heritage.

The pink city of Jaipur, the light flickers of the Jodhpur, the vibrant folk art, colourful embroidery, the legacy of classic music and dance have been fascinating people from different places and communities for decades. Travellers imbibe these sparks of stars to strengthen their footsteps and invoke the path ahead. CJP has a regular monitor in its Nafrat ka Naqsha. While we log in data of peppered hate —during April, 2023 CJP has taken note of the spiteful Trishul distribution events in Rajasthan, where the speakers provoked the Hindu mob against the minority via manufactured narratives and impelled them for violence—we need to also constantly record the welcome reprieve from everyday harmony. These instances are also important means to counter the injustices caused by hate and exclusion.

Over just a few short weeks, Rajasthan has also witnessed tales of courage and syncretic sagacity which can fortify the foothold of our everyday religious harmony.

Barmer

Rajasthan consists of a considerably low ratio of Muslim population and most of the districts are dominated by the Hindu community. Several times, orthodox norms, misogyny, communalism and casteism have spilt and resulted in the brutal incidents of discrimination, still wise and grounded people have not left believing in the ethos of accord. In the Barmer district of Rajasthan, many villages have celebrated the pious month of Ramzan. Gohad ka tala, Aarbi ki Gafan, Saroope ka tala and Navatala villages own the legacy of partition when a throng of citizens from Pakistan came and got shelter in adjoining districts. Some villagers are even followers of Peer-Pithora who has an enormous fan-following in Sindh, Pakistan.

report in LiveHindustan tells us they have been following the Islamic rituals during the month of Ramzan for decades. The cultural similarity and parallel values fix them through the yarn of affection where no communal barriers exist to differentiate and boost the trenches. They wake up at Sehri (the early morning ritual), keep Roza (fast), do Iftar (break the fast) and offer Namaz with a noteworthy bravura. Sharing food and prayers on the same ‘Dastarkwan’ ( place food mat) while several streets are swelling up with the clatter and chaos of hateful slogans is beautiful enough to melt down the mountains of prejudices.

Jaipur  

In the similar way, Jaipur, particularly known for its historical- cultural significance has also witnessed a similar instance where citizens have crossed the walls of religion and division of faith.

As reported by The New Indian Express, Rajendra Bagadi from the pink city was suffering from cancer and unfortunately, he lost his life during the brutal Covid-19 pandemic. However, the local Muslims came to the forefront and took the responsibility of rituals while Rajendra’s wife and children accompanied them. Showing a true spirit of fraternity and humanitarian principle, they supported the family during such a fragile time.  At the time, the video of Muslims performing the last rites of this Hindu man also went viral on the social-media portals where netizens hailed this story via powerful comments and appreciation.

Karauli

The recently released Bollywood fiction movie, ‘Afwah’ sheds some light on the element of fake news and hate speech in the city of Rajasthan. But what do people do when a hate-incident takes place or when rumours flutter to rouse ferocity? Most of the time, the herd has no time (nor inclination) to fact-check or scrutinise the veracity of the information being peddled, but they do spend time and energy to spread the poison.

Madhulika Rajput, a middle-aged lady who runs a shop in the town was not among them. She gave shelter to the Muslim men when a ferocious Hindu mob was chasing them. The violent crowd was also repeating the catchphrase of ‘Jai Shri ram’ but she took a sane step by saving the Muslim men inside the complex. While expressing her perplexities regarding the mishap she said – ‘They asked if anyone was hiding, but I said no one was here. I did not want the riot to spread further.’

Around 35 people got wounded during the bout but her wisdom has set an example against growing communalism. It’s also a powerful response to those chauvinists who underestimate the bravery of their women among conflict.

The word ‘Rajasthan’ translates into ‘the land of kings’. Now it depends on us whether we want to nurture the kings of hate, autocracy and oppression or we choose ordinary people who display, every day, a deep understanding of humanity while saving the crux of democracy.

 

Related:

An oasis of Sufi harmony, Hazrat Nizamuddin’s tomb stands out

Everyday Harmony: Muslim Man Risks Life To Save A Hindu Girl From Drowning In Madhya Pradesh

Love & Harmony over Hate: Int’l Day to Counter Hate speech, CJP’s unique efforts

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US: Jewish peace activists protest in solidarity with Palestine, demand ceasefire in Gaza https://sabrangindia.in/us-jewish-peace-activists-protest-in-solidarity-with-palestine-demand-ceasefire-in-gaza/ Thu, 19 Oct 2023 12:04:55 +0000 https://sabrangindia.in/?p=30455 The rally was organised by Jewish Voice for Peace and If Not Now, two Jewish anti-Zionist groups.

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Several hundred Jewish activists demonstrated on Capitol Hill, Washington DC and protested inside a House office building on Wednesday, October 18, demanding that the Joe Biden administration and lawmakers push for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, as Israeli airstrikes continue and the humanitarian crisis intensifies. Just yesterday the Director of  Congressional and Public Affairs at the U.S. State Department’s Bureau of Political-Military Affairs, Josh Paul who is in Charge of U.S. Arms Transfers to Foreign Nations, Josh Paul has resigned in protest the blind bias of the US administration.

US Capitol Police “arrested” around 300 people who were protesting inside the House office building and said three protesters were charged with assault on a police officer.

The protest rally was organised by Jewish Voice for Peace and If Not Now, two Jewish anti-Zionist groups. Wearing black shirts that prominently said “Not in our name” on the front and “Jews say ceasefire now” on the back, about 400 group members gathered inside the building.

As per a post by Jewish Voice for Peace on X (formerly Twitter), thousands of protesters sang and chanted outside. They held signs saying, “Jews say stop the genocide of Palestinians” and “Never again for anyone.”

This demonstration comes amid protests across the Middle East after a strike on the al-Ahli Hospital in Gaza City Tuesday killed about 500 people, making it the deadliest single strike on civilians in the Gaza Strip since the conflict began.

In the regular live updates during the protest on X, Jewish Voice for Peace posted, “While we were inside, an Israeli airstrike bombed the entrance of a school in Khan Younis, where Palestinians were forced to evacuate to. These are atrocities. This is why we demand a ceasefire now!”

This is the second time this week that Jewish protesters demanding a ceasefire were arrested. On Monday, more than 30 people were arrested in a protest that blocked entrances to the White House. The protests mark growing dissent even in the United States on the attacks on Gaza.

“People are coming from across the country,” said Eva Borgwardt, the national spokeswoman for If Not Now, according to the New York Times. “So many of us are grieving,” she said, adding, “The horrific bombing cannot be the answer.”

Related:

Protesting US arms shipments to Israel, Director, US State department, Josh Paul, resigns

Israeli airstrike on Gaza hospital kills at least 500, Israel blame game continues

Palestine-Israel conflict: Need to look beyond security paradigm 

Ending Israeli Occupation of Palestine essential in ending historic injustice: UN Commission

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Give & take, Muslims offer cooperation and understanding: Ganesh Chaturthi & Eid-e-Milad: 2023 https://sabrangindia.in/give-take-muslims-offer-cooperation-and-understanding-ganesh-chaturthi-eid-e-milad-2023/ Mon, 11 Sep 2023 08:20:08 +0000 https://sabrangindia.in/?p=29761 Building communities based on empathy requires understanding, mediation and dialogue especially in the present climate of hate

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Representatives of over a dozen Muslim groups met on September 6, 2023 and decided to defer the Eid-e-Milad procession, which has traditionally taken out on Prophet Mohammed’s birth anniversary, by a day this year and take out the same on September 29, instead of September 28, in order to avoid inconvenience and trouble to the public with Ganesh Chaturthi and immersion processions, which are also on September 28.

These groups include the Khilafat Committee in Mumbai, which organises one of the largest Eid-e-Milad processions in the country. The Khilafat Committee procession is always led by a prominent Hindu leader and this tradition has been followed since the time of Khilafat agitation and civil disobedience movement from 1919 to 1923 aimed to achieve freedom from colonial rule. This time the Muslim community leadership demonstrated maturity in modifying their tradition. They might have been nudged by the police to decide, but they did it with grace and in the spirit of accommodation. The leaders also decided to avoid playing loud music in the presence of DJs (often the start of provocations to localities where the processions move through).

Amidst a series of cataclysmic incidents, some prolonged including the violent communally targeted violence as in Manipur, Haryana and the shooting of three Muslims by a RPF Jawan Chetan Singh on train – Chetan Singh, films like “The Kerala Story” and The Kashmir Files”, the Sakal Hindu Samaj rallies calling for social boycott of Muslims, there is also always the everyday, reassuring reality of everyday humanity and compassion. News about humanity and people helping those from other communities, and even saving their lives at the risk to their own lives.

A 32-year-old UP State Road Transport Corporation bus conductor – Mohit Yadav asked the driver of the bus to stop for about two minutes to allow two of his Muslim passengers to offer their namaaz (prayers) on Bareilly-Delhi National Highway on June 3, 2023.  Unfortunately, he was sacked by the Corporation. Burdened with responsibility of his family, he saw no other alternative but to end his life and his body was found on railway tracks on August 28.

((The story does not end there. The family of Mohit Yadav, who took his life as a victim of hatred, has been showered with goodwill from all over the country. A total of 1852 strangers came forward to help the family from many corners of the country who were heartbroken to know about Mohit’s demise. A not insignificant, Rs 26.02 lakhs was collected in three days for the family of Mohit, a contract conductor in Uttar Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation (UPSRTC), who committed suicide in UP. This young man committed suicide after losing his job due to a cyber attack by supporters of the Sangh Parivar in Uttar Pradesh where religious animosity had taken hold. And it was, Mohammad Zubair, co-founder of Alt News, who launched the crowd-funding drive and announced on Twitter that the amount will be transferred immediately to the family who lost their bread winner—Editors))

In Bakhatgarh village with all of 15 Muslim families in Bathinda District, Punjab, Amandeep Singh, a farmer donated 250 sq. yards of his land for construction of a mosque. Fellow villagers contributed Rs. 2 lakhs and the neighbouring villages contributed cement and bricks. The 15 Muslim families were not allowed to leave their mother land by the villagers at the time of partition.

Likewise, in Jitwal Kalan village in Malerkotla, Jagmel Singh donated 1,200 sq. yards of his land and Rs. 51,000 for a mosque in August 2021. Other villagers collected another Rs. 5 lakhs. Rakhi Jagga’s (2023) article gives several more instances of villagers restoring abandoned mosques in Punjab as the state’s population declined from 40% before partition to 1.9%. In Kashmir valley, there are instances of Muslim villagers helping Pandits to organise their festivals and continue their religious traditions even as they were forced to migrate out of the village during the militancy period.

A Hindu couple solemnised their marriage in a mosque in Alappuzha (Kerala) when the bride’s mother approached the mosque committee for help with the wedding on account of lack of financial resources.

There are numerous other such instances wherein an individual or followers of one religion help followers or another community to fulfil their religious obligations and rituals in spirit of cooperation. There are numerous examples of reaching out and serving those in need but belonging to other religious organisations.

The Sikh langars are open to all irrespective of religion, as are the meals served by the Sufi dargahs. In India with such mind-boggling religious diversity, people routinely participate in each other’s religious festivals. Many religious processions and festivities are jointly organised, including the Sufi urs, sandals and palkhis.

Cooperation is the norm, though increasingly coming under strain in recent times, in spite of the Indian state overzealously guarding sentiments of the majority community and demonstrating extreme tolerance towards hate speeches and crimes targeting other religious communities.

Peaceful co-existence

Why and when do people belonging to different religions or communities cooperate with each other and when they can be led to hate the other?

In any community, there are tendencies to practice one’s religion with orthodox zeal, exclusively, and degrees of exceptionalism. Such tendency partly comes from the notion of purity and pollution, emphasising accuracy in practices, rituals, worship, food and dress prescriptions, appearance and relating to other human beings. They aspire to gain religious merits by adhering to rituals and way of life as practiced by the previous generations and prescribed by their religious priesthood and cultural gate-keepers.

Such tendencies that exist in all religious communities resist any change or adoption of newer approaches and are at times deeply insecure about external influences, preferring to isolate themselves from others. They desire to live within their own sects to be able to live their orthodox practices. Such tendencies may peacefully co-exist with other communities and all they want is to be left alone. However, the younger generation of the community that has been through the educational process may not share the same desires and that may create dynamics for change from within. This is not our subject in this article.

Helping a human being in need, especially when they are in dire conditions, or victims of unfortunate circumstances and devoid of ability to come out of those circumstances comes almost naturally and spontaneously. The religion of the person who needs help does not matter. The needy person may even belong to the community one distrusts and dislikes. What matters more is the cry or appeal – explicit or implicit – of the person who needs help. It invokes empathy in us. We want to be helped when in similar circumstances.

Take e.g., when there was a cloudburst on July 26, 2005 in Mumbai and thousands of people were stranded in offices or on roads without mobile connectivity, electricity, food and means of transport to reach home or let their loved ones know that they are safe and on their way. Many of those who in normal circumstances were attitudinally at war with a certain community, were helping the stranded members of that community offering them food, water, transport, and even overnight shelter wherever necessary and possible. Communal organisations are often first to reach natural disaster sites and offer their services to stranded people.

During the earthquake on January 26, 2001 in Kutch, the RSS as well as Jamaat-e-Islami were extending their immediate relief services also to members of other communities, especially in saving lives and pulling out stranded victims from under the rubble. Likewise, when there is an accident on the road, people who witnessed the accident rush immediately to help the victim without his/her religion mattering. The iconic picture of Qutubuddin Ansari appealing with folded hands and fear on his face to be spared during communal riots in Gujarat in February 2002 was after all spared by the rioters who were killing and raping other Muslims.

Normally a person would help any needy without regards to that person’s religion, culture, or other personal beliefs. That is why Muslim beggars beg invoking the name of Allah and do not experience discrimination in receiving alms, in spite of growing communal polarisation.

People who have internalised communal attitudes see evil, or a potential challenger to their religion or culture if the needy person belongs to their rival community. Such a conscious or subconscious perception may hold back their helping hand. Some people may have more than a natural tendency to help the needy. They may have an ideological commitment to help those who are discriminated against, or marginalised.

A committed secular person who is convinced that a certain minority community is targeted for political and ideological reasons, may go out of the way to express solidarity with them. Such a commitment is more than only help, but sort of a resistance to the communal ideology they disagree with. That solidarity is resistance to the ideological “othering” of the community.

We also have communities that are more prone to helping and serving others. Service to the needy as a religious mission and religious duty. Swami Vivekanand gave the axiom of “Daridra Narayan” – piety in service to the needy. To Mother Teresa, bringing and serving the discarded leprosy patients to her ashram was part of her religious life, which was carried on by the Missionaries of Charity order even today.

Many Sufi orders also serve the needy in various ways. Sikh community has langars as part of their religious practice, where persons belonging to all religions can eat. During Covid-19 pandemic, when the Covid patients were dying from a shortage of oxygen cylinders, Sikh community reinvented their concept of langar and were extending it to “oxygen langars”, providing oxygen cylinders to the patients.

Mahatma Gandhi wanted people of India to be based on empathy for all, particularly the most marginalised and indeed, all oppressed and colonised people in the world. The concept of karuna or compassion in Jainism and Buddhism crosses religious and all cultural boundaries and sees only sufferings to be redressed. Such religious practices build communities based on inclusion, compassion, and empathy. There is a vision of common future for all rather than fragmenting humanity into sectarian communities based on religious doctrines and emphasising and making essential cultural differences and constructing unsurmountable boundaries.

Mahatma Gandhi’s talisman was “antyoday” – upliftment of the last person and the most marginalised in the society – irrespective of her community. Helping the needy as a collective mission and raison d’etre comes more naturally to those who are inspired by and follow the service mission associated with religions. Such a nation would be welcoming refugees from other countries who have escaped intolerable oppression and managed to save their lives. They see no evil in any person just because they are following other religions or are from other countries. Propaganda of hatred against any community does not touch them.

One of the reasons why people who internalise hatred against another community and have violent attitudes, is because they feel their religion or culture is superior and draw immense pride in their superiority. There is a whole army of cultural entrepreneurs who fill them up with pride and make them feel superior, inventing an imagined golden and glorious past, and draw their claims from religious scriptures, and beliefs. Videos, electronic media, social and print media are used to build brand value for their “superior” culture or religion. In an otherwise miserable life, feeling of superiority acts like an elixir giving one a high and a good feel.

However, in a democracy, given a multi-religious and multicultural society, others too have a right to claim their superiority rejecting those of yours. The claim and feeling of superiority therefore needs coercive power of the state, media and institutional network to continuously sustain one’s claim over others.

Superiority may be claimed on merits of one’s religion or on invented/exaggerated demerits of “rival” religions. While the conflict entrepreneurs, like those who get elected to the positions of authority, or those who control print and electronic media and institutional networks laugh all their way to the banks, the consumer of elixir of superiority and those who internalise hatred get a high of belonging to a superior and nurture a commitment to a strong community. The only way to sustain the feeling of superiority is by being hegemonic and/or expansionist, claiming privileges on one ground or the other, including a certain territory being the natural and only home of the community.

With a constant threat to the hegemonic / expansionist project emanating from the “rivals”, they are perceived as demons or enemies who need not exist or must be expelled out of one’s legitimate territory. They are perceived as intruders and disrupters to one’s communal / religious life. It is from this that hatred emanates. The conflict entrepreneurs create fear and paranoia of being overwhelmed by the rival. In this state, any propaganda against the “rival” community is easily internalised and forwarded to others. The propaganda may be in the nature of provoking the rivals, chastising them, dehumanising them, and even using the worst form of violence. In this “war” with the “rivals”, strong unity and total and blind commitment towards one’s community becomes an ardent need. Those who have very violent attitudes towards rival community members may be very selflessly serving and humane towards members of their own community.

No amount of debunking the propaganda of cultural entrepreneurs by producing facts succeeds in convincing those who need the elixir of pride and superiority. Those facts are not believed and will not be believed.

The Peace Project needs to find out ways to evoke empathy and to build communities based on empathy. If those who have been inflicted with the elixir of pride and superiority can be made to see that those whom they consider their rivals and fear being overwhelmed by them are actually victims and humans with all the strengths and weaknesses just like other human beings.

“Mere Ghar Aake Toh Dekho” is one such campaign that has the potential wherein people are encouraged to visit each other’s home and see for themselves how the “others” live and what problems and challenges they face.

Centre for Study of Society and Secularism organises diversity walks to familiarise the participants to explore how culturally diverse all religious communities are. Both these campaigns are efforts to build inclusive communities based on empathy and karuna.

Citizens for Justice and Peace (cjp.org.in), apart from its consistent ‘Education for a Plural India Programme-KHOJ’ also organises regular workshops on dialogue and listening between castes, genders an communities as part of our Peace-Building Programme.

Related:

All religions gather for peace march in Malad-Malwani in Mumbai

PEACE organises a movement for “saving the nation” in Nagpur

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11 educational institutions target of organised Hindutva mobs in in Kolhapur: Fact-finding team https://sabrangindia.in/11-educational-institutions-target-of-organised-hindutva-mobs-in-in-kolhapur-fact-finding-team/ Mon, 11 Sep 2023 07:51:35 +0000 https://sabrangindia.in/?p=29754 June-August 2023, as a sinister run up to the 2023 general elections (followed by the state assembly elections), women teachers in as many as nine schools in Kolhapur Sangli and neighbouring districts, are being pressurised and targeted; tactics are planned coercive manipulations in classrooms followed

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In the past three months, alarming incidents, of mob student-driven violence, have occurred in the educational sector in the districts of Kolhapur-Sangli-Satara, which are under the jurisdiction of Shivaji University. Close to a dozen incidents of organized mob intimidation of teachers and the school administration have come to the fore. Disturbing is the creation and constitution of this “mob”. In several cases it is students who initially make objectionable statements within the class, who when the teacher rationally responds, return with “mob” outside the premises, pressurizing the administration to “act” against the teacher!

This planned program is reportedly being implemented in various educational institutions, targeting teachers by deliberately inciting students on religious grounds, putting pressure on the management of educational institutions and disrupting the harmonious educational environment. None of this would have come to light but for the senior women activists from various organisations, who put together the fact-finding report under the umbrella organization, “Women Protest for Peace” (WPFP).

This group, consisting of educators and gender rights’ activists, visited all the educational institutions, spoke to all the protagonists and then compiled the report which was submitted to the District Collector, Rahul Rekhawar, and last week. All these are important institutions in this area, particularly because boys and girls of the Bahujan community are able to avail of higher education; these are conclusions of an all-woman fact-finding team that made available its report to SabrangIndia recently.

The concerned institutions are:

  1. Kolhapur Institute of Technology (KIT), Gokul Shirgaon, Kolhapur
  2. Vivekananda Institutes of Education:
  3. Vivekananda College, Kolhapur
  4. Dattajirao Kadam Arts, Science and Commerce College, Ichalkaranji
  5. Seventh-day Adventist School, Kolhapur
  6. Rayat Shikshan Sanstha:
  7. Chhatrapati Shahu College, Kolhapur
  8. Pandit Nehru Vidyalaya and Junior College, Kaulapur,
  9. Yashwantrao Chavan College, Pachwad, Satara
  10. Rajarshi Chhatrapati Shahu College, Kolhapur
  11. Chandrabai-Shantappa Shendure College, Hupari, Kolhapur

Kolhapur is known for its contribution to social justice, with the legacy of Rajarshi Shahu Maharaj. However, as part of a carefully orchestrated strategy in the build-up next year’s elections, Kolhapur, as at least 15 districts in Maharashtra has seen the rise of hate speech, hate crimes and systemic communal violence. Police have been reluctant or tardy, though organisations locally in Kolhapur and Citizens for Justice and Peace have been consistently campaigning with the authorities for meticulous registration of FIRs, independent investigations and prosecutions in all these cases.

In recent months, there have been attempts by some individuals and organisations to disrupt social peace in the city. Sabrangindia has reported extensively on the recent violence starting June 5, a 16-year-old minor boy from Kolhapur shared a video on his Instagram account featuring pictures of Mughal emperor Aurangzeb and Tipu Sultan. Tensions mounted the next day and despite the registration of the FIR against this individual, unchecked by the police and administration saw a majoritarian mob gathering and calling for a “shut down” of the city. The protests created a tense atmosphere and over 30,000 people gathered at the Shivaji Chowk. Stone-pelting against targeted Muslims and their shops including vandalizing them was allowed initially unchecked by the wider community. Thereafter a peace rally was organised and then on Sunday, June 25, the occasion of Shahu Maharaj’s birth anniversary, the city of Kolhapur, also the city that gave us rationalist, Dr Govind Pansare, witnessed a march for peace and harmony: sadbhavna or goodwill marked the rally which aimed at promoting unity in a district recently wrecked by communal violence, targeting the minorities.

Clearly the hate and divisive experiment has not stopped. Detailed documentation of the recent incidents by the FFC show this. Identities of the professors and teachers targeted have been concealed as a measure of protection.

The first incident takes place a day after the abovementioned incident on June 8, 2023 itself. On that day, at the Kolhapur Institute of Technology, Gokul Shirgaon, Kolhapur, a woman professor in the college was asked to take a ‘value education’ class. After the class started, some students started a discussion on the topic of ‘gender discrimination’. They made derogatory statements about the minority community: “Muslims are rapists. Hindus are never involved in any kind of riots. Babri Masjid was demolished by order of Supreme Court, etc.” The professor responded with a clear stand regarding these statements, based on facts: “Rape is not limited to any religion or caste. Rapists have no religion or caste. Rape is the most heinous form of crimes against women.”

It is clear that the question-answer session was carefully planned. Some of the students secretly filmed the video of her talk, edited it (read doctored it) and posted it on social media. The video went viral. Based on this doctored clip, some Hindutva-alligned organizations put pressure on the college management and the professor, demanding action against her. They threatened to stop the examinations if no action was taken. They demanded that she render a public apology and insisted that she should publicly apologise, in open, at Shivaji Chowk, Kolhapur.

Succumbing to the pressure, according to the letter issued on June 16, 2023 regarding this incident, disciplinary action was taken against the professor. Without investigating who did the filming in the class without permission, who contributed to distorting it and spreading it, the institute sent the professor on compulsory leave. However, despite this, the professor flatly refused to apologise.

Progressive women in Kolhapur, as well as other progressive youth organisations, met the management of the institute. They argued that the     professor had not violated the discipline of the college in any way. They demanded that the action against the professor be withdrawn, that she should be reinstated in service immediately; the matter be investigated impartially, and that action be taken against the students who doctored and disseminated the video. This issue was also discussed at the national level, with the ‘India Academic Freedom Network’ and other organisations releasing leaflets supporting her.

Even after that, the management advised her to apologise, but she refused. The institution then asked her to ‘work from home’ for a few days. At the end of the forced leave period at the end of the semester she was allowed to re-join service only on August 21, 2023.

Six weeks later, on July 17, 2023, at the Vivekananda Education Society, Kolhapur (reference, Daily Lokmat, Kolhapur. July 18, 2023, there was a controversy over the hijab. A teacher asked a student wearing a saffron to leave the class. Subsequently, angry students argued and asked why Muslim girls were allowed to sit in class wearing the hijab. This created an atmosphere of tension in the college premises for some time. Students mobilized and organized protests in large numbers, in front of the college office, with students shouting slogans such as “Jai Shri Ram”. Police were also called in to calm the students. No information was given by the college administration regarding this incident, but the video of students sloganeering went viral on social media. The college has not taken any action.

Three days later, on July 21 at the Dattajirao Kadam Arts, Science and Commerce College, Ichalkaranji another controversy over religious dress: (Reference: Lokmat News Network 22.07.2023). That morning,

reportedly, two students came to Dattajirao Kadam ASC College wearing saffron scarves. They were stopped at the entrance by security guards and teachers. They confiscated the scarves and asked the students to retrieve them on their way out from college. After this information spread, some students argued that other religions were allowed certain garments, why not them. At this time, some college students wearing hijab were also stopped at the entrance. As soon as the information about this spread, supporters of both the communities gathered outside the college in large numbers, sloganeering started and tensions rose.

As soon as the information about this incident came to light, Deputy Superintendent of Police Sameer Singh Salve, Inspector Raju Tashildar, Satyawan Hake, Pravin Khanpure reached the spot along with the Rapid Action Force.

A large crowd from both sides had gathered in the petrol pump area in front of the college. A stampede broke out as the police used lathi charge to disperse the crowd. There was a big traffic jam on the Kolhapur Road as this was going on in the main road itself. Deputy Superintendent Salve, Principal Dr. Anil Patil, supporters of both the communities held a meeting    at which accusations were hurled. The college administration bought time by announcing that they would discuss it with their senior officers and take a decision. Police security was deployed in front of the college throughout the day.

Hindutva organizations have warned of protests in front of the college if the college administration did not take a proper decision on religious dress by the next Monday, that is July 24, the organisations said they would stand outside the college and distribute saffron scarfs to all the youth entering the college. This did not actually happen, but there is an uneasy calm in the town.

Then comes the incident at the Seventh-Day Adventist School this time in Kolhapur. On August 4, 2023, during a school examination, a student wrote ‘Jai Shri Ram’ on the answer sheet. As per the examination rules, no writing/ picture can be drawn on the answer sheet which will show identification. The teacher told the boy not to do so, but the boy became very aggressive. He then urged other students to write ‘Jai Shri Ram’ on their answer sheets. The teacher, herself a Hindu, got angry and punished the boy. This news “mysteriously” reached a mob of 40-50 men, conveniently waiting outside who, as soon as the school was over, barged into the school and demanded that the school management apologies for punishing the student. There was loud sloganeering and banging of doors.

Inspector Ajay Sindkar of Shahupuri Police Station intervened and held a meeting between the school administration, Hindutva activists and parents. In this meeting, the school administration promised to act against the concerned teacher.

Amidst a tense situation in the school, the next day the school management, teachers and some other people met former Shiv Sena MLA Mr. Rajesh Kshirsagar and discussed the incident with him. No concrete conclusion was reached during this discussion. Mr. Rajesh Kshirsagar explained to the teachers to calm down and asked the school management not to escalate the matter. He said that since he was very ‘positive’ about the school, and he would not escalate the issue if the concerned teacher was asked to resign. When the parents of the concerned child were called by the school, they said that they had no complaint, and they only wanted their child to study further. When the said incident took place, police security was also provided in the school for two days. The management did not come forward to take concrete action by filing a police complaint against the mob entering their school.

When the fact-finding committee met the school administration, the administration behaved very politely. But they were not eager to talk. The following points emerged from the discussion:

  1. Seventh-day Adventists have many branches in Maharashtra and in Incidents of this nature are occurring in many of them.
  2. This is an attempt to disturb and de-stabilise the
  • Many parents have met the teachers and administration of the school and expressed their They also hoped that this  should not affect the students.
  1. The mob demanded that the school put up pictures of national and political leaders in the school. After that, such photos have been put up everywhere in the school.
  2. Seventh-day Adventists school management has advised a wait-and- watch policy for some time to calm the situation. Therefore, the teacher concerned has been advised to remain on leave till further
  3. According to the information received by the committee, on another occasion, when a cleaning staff was called to mop water spilled in the corridor, the children asked her what religion she belonged to. When told that she is a Christian, the students insisted she chant ‘Jai Shri Ram’. Also, ‘Jai Shri Ram’ was written on all the school boards. When asked if this information was true, the administration    categorically denied that it had happened.

Similar attempts have been made to vitiate the atmosphere and disturb the peace in many colleges of Rayat Shikshan Sanstha. To discuss the matter, the fact-finding Committee met Ms. Saroj Patil, General Body Member of Rayat Shikshan Sanstha. The facts that emerged about various colleges under the Rayat Shikshan Sanstha umbrella are as follows.

The first such institution is the Rajarshi Chhatrapati Shahu College, Kolhapur. On August 12, 2023, Ms. Saroj Patil was chairing a meeting of the College Development Committee (CDC) when a group of 20-25 boys entered the room by kicking the door open. Among them, nine students belonged to the college hostel. All of them wore saffron scarves around their necks and saffron marks on their foreheads. When asked how they came in without permission, they became aggressive and started an argument about hostel facilities. The administration had explained to the students that the hostels were being repaired and thus no hostel admissions would be given this year. On being persuaded, some hostel facilities were provided to the needy students in a long corridor. The Hindutva organisation decided to use this issue to enter the CDC meeting and   create a ruckus. The college administration was clear that they were unable to offer facilities this year and had informed the students. Ms. Patil told the FFC that she intervened on behalf of the students who apologised and are now continuing to stay and study in the college.

Then there is the Pandit Nehru Vidhyalay and Junior College, Rayat Shikshan Sanstha, Kavlapur, Sangli District. On the day of the farewell ceremony of class 10, the students gave a Ganesha image to the staff. Chandrayaan-3 mission was launched on July 14, 2023. On the second day, in the backdrop of Chandrayaan-3 launch on July 15, 2023, a discussion was held among women professors on the scientific progress of the country and theism in the college staffroom. At that time, a female professor removed the Ganesha image from the staff room, taking the stand that it is not appropriate to have images of deities of any religion in the educational institution as per the ordinance of the Rayat Sanstha. The teacher concerned told the FFC that since the headmaster Mr. Mulla was on vacation acting headmaster Mr. Gaikwad was in-charge. After that, on July 17, July 25 and August 22, 2023, groups of Hindutva-inclined youth and villagers came to the college three times and put pressure on the institution against the teacher. They demanded that she should apologise, and the school should take action against her and transfer her with immediate effect. The teacher refused to apologise.

Gram Sabhas were also held on this question in the school premises. Various groups in the village used this incident to create pressure in the institution and mobilise villagers by giving a religious colour to the matter.  Discussion about Hindu-Muslim relations are ongoing in the village, in schools, and colleges. The concerned teacher is having to live under extreme mental stress. The FFC also found that Principal Mulla was transferred from the college to “maintain peace” in the village.

Thereafter, it is the Ms. Saroj Patil and Principal Dr. Manjushri Bobde from the Yashwantrao Chavan College, Pachwad, Satara, who met with the FFC about an incident that took place on August 9, 2023, August Kranti Day. A lecture was organised on August Kranti Din August 9, 2023 at the college, the guest speaker, made some remarks in his speech about the stories related to Hanuman are from the puranas (Hindu mythology and folklore). In the same speech he also referred to Comrade Govind Pansare’s book ‘Who was Shivaji?’, and tried to explain the importance and work of Shivaji Maharaj. Some of the students present at the lecture were Hanuman devotees and their feelings were allegedly hurt. They became agitated and objected to the speech of the guest speaker. The vice principal calmed them down and “apologized” to the students.

When this happened a teacher in the college commented that most students copy and pass their exams and they should stop doing this and instead read Comrade Govind Pansare’s ‘Who was Shivaji?’ On the second day, a mob of villagers and former students came together and demanded that she apologise for mentioning Shivaji in the singular, without according to him the status of Majesty. (This is a sore point with Hindutva organisations with activists claiming Shivaji Maharaj as a much-loved leader and ruler and Hindutva organisations according to him the title of Emperor).

At this time the sub-inspector of Pachwad village and the husband of the teacher was also present. She refused to apologise, stating that she only mentioned the book and did not refer to Shivaji Maharaj in the singular. Interestingly the Sub-Inspector of Police wrote to the college to take disciplinary action against the teacher. The college authorities have since forwarded the letter to the Rayat Shikshan Sanstha, “for further action.”

This incident was discussed at the Rajarshi Chhatrapati Shahu College, Kolhapur with the concerned professor.  Speaking of the incident at the Chhatrapati Shahu College, the concerned professor said that she had not gone back to college since the incident more than three weeks back and has reported sick. The FFC met Dr. Laxman Kadam the principal of the college. Information obtained from discussions with them is as follows:

The college administration had decided to make special efforts to ensure that students maintain discipline in the college premises. On August 17, 2023 at 12.30 p.m. the senior college professor was checking the dress code and identity card of all students when she noticed a student outside the classroom. She asked him in which class he studied and to show his identity card as it was not visible as he was wearing a saffron scarf. After telling the student that he should not come wearing such a scarf because the identity card is not visible and that the discipline of the college should be followed, he yelled at her and left the premises.

After that, in the staff meeting held around 1.30 pm, Principal Dr. Laxman Kadam said that when some Hindutva organisations came to meet him with complaints, he came to know about the incident. The professor clearly said that it was only a disciplinary matter.

Dr. Kadam told the FFC that a large group of Hindutva organisations came to meet him and barged into his office. They started shouting slogans. The principal called the police and pacified the crowd. The group demanded    that they be told of the dress code regulations of the college.

They repeatedly argued, asking if there were different rules for Hindus and Muslims. Hijab and cap are allowed, but why not saffron scarf, they asked. The principal told them that it is mandatory for students to adhere to the dress code (no jeans, shorts etc) with the prominent display of the identity card. There was no problem if students wore saffron scarves or any other clothing like saffron scarfs, Hijab or skull caps, the issue was that the identity card was not prominently displayed by the student. The mob demanded that the principal produce professor Mulani asking for her to apologize to them. The principal flatly refused.

Dr. Kadam said that three groups of different Hindutva organisations came to meet him and demanded an apology from the professor. Dr. Kadam decided to apologise on her behalf but they were not satisfied. After that, Shri. Ravikiran Ingwale of the Shiv Sena came there and took a stand in favour of the institution. (Note: Mr Ingawale took the opposite position in the KIT college case, described earlier in this report). Mr. Ingawale was allowed to meet the professor. He told her that if she wanted to work in the college, she would have to stop telling Hindus to adhere to a dress code. He told her she may go work elsewhere and insisted that the principal send her on forced leave. The college has decided that it is better to calm the situation and have issued a memo to the professor. She is presently on compulsory leave. The principal has advised the Rayat Shikshan Sanstha to transfer her with immediate effect. The professor is nearing retirement.

The last incident documented is at the Chandrabai-Shantappa Shendure College, Hupari, Kolhapur. A professor in the college put out a social media post about Adv. Prakash Ambedkar laying flowers on Aurangzeb’s grave and saying that since injustice is being done to both the Muslims and Dalits, they should unite. As Hupari village is very sensitive on all matters communal, it got a very negative reaction from the villagers. Principal Bhosale was surrounded by a mob and a case was registered against the professor. There was a demand to transfer the teacher with immediate effect. The institute   has transferred the teacher.

The fact-finding team, in its meeting with the Collector has recommended that

  • An independent committee be appointed to conduct an impartial inquiry into these incidents.
  • Strict action be taken against those found
  • Launching of a helpline to respond to complaints and also reach out immediately to affected parties in case of such

In its detailed analysis, the report states that 

  1. The incidents that took place in the months of June -August 2023 in various educational institutions in Kolhapur and Sangli districts are not isolated occurrences. They are predetermined and have a pattern of direct intervention by external elements in educational
  2. Educational institutions have become targets of Hindutva groups and
  3. There is a deliberate attempt to create tension and rifts on religious lines among students, their parents, and general citizens by targeting educational
  4. In these educational institutions, the main intention is to create pressure on the management. It must be noted that it is mainly women teachers who are being targeted. Many teachers are sent on forced leave or transferred under pressure without due process or even a simple
  5. Many concerned teachers/administrations have expressed the opinion that tension is being created in this manner in view of Lok Sabha and Vidhan Sabha elections coming up in
  6. The role of the police is not balanced. Their bias towards the majority Hindutva organizations was

The women who are part of this unique effort, WPFP are Dr. Megha Pansare, Shramik Foundation Tanuja Shipurkar, Mahila Dakshata Samithi Rehana Mursal, Meena Seshu, Sangram Sanstha Bharti Powar Seema Patil, Andha Sradha Nirmulan Samithi Smita Vadan, Muskan Sudha Patil, Muskan Pranita Mali, Maharashtra Minority Christian Development Council Anupriya Kadam, Vidhrohi Sanskritic Chalwal Kiran Deshmukh, Veshya Anyay Mukti Parishad Charushila Patil, Jijau Brigade Ranjana Patil, Jijau Brigade Hema Desai, Jijau Brigade Alka Deepak Devlapurkar, Anandi Mahila Jagruti Sanstha Jayashree Kamble, Avani Institute Pushpa Kamble, Ekti sanstha Deepa Shipurkar, Aman Foundation Alka Devlapurkar, Anandi Mahila Jagruti Sanstha Anuradha Mehta, Dalit Mitra Bapusaheb Patil Library Sarika Bakre, Swayamprabha Manch Ulka Yadav, Mahila Dakshata Samithi Ashwini Jadhav Manisha Warang-Ranmale Dr. Bharti Patil Tabsum Imran Malladi Tajnum Jameer Mole | Nasim Chikode Series Sheik Yasmin Desai Farzana Shaikh Manisha Brihaspati Shinde Meena Tashildar Shubda Hiremath Hemlata Patil Munira Shikalgar Ashwini Jadhav Malika Sheikh

The FFC also received preliminary information about the incidents from the social workers Mrs. Pranita Mali and Mrs. Seema Patil, Kolhapur.

Related:

Maharashtra celebrated Shahu Maharaj’s message of social justice, harmony: Kolhapur, Pimpri-Chinchwad

Reconciliation conference in presence of actor, Amol Palekar on June 26: Kolhapur

Kolhapur Citizens meet Collector Rekhawar question impunity of Hindutvawaadi organisations

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Harmony vs disharmony in 2 states: Kerala temple welcomes Muslims; MP temple fires Muslims https://sabrangindia.in/harmony-vs-disharmony-2-states-kerala-temple-welcomes-muslims-mp-temple-fires-muslims/ Thu, 20 Apr 2023 11:24:35 +0000 http://localhost/sabrangv4/2023/04/20/harmony-vs-disharmony-2-states-kerala-temple-welcomes-muslims-mp-temple-fires-muslims/ While Kerala temples invited Muslim for Iftar, Madhya Pradesh, debarred a temple in Maihar from employing Muslims, leading to two people losing their jobs

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kerala templeImage courtesy: The New Indian Express

Amidst Ramadan when stories of harmony and brotherhood come forward, it fills one’s heart. One such story came from Kerala’s Malappuram. Two temples in the district  organised mass Iftar for Muslims. Committees of the Sree Puthuveppu Manaliyarkavu Bhagavathi temple in Othalurand Chathangadu Sree Maha Vishnu Temple in Vaniyannur near Tirur hosted the mass Iftar on April 7 and March 28, respectively, reported The New Indian Express.

Krishnan Pavittapuram, secretary of the Sree Puthuveppu Manaliyarkavu Bhagavathi temple told TNIE, “Our aim is to strengthen the bond between people from the Hindu and Muslim communities. Religious harmony is important and we want to celebrate every festival together in a peaceful and jovial atmosphere”.

One of the youngsters said that someone from the Muslim community had sponsored the annadanam during the temple’s annual installation festival which was during Ramadan. The temple management said they aim to continue hosting Iftar every year.

On the other hand, a complete contrast of this is being witnessed in Madhya Pradesh where the government has issued orders that Muslim employees cannot work in Maihar town’s famous Maa Sharda temple. Notably, Maihar is home to the Maihar gharana founded by sarod legend Baba Alauddin Khan. Clearly, this town has a syncretic history which the government aims to obliterate. The Maihar gharana produced musical greats of the country in the field of music, including Pandit Ravi Shankar, Pandit Nikhil Banerjee, and his daughter Annapurna Devi and son Ustad Ali Akbar Khan. It is said that Khan would climb the 1,063 stairs leading to the Maa Sharda temple daily and play before the goddess, reported NDTV.

This order means that two Muslims will lose their jobs which they have had since 1988. The government’s order signed by Pushpa Kalesh, deputy secretary of the state Ministry of Religious Trust and Endowments, also directed a ban on meat and liquor shops in the vicinity.

The order was issued in January when supporters of the rightwing Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and Bajrang Dal approached Usha Singh Thakur, the Minister for culture, religious trust and endowment, it has been alleged. This recent letter is just a reminder for the January order.

Related:

Sudarshan News continues to spread hatred, targets Muslims

Oath for economic boycott of minorities administered in Chhattisgarh

Yati Narsinghanand calls for unity of the world to destroy Islam

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Communal harmony, Mumbai style https://sabrangindia.in/communal-harmony-mumbai-style/ Thu, 20 Apr 2023 10:30:23 +0000 http://localhost/sabrangv4/2023/04/20/communal-harmony-mumbai-style/ Drivers of all religions gather for an Iftar party organised by their union

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Iftar

Around 200 drivers, belonging to all faiths, from all corners of Mumbai attended an Iftar party organised by the Maharashtra App-based Transport Workers Union (MAT) yesterday in Mumbai. Many of them carpooled in cabs driven by their comrades to arrive at a parking lot near the domestic airport terminal in Mumbai which doubled up as a venue for the Iftar party.

Their trade is a lonely one, with busy cars plying on far flung Mumbai roads in peak hour traffic. It was hence not surprising that many of them seemed to be meeting each other after a long time and a joyous, festive spirit permeated the air with much back-clapping, embracing and loud raucous laughter. A simple spread of Samosas, jalebis, fruits and kababs had been laid out on long, communal tables for the drivers. Close to 7 PM when it was time for Maghrib, a confusion on how to sound the azaan occurred with people scrambling to connect their mobiles to the speakers. Ultimately it fell on one of the drivers to sound the evening call for prayer. A hushed silence descended all around us as the azaan rang out. Someone reached out for an Iftar jalebi in front. It was time to break the fast. The silence persisted. For those who were not observing the roza, the act of eating together had turned into a solemn moment.

Iftar

A driver who identified himself as Brahmin spoke to SabrangIndia while relishing the vegetarian iftari served to him. As an app-based driver who has seen his income dramatically plummet in the last few years with narrow margins, high costs of fuel and high living costs, he said that the union gives them bargaining power. Referring to the inter-faith gathering around him, he said , “if our car develops a snag late at night , these are the very people who come to help us out. I am a Brahmin but that is inside my home, in my private life , outside I am just a human being like everyone else here. Politics divides us. It is a ***** (uses a common expletive) thing”. 

Posters and stickers, created by CJP in collaboration with digital artist Smishdesigns were distributed in the Iftar party as stickers. They proved to be a hit among the drivers.

Children

Two Sikh drivers who had come all the way from Kharghar in Navi Mumbai appreciated the effort and said that while on ground there is widespread unity among citizens, some people want to create an artificial divide. One of them said, “Such posters are needed to remind people of this unity in the face of manufactured controversies and attempts to vitiate the atmosphere.”

Sikh Man

The iftar was hosted on the premises of the Mumbai chapter of Airport Aviation Employees Union (AAEU) and was attended by Nitin Jadhav, the All India joint general secretary of AAEU. Also present was Secretary, CJP, Ms Teesta Setalvad, Prashant Bhagesh Sawardekar, President, MAT and Uday Kumar Ambonkar, General Secretary, MAT.

Speaking eloquently, Mr Jadhav said, “Our space will be made available for this event every year. I am an insignificant person, this is holy work, I will always support this effort to bring people together”

Iftar

Holding up the poster, Mr Ambonkar , who is also a member of the national committee of Hind Mazdoor Sabha, said , “ look at this tiranga coloured rose. It is in our hands now. It is up to us to uphold the unity of the nation “

Speaking to Sabrang India, Teesta Setalvad said, “It is CJP’s belief that counter-communities like kisan sabhas , feminist groups and labour unions among others can serve as a bulwark against divisive politics. We are taking our message of peace to members of these communities and helping them navigate disinformation and hate speech that is flooding the airwaves all around us”

Iftar

For many people present the bonhomie was an everyday reality. For those of us invited to observe the celebration, the iftar meal was a welcome respite from the steadily rising drum roll of communal violence all around us.

Related:

Three Rams—Amma’s Iftar that celebrates them all

Iftar observed by students of all faiths; Muslim students break their fast while non-Muslim students serve food and beverages

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All religions gather for peace march in Malad-Malwani in Mumbai https://sabrangindia.in/all-religions-gather-peace-march-malad-malwani-mumbai/ Mon, 17 Apr 2023 07:06:58 +0000 http://localhost/sabrangv4/2023/04/17/all-religions-gather-peace-march-malad-malwani-mumbai/ During a Ram Navami procession, some stone pelting was reported from this area in Mumbai and to counter that, people from all religious communities gathered

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Malwani morcha
Image: Facebook 

A local news channel reported on how people from all religions who have been living peacefully in Mumbai’s Malad-Malwani area gathered to spread the message of peace and religious harmony. In the aftermath of the violence during Ram Navami processions. The locals allege that those who indulged in stone pelting and violence, were not local residents but some outsiders who wanted to create a law and order situation and disturb peace in the area.

Reporting from the peace march, GalliNews spoke to some persons representing each religion. “Malwani is a silent zone. All communities live here together. These were not people from Malwani. These were outsiders who pelted stones etc. They should look at the CCTV footage and find out,” said the religious leader.

Another person from the Jain community said that all businesses run by people belonging to different communities could be affected by such violence and it was a conspiracy to adversely affect these businesses. He said that many people wanted to join the peace march but the police requested them to have a limited number of people in the peace march. “We do not want any such violence here… We love peace and we just wish that no violence takes place” he said.

A person from the Sikh community, one of the oldest residents of Malad-Malwani said, “This is a peace march. In Mumbai we want peace to prevail. If any anti-social element, whether belonging to any party or any religion, the police should take action against them. The residents have always wanted to live in peace and in future as well wish the same. People want to throw stones in the water and disturb it but water is calm. Until people stop holding fire under it, water cannot stop boiling. I plead to those setting fire in the country to not do such things and maintain peace throughout the country.

A Maulana present there, said, “As you you can see, people from religions are present here and Malwani is mini-India and we all live here in unity. These outsider miscreants should be arrested.”

The general demand was that the miscreants who were outsiders should be caught by looking at  the CCTV footage, irrespective of which religion they belong to.

Related:

Gujarat: Kajal Hindusthani arrested, sent to judicial custody, booked for delivering anti-Muslim hate speech

Moradabad Police debunks false communally charged claims made by Panchjanya, warns of taking legal action if misinformation is spread

Hindu Mahasabha Members Arrested for Allegedly Slaughtering Cow to Incite Communal Violence in Agra During Ram Navami Parade

Mumbai: Police foils attempts to disturb peace in Mira Road

 

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Red for blood, love and Ramzan https://sabrangindia.in/red-blood-love-and-ramzan/ Fri, 14 Apr 2023 08:33:04 +0000 http://localhost/sabrangv4/2023/04/14/red-blood-love-and-ramzan/ The author, an activist and lawyer recounts her personal experience of shared pain among Hindus and Muslims, even as Gujarat and India are now coloured with the poison of hate

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Blood Donation

This was during Ramzan in 2010. My maternal grandmother had to undergo knee replacement surgeries after losing her mobility due to a combination of severe arthritis, varicose veins and bad reaction to lifelong and daily use of steroids due to debilitating asthma (which took her eventually). Her surgery for each knee was around 3 months apart, so I used this opportunity to make a career shift and the break to be with her for her surgeries and after care. This was also the point of reckoning for my grandfather’s health which took a bad turn around the same time.

During one of her knee replacement surgeries in a hospital in Baroda, Gujarat, there was an urgent requirement for three units of blood. It was sometime in the middle of the night, I was alone there in the hospital. Her blood type being B negative, was rare and difficult to arrange, and the hospital washed off their hands saying they did not have the required backup and that they were trying with the blood banks but they did not have the blood group. I started making calls and sending messages to everyone I knew in baroda – friends, family, activists I knew and to contacts sent by my parents who have better networks there, also exploring again with the blood banks, but nothing was coming up. 

I was panicking by the time I got a call back from an activist friend a few hours later who told me that something was being arranged and that the blood donors would come in. In an hour, three men showed up at the hospital and enquired for me. They had come from Muslim dominated area of Tandalja. They were all observing roza and had woken up early for sehri. While we got speaking, one of them told me that he was enlisted as a blood donor but doesn’t get calls often because people won’t take Muslim blood in Baroda, he had asked if we would but was told it was not a problem so he came. I was too exhausted and couldn’t help but tear up out of gratitude and pain. 

We started exchanging stories of a different Baroda before 2002, before disturbed areas and segregation. The city of their memories and imagination, the one my parents romanticise from their student and movement days, what I reminisce of childhood summers and safety in my second home. At some point I was told it was good I lived in Bombay being HM – Hindu-Muslim, because here that can only mean riots. We imagined a different future, of peace and friendship and love (if only we knew better then) and laughed on some common gujju jokes. My granny met one of them later when he returned, blessed them all and cracked some more hilarious jokes on her surgery and leg in her unique style. We went to the canteen and broke fast together with fruits and hospital chai and biscuits too.

I have never felt the value of blood more than then. The pain of that which is shed out of hate and Gratitude for that which is given out of love. When my granny died quite suddenly after a bad spell of asthma on the new years eve of 1st January 2015, for her condolence meeting in Baroda a few days later, we had a blood donation camp along with body and eye donation (following her lead) with songs of love playing in the background. Each time I donate blood I feel happy remembering my friends from Tandalja and that hopeful day. But today I remembered this story while forwarding a few appeals for blood donation and also reading some hate speech calling for the blood of Muslims that has been doing the rounds. 

We are living in a world oscillating between warped priorities and stark realities. And in between a world blissfully and conveniently oblivious to both these worlds. I just hope more people actively choose love over hate. Love is the epidemic this world desperately needs. And one we don’t is Covid which really really needs to go now, it has weakened and destroyed just enough, even the strength to fight hate. It’s time for us to rebuild and heal, all of us who reject hate need to say it out loud in unison. 

 

#DonateBlood #RejectHate #loveistheanswer #ramzanmubarak

Rohit Prajapati-Trupti Shah-Amar Jesani-Vibhuti Patel from that time

(The author is a rights advocate, feminist and secretary of the Maharashtra Unit of the People’s Union for Civil Liberties-PUCL; the post is from her Facebook post dated April 13, 2023 and is being published with her permission with minor edits)

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Three Rams—Amma’s Iftar that celebrates them all https://sabrangindia.in/three-rams-ammas-iftar-celebrates-them-all/ Mon, 10 Apr 2023 05:14:13 +0000 http://localhost/sabrangv4/2023/04/10/three-rams-ammas-iftar-celebrates-them-all/ Saturday evening, April 8 saw a unique Iftar second year running, that was Amma Srinivasan and her family’s firm response to Ram Navami hate: Bengaluru

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Ammas iftar

The Srinivasan’s are an unusual yet utterly typical Indian middle class family, based part in Bengaluru and Mumbai. Their Tamil origin sits gracefully with their imbibed Bengali culture where Tram Baba, the village story teller was the re-incarnate of their lost grandfather in regaling them with stories of yore.

Three Rama’s, Saguna for Amma Meenakshi S, Maryada Purshottam for Shobha di and Nirguna for garrulous Venkat, who put his Ma’s anguish into cleansing positive action. At Ashirwad in Bengaluru this writer was privileged to break fast with the faithful of all colours last Saturday, share Amma’s precious thoughts, nibble dates and khajoor and then after forty five minutes of soul enriching conversation partake of the inevitable delicious Kareem ki biriyani!

What was so unusually precious about this Iftar? We too participated in several last year, in Malad and Kurla and Bandra as communities came together in our very own Mumbai and stood up and firm against the politics of hatred being perpetrated in the name of Ram Navami and Hanuman Jayanti! Worse were the hate wounds being inflicted because both last year and this, on the Muslim community, piously and sincerely observing the fasting in the Holy Month of Ramzan. Yes we spoke then through Iftars and campaigns and we continue to do so now.

Iftar

The special difference between our efforts and the Srinivasan’s was and is the stoic reverberations of an individual’s convictions, religious and spiritual that moved her family into action. Meenakshi Srinivasan’s faith in Ram means love, respecting, a shared humanity. Meet her in person this mathematical, football loving septuagenarian and you are awed by her multiple dimensions evidence of a life richly lived! She was, and is agitated by the unseemly targeting if hijab-clad young women in her home state of Karnataka because both as a woman and mother she knows what it takes for a girl and woman to navigate family social mores to experience the joy of books and education.No wonder then that evening, just day before yesterday, we heard wise words of course from the family (see videos below) but also young stars like Nisha and Nasreen. Nisha poignantly hit the nail on the head. “Check in,” she told the audience. “Check in on your Muslim friends, Muslim neighbours. You have no idea what conversations are going around in Muslim homes. Venkat checks in. Please all of you must check in.  Young champion of AltNews Mohd Zubair was there giving a zing to the gathering. I was humbled to be a part and be asked to speak.

The evening has left so much more than a feeling of peace and positivity. For me personally, it has redeemed my faith in the Hindu. A faith and followers who so urgently and desperately need to speak up! 

https://youtu.be/zvBGpu6RHa0

Amma’s Iftar 2023

During our trip to Yercaud 2022, we learned of the riots on Ram Navami through YouTube videos. This news caused concern for my mother, who was looking forward to spending the holiday with friends from Bangalore. This was our first holiday after the pandemic. The organised nature of the riots hinted at deeper motives beyond what was visible.

The news disheartened my mother; something significant to her was being taken away. I spoke to my sister, Akka, who was also uneasy and struggled to articulate her thoughts. Violence and hatred contradicted our fundamental values as a family.

We were taught that the purpose of religion is for self-reflection and praying for others, as praying solely for oneself could be viewed as selfish in the eyes of God.

Years later, I realised that our household of three had two Rams (pedantically two and a half). My mother saw Ram as sagun (has a form), embodying the qualities of Maryada Purushottam, who guided her to be mindful of her responsibilities towards herself, her family, her relatives, and society. Those who know her would know Maryada is “responsibility & dignity.”

In contrast, my understanding of Ram was Nirgun, discovered through poetry, love, travel, and interactions with inspiring people. My sister seamlessly switches (conveniently) between the two interpretations, and Sagun Ram of my mother, Nirgun Ram of my world, and Akka’s Ram all represent love.

Through this lens, Kabir and Surdas occupy the same shelf in the library of love.

In this context, we felt we must respond; it was obvious the answer to hate is love; we said we would have an iftar party and celebrate an evening with Muslims. Iftar is also a way for the family to reflect on how we fight this hate; as a family, we do not know it yet but feel it must start with a show of love and solidarity.

We hosted an Iftar party in 2022, and people came over; All attendees reminisced fondly about the conversation and the delicious biryani served during the event. 

Amma said in Iftar, 

“Lord Ram resides within every individual, and thus hurting others goes against the teachings of Ramayana (and Mahabharata). Amma encourages everyone to practice kindness and compassion towards all, as it reflects the teachings of all faiths.”

We invite people to Iftar on 08 Apr 2023 in Bangalore.  

Iftar organised by a Hindu family | India stands for unity in diversity | Ramadan 2022 

Related:

Iftar observed by students of all faiths; Muslim students break their fast while non-Muslim students serve food and beverages

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