NEW DELHI: Yesterday was the 16th anniversary of the destruction of the Babri Masjid in Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh. The act raised apprehensions throughout the country and world about the fate of India’s religious minorities, namely Muslims in India. The demolition-phase was one in which Indian secularism was put to a strong test.
The phase witnessed riots across the country, with extremist elements inciting communal passions and provoking violence, linking these with their “religious” propaganda.
The razing of the mosque and accompanying riots raised numerous questions on whether these symbolized a major achievement for Hindutva movement, promoted by saffron brigade to transform secular India into a Hindu state? Was the demolition suggestive of this movement having actually reached its peak?
During that phase, when headlines across the world blamed “Hindu terrorism” as responsible for communal frenzy having apparently gripped the entire country, a few important facts were sidelined. Sangh Parivar, the saffron-brigade primarily responsible for fuelling communal campaign on Ayodhya-issue leading to mosque’s demolition, does not represent the entire Indian Hindu community.
Statistically, not even a quarter percentage of Hindus were involved in the destruction of the mosque and accompanying riots.
While viewing the live-telecast of Babri Mosque’s demolition from Madison, Wisconsin, this scribe was pained. But was more hurt and angry when US media loudly blamed “Hindu terrorism” for demolition and riots. Not willing to remain a mute spectator, I wrote pieces and gave interviews to US television underlining the fact that simply because a small percentage of Hindu population had participated in the destruction and riots, the entire community cannot be labeled as terrorist or communal.
Blaming Western media for incorrectly linking religion with terrorism, I raised the question as to why did the Western media indulge in this practice only regarding Islam and Hinduism. Questioning the ease with which a few Muslims or Hindus were labeled as Islamic or Hindu terrorists, respectively, if they were so inclined to link religion with terrorism, what prevented the West from following the same pattern when Christians or Jews were held guilty of similar violence. What refrained them from using the words Christian terrorism or Jewish terrorism?
It was perhaps the first time that questions were raised against linking of any religion and the entire religious community, specifically Islam and Hinduism, with terrorism.
Sixteen years have passed since, with Indian secularism having been repeatedly put to the test time and again — the latest being terrorist strikes in Mumbai. Undeniably, there still prevail certain elements bent on creating a division within the country to weaken it, to be able to exploit the situation to their advantage. Whether these elements are internal and/or external, they are apparently politically, socially as well as diplomatically too naive to understand that the true Indian, whether Hindu, Muslim or of any other religion cannot be swayed along lines of communal frenzy.
Two decades ago, leading newspapers refrained from publishing details of even a small riot out of fear of it fuelling communal passion in the country. The year 2002 witnessed the Gujarat-carnage. But the communal fire remained confined to Gujarat. The recent years have been witness to numerous blasts, killing hundreds, for majority of which Muslims have been labeled as “suspect” terrorists. What is noteworthy, that each of these has only prompted the average Indians, cutting across religious barriers, to join hands, help each other and also let the communally motivated politicians know that Indian secularism is too strong to be easily swayed by such moves.
The terrorist strikes in Mumbai and the global telecast have of course hurt and angered the average Indians. With it being the election season, politicians are naturally crying themselves hoarse, blaming Pakistan and terrorist groups it hosts for Mumbai strikes. Literally unmoved by such rhetoric, the Indians across the world have chosen to display their feelings for Mumbai victims and heroes, by lighting candles in their memory. It is time the world learnt that communal frenzy they expect to be aroused by such incidents stands demolished by Indian secularism!
