In Defence of Our Dharma by Madhu Kishwar

THE ostensible success of the who contemptuously dismissed the education system that has produced Ram Mandir Movement led by the social, religious and cultural beliefs generations of people alienated from BJP-RSS-VHP Combine is proof that of the Indian people as superstitious and ignorant of India’s traditions of the Nehruvian brand of secularism mumbo-jumbo. culture and learning. The people who hitherto propagated in India found a Today, a large body of Hindu are joining the Ram Mandir movement very limited support base, confined opinion seems tired of the thoughtless in large numbers do so in the mistaken mainly to sections of the English and disrespectful critique of India’s belief that they are thereby reviving educated elite. Its appeal remained indigenous traditions and culture the glory of India’s cultural heritage. limited for good reasons. The liberal, which has led to brutal neglect of Their ignorance of their own heritage secular intelligentsia is rooted more indigenous learning and knowledge has made them vulnerable targets for in the western liberal tradition and is systems. unscrupulous politicians who are often unable to comprehend, leave The deadening system of using their genuine resentment for alone appreciate, the sentiments and education designed by the colonial very harmful purposes. cherished beliefs of India’s diverse rulers was meant to destroy the self The real agenda of the BJP is peoples. Their attitude is often similar respect of Indians. Yet the same self capture of state power for the purpose to that of the erstwhile colonial rulers contempt is perpetuated in the modem of implementing the politics of

2 MANUSHI revenge. Even though they use the naM tfrUg dj Hkns tagW urdZ uR;` lekt A rhetoric of protecting the “Hindu way of life”, the BJP-RSS-VHP Combine thrg q eufg lfuvq vl jkepan z d ss jkt A has kept its followers deliberately In Ramachandra’s realm the only rods were those in the hands of ascetics, ignorant of their cultural heritage. Like the only differences were those of tune and measure in the dancers’ troupes; all fascists they know that the politics the word ‘conquer’ was only heard to urge self conquest. of hate and revenge needs to emphasize whatever will aggravate Tulsidas Ramayana: Uttara-Kand (22) the Hindu’s low self esteem. Among my students and in my own neighbourhood I’ve asked some of fascination with Hitler’s ideas and romance novels by Gulshan Nanda the most enthusiastic supporters of campaigns than with the Ramayan or and film magazines (except those the Ram Mandir campaign which other Hindu religious texts. They doing Hindi and Sanskrit Honours version of the Ramayan they had read; have no use for these texts, except to who were compelled to study some I drew a blank. All these educated extract a few phrases out of context of these texts as part of their young people are familiar with nothing as tools for political propaganda. curriculum.) It slowly became clear other than Ramanand Sagar’s T.V. Therefore, they have never concerned that the dominant elite in any society serial Ramayan. Though they have themselves with the task of making sets the norm for what is considered heard of Tulsi Ramayan, almost none such learning valued and respected worth learning and respect. That is of them have read it. They are not in our universities. I have vivid why the few among the English even aware of the existence of different memories of the sense of outrage I educated elite who gravitate towards regional and community versions of experienced as an 18 year old, when I a serious study of Indian literature, the Ramayan. It is almost impossible was a student of English Honours at art and culture usually do so during their study stints at foreign to get them into a discussion on the Miranda House. I was rudely ridiculed universities and at times and places great epic. There is only one aspect by some of my fellow students who saw in my hostel room a copy of the where such study is in fashion among of the Ram Mandir movement that Tulsi Ramayan published by the Western intellectuals. excites them — taking revenge on the Geeta Press with a commentary in It is due to this ignorance that the Muslims. The Ram Mandir movement Hindi. For these students it was a BJP-RSS-VHP Combine can be so is grounded not in the love of Ram or symbol of backward looking successful in manipulating Hindu Ramayan but in the hatred of Muslims. religiosity fit only for semi literate sentiment For example, in Ayodhya, The BJP-RSS-VHP Combine grandmothers. Had it been an English there are several other temples that pretends to be outraged at the lack of rendering of the Ramayan brought claim the honoured status of being respect for indigenous culture shown out by some foreign university press built on the Ram Janmasthan. Yet by the secularists among the western my interest would have been seen as this Combine insists that the educated elite. However, they more respectable. Reading Milton’s controversial Babari Masjid site is the themselves are assiduously Paradise Lost or even the English exact location of Ram’s birth. Ram is a cultivating ignorance of India’s mystery and morality plays was revered religious figure, not a cultural and religious traditions with considered a perfectly legitimate historical character. Ram’s date or their deliberate distortions. This modern secular activity. Only the place of birth cannot possibly be Combine is not rooted in any tradition ‘behenjis’ of the Sanskrit or Hindi ascertained with accuracy. But the BJP of learning, Indian or foreign. For Department — a supposedly Combine insists on reducing him to example, the University of Chicago backward lot — were expected to read the status of someone who lived at a has much better facilities for acquiring Ramayan. specific time at a specific place scholarship on the Ramayan than all These two departments were because they are desperate to model of the educational or religious treated with visible contempt both by their belief system on Islam and institutions associated with the BJP- the students and faculty. Christianity, religions that emphasize RSS-VHP Combine put together. They I was even more disappointed the significance of offering a place have not even striven to ensure that when I found that even the Hindi and time of birth for their founders, Indians need not go to foreign speaking behenjis held the study of Prophet Mohammad and Jesus Christ. universities to study ancient Indian Ramayan and Mahabharat in similar They want Ayodhya to become a literature. They display much greater disdain and preferred to read pulp Jerusalem.

No.60 (September-October 1990) 3 B J P’s Ramayan

These excerpts are translated and condensed from tapes of the speeches in Hindi delivered mainly by theB JP’s UmaBharti, Member of Parliament. The cassette tapes are being sold commercially. They are being used extensively by theB JP propaganda machine in many parts of the country. The shrill, bloodthirsty tone of the hysterical voice pouring out hatred is strikingly similar to those we can still hear in the recordings of Nazi leaders at mass propaganda rallies. The salient theme is that the only way Hindus can prove that they are not cowards is by initiating violent and murderous attacks on Muslims. These acts of aggression are presented as justified by the cruelties inflicted by some Muslim invaders who conquered parts of India.

The cassette is sold with a cover photo depicting Ramanand Sagar’s Ram and Sita.

October 30 will decide your fate. On this day it will organize themselves quietly in those places where they become clear whether the Hindus or Muslims will live in are in a minority. Where they are equal to those in other this country. You must be concerned about your future... religions, they instigate riots. If Islam rashtra requires Throw off the cloak of cowardice and impotence. Learn sacrifices, then they do not have to wait for the tomb or to sing songs of valour and courage. Whoever wanted to doomsday to reach heaven. The Koran exhorts them to lie rob, you let him. Your silence, decency and magnanimity in wait for idol worshippers, to skin them alive, to stuff were interpreted as cowardice... them in animal skins and torture them until they ask for Your strength has been divided. Unite across caste, forgiveness. Our heritage enjoins repentance even if an province, language, breaking these three artificial walls... ant is killed underfoot. The two cultures are polar oppo- Those who severed both the arms of Mother India— sites. But still we preached brotherhood, replaced Vande For those hypocrites there is no place here. They should Mataram with Jana Gana Mana. leave this Bharat. This Hindustan is not theirs...... How much have we sacrificed so that Hindu-Muslim On October 30, by beginning the construction of the brotherhood would continue! We even dismembered temple, our holy men will be laying the foundations of Mother India. Instead of Ram dhwaj, the symbol of Hindu making Hindustan a Hindu rashtra. martyrdom and sacrifice, we unfurled the tricolour, but Bharat Mata Ki Jai... Glory to Mahadev this brotherhood eluded us... Destroy the tyrant in the same way that Havana was Those [Muslims] who value their religion more than vanquished. Do not display any love (nij preet). This is their nation, they can never be nationalists. And those the order of Ram. Announce it boldly to the world that who treat religion as a personal matter [Hindus] can never anyone who opposes Ram cannot be an Indian... be communalists. Hindus cannot be communalists because Muslims, remember Rahim who longed for the dust of those who give pride of place to their nation over their Lord Ram’s feet... religion cannot be communalists. Songs of Hindu Muslim brotherhood were sung by The PAC youth tell me they are looking forward to Mahatma Gandhi. We got ready to hear the Azaan October 30. They say when they were unemployed, they alongwith the temple bells, but they can’t do this, nor prayed to Bajrang Bali [another name for Hanuman, known does their heritage permit them to do so. It exhorts them to contd. on p. 6

4 MANUSHI Saving Religion From Politicians Political leaders, not religious organisations, dominate the Ram Mandir campaign. I include VHP in “You are Asking Too Many Questions” the category of political organisations, as they are not even remotely concerned with the religious and spiritual well-being of the Hindus. The following account of the fairly are being hailed by the scientifically Rather, they are obsessed with typical conversation I had with a superior West are not getting their mobilising Hindus as a political force young English language journalist, due attention in India. For example, to subordinate and terrorise non- who claimed to be a BJP supporter, look at the neglect in our country of Hindus in India. Their dharma is demonstrates how even among yoga and ayurveda as health care nationalism, not Hinduism. Their certain sections of the English systems. inspiration comes from Hitler, not from educated elite, the uneasiness with Q. What prevents the Hindus from Ram. Their cloak of piety their rootlessness is making them pursuing these two branches of notwithstanding, the real agenda of easy prey to the machinations of hate knowledge? I practice an hour of yoga the VHP-RSS-BJP Combine is to breed mongering politicians. In response every day. No Muslim comes to more and more mistrust and hatred to his allegation that theJanta Dal obstruct me. If I read the Ramayan, against Muslims. One hears their government personified by V. P. Singh, no Muslim or government insults me cadres openly proclaim: “We should was out to destroy India, I asked him: for it. If anyone prefers to go to an do to Muslims what Hitler did to Ayurvedic centre as opposed to an Jews.” Slogans like “Pakistan ya Q. Who would you like to see as the next P.M. of India? allopathic clinic, no government Kabristan” are meant seriously, as is penalises you. (He admitted he had evident from the increasing incidents A.(Without a moment’s hesitation) L.K. Advani. never tried to learn yoga or ayurveda) of massacres of Muslims such as in A.But there is no government support Bhagalpur, Meerut, Ahmedabad and Q. What are your reasons for this for these things. Therefore, they can’t now, Gonda. An essential first phase choice? flourish. Under a Hindu rashtra there is to convince the people that A. The BJP is the only party who will be government support. Muslims should not be citizens unless openly talk of establishing a Hindu they renounce their faith and rashtra and putting the minorities in Q. But the erstwhile great Vaids of this slavishly support whatever the their place. The Muslims have been land did not work in government Combine requires. pampered too long and have become laboratories. The great sages and Since the BJP-RSS-VHP Combine a threat to this nation. gurus did not need to chase would find it hard to get endorsement government patronage, to ask the Q. What will the Hindu rashtra do for among the vast majority of the people kings to allow them to tutor their Hindus? In other words, what is it that of India for this brand of murderous children. The kings went to the gurus you wish to have for the Hindus with nationalism if they openly presented begging that their children be taught the establishment of BJP’s Hindu its real face, they have hijacked Ram by them. If the BJP-RSS believe in rashtra which they can’t have now? and are using him as a political cover. promoting these branches of A. Hindus are not allowed to have Ram has been converted into a vote knowledge why don’t they use the their way of life in India the land of getter much in the same way as some RSS shakhas as yoga centres instead their own birth. parties use film stars. Newspapers tell of for fascist drills? Why don’t they us that Rs 700 crores have already Q. By whom? promote Ayurveda Research Centres, been collected by this Combine. Much A. The government. promote a sound health care system of the election expenses of the BJP in the country, rather than jeopardise Q. What is it that you as a Hindu are said to have been met by the the lives of people and promote would like to do which you can’t do bloodshed? money raised in Ram’s name. Their without BJP’s Hindu rashtra ? A. I will have to think about it You are Rathyatra was conducted on the A. All the traditional knowledge of asking too many questions. (Then, lines of an election campaign, with Mr Hindus is being undermined. Even after a long pause) But I think state Advani presented as the prime those branches of knowledge which power is very important. ministerial candidate.

No.60 (September-October 1990) 5 (contd.fromp.4) Guru Nanak Dev and other Sants who sacrificed their lives, for his devotion to Ram] for a job. Even after retirement offered their necks but could not break the neck of others... they know they have to seek the protection of Ram. If the government orders them to fire, they will shoot, but it This hate propaganda in verse is widely distributed remains to be seen whether the bullets will hit Ram bhakts at BJP-RSS-VHP rallies. or pierce the chests of traitors of Ram. Though they are in In Hindi the lines read... uniform, the heart that beats in them is that of a Hindu. Though they are doing a job, the blood coursing in their veins is of a Hindu father. xoZZ ZZZ lss sss dgkss sss ge fgUnww www gSSSSS Let this fire blaze magnificently. It was this feat of bloodshed that led to the dismemberment of the country, the death of so many Hindus... Let there be a conflagration Hkkjr dk lafo/kku cny nks lu 47 ;kn djks A rather than this slow torturous simmering... Hkkjr Hkfew igy s caV pdhq elYykq as dk cfg’dkj djk s A We could not teach them with words, now let us teach vkSjaxtSc vkSj ckcj cudj vc dksbZ uk jgus ik;sxk A them with kicks... Let there be bloodshed once and for all. vc ogh jgxks Hkkjr eas tk s jghe cu tk;xks A We have come out to strengthen the immense Hindu lafo/kku eas Hkkjr d s ok s okVs ugha vc Mkyxks A shakti into a fist... fgUn eas fgUnvkq as dh dik` l s cPp s viu s ikyxks A You kept saying you will offer sacrifices. We will take tlS s ge doq rS l s viu s Hkkb;kas dk s ;gkaW yk; s g S A thousands of sacrifices. Now we will not only shed our ,ls s gh ;gkaW ds elyekukq as dk s req tgktkas eas Hkjk s A own blood, but the blood of others, too... That Mahatma Gandhi led you to ruin... Hkjr dk lafo/kku cny nks lu 47 ;kn djks A Tie up your religiosity and kindness into a bundle and Hkkjr Hkfew igy s caV pdhq elYykq as dk cfg’dkj djk s A throw it in the Jamuna maiya... tk s fgUn w fgr dh ckr djxks lRrk eas ogh vk;xks A Leftists and communists ask me if we desire to turn 7 uoEcj njw ugha gaS oh ih 30 okVs gh ik;xks A this land into a Hindu rashtra. I say it was declared one at fgUnw& fgUnw ,d er gksdj Hkkjr dks vkckn djks A the time of Partition in 1947— Hindustan, a nation of Hkkjr dk lafo/kku cny nks lu 47 ;kn djks A Hindus and Pakistan, a nation of Muslims. Those Muslims Hkkjr Hkfew igy s caV pdhq elYykq as dk cfg’dkj djk s A who stayed behind could do so because of the tolerance and large heartedness of the Hindus. Any non-Hindu who lives here does so at our mercy (kirpa pe jee rahaa hai). Declare without hesitation that this is a Hindu rashtra, a English Summary: nation of Hindus. In future we have to prove that only those who honour Hindu womenfolk and holy men, believe Say with Pride, We are Hindus in Hindu culture, Hindu history and gods and goddesses can stay in Hindustan. Change the Constitution of India, remember 1947 when The resolution passed by eminent leaders in Haridwar India was divided will remain unchanged. There will be nochange, no Boycott Mussalmans compromise, on these issues: Now no one will be allowed to live here as an Aurangzeb a) the date of the construction of the Temple,October or Babar 30 Now only those who can become Rahims can stay in b) the blueprint of the Temple; we will not tolerate any India. changes in it... Now under the Constitution they will not cast a vote c) the site of the Temple, which will be raised where the They will bring up their children in India at the mercy of present image of Sri Ram stands... the Hindus A senior journalist asked us: ‘If we remain firm and Just as we brought our brothers from Kuwait uncompromising on these three issues, then what is there So also send off the Muslims in shiploads left to discuss?’ We answered that there is the issue of Only those who talk of Hindus’ welfare will come to whether these wishes will be granted gracefully or wrested power... by force... Hindus should become of one mind and make India Hindustan is foolish, it refuses to give up its foolish prosper... course, it gets beaten and forgives its opponent. Why? Because this is the land of Buddha and the Mahatma,

6 MANUSHI It is a matter of shame that as the incarnation. The Ram we know bore as a national hero. Muslims are Rathyatra travelled from town to no malice even to those who did him expected to join the Hindus in town, most Muslims are reported to wrong. He continued to love and re- devotion to Ram to prove that they have felt the need to lock themselves spect Kaikeyi as his own mother even are not antinational. (See the extracts up in their homes, not venturing to though she got him banished to four- of Uma Bharti’s speech pp. 4 and 6). step out on the streets. They still felt teen years of forest wandering. We They deliberately overlook the fact unsafe, even behind locked doors, in were taught that he triumphed over that even among Hindus there are their homes. Many, even in Delhi, fled Ravan with moral force rather than innumerable sects whose chosen their homes and sought shelter through his superior skills as a war- deities are other than Ram and who elsewhere, far from the yatra route. rior. His victory was foreshadowed would feel no less offended if This is making a Ravan of Ram, when many of those close to Ravan, compelled to forsake their own form instead of promoting reverence for including Ravan’s wife and brother, of worship as is being demanded of him. The blood soaked temple they came to stand by Ram, for he repre- Muslims. intend to build at Ayodhya on the sented righteousness. Today, the Many secularists see the BJP rubble of a mosque would stand as a Combine leaders, though acting in politics as promoting unhealthy symbol of destruction of all the Ram’s name, are compelling many Hin- religiosity. Nothing could be further cherished ideals and norms of Hindu dus by their unworthy actions to op- from the truth. The BJP-RSS-VHP civilisation. pose their politics, much as some of game is to selectively use Gods from We need to redeem Ram as a reli- Ravan’s well wishers were compelled the Hindu pantheon to practise their gious figure, religious in the sense of to oppose Ravan. brand of murderous nationalism. Mr representing a revered moral, ethical Murderous Nationalism not Advani and company are destroying code and as an embodiment of rare Hinduism all that is morally and spiritually spiritual ideals which have inspired The BJP projects Ram as a elevating in Hinduism and forging generations and generations of people national warrior hero, as opposed to from it a hate filled ideology of to upright lives in this land. The ap- a Hindu God, in the mistaken belief nationalism. propriation of Ram by sectarian poli- that they are thus elevating Ram to a In our time far more murders have ticians to perpetuate communal mas- superior status. The reclaiming of been committed in the name of sacres pours contempt on Ram, who what they call the Ram Janmasthan nationalism than for the sake of any in popular imagination stands as a is not being justified on religious religion. The two world wars are a symbol of love, compassion (patit grounds but presented as a case of prime example. The war between Iran pavan kripanidhan) self sacrifice and struggle between nationalist and and Iraq, both Muslim countries, steadfastness to duty antinational forces, Babri Masjid is to which has killed millions of people, is (kartavyanishtha). The Ram we im- be demolished because it was built its most recent manifestation. bibed as children from our parents by an invading outsider on the site of Chauvinist nationalism cannot bears no resemblance to the BJP-RSS a Ram temple—with Ram presented sustain itself without the notion of a Marg, Vol. 31.No.4, 1977-78 Vol. Marg, Vibhishana, Ravana’s brother, goes over to Rama and is given asylum

No.60 (September-October 1990) 7 hated other. It is invariably targeted of Mr Advani and his friends in the model their politics on the pattern of against some other group. It thrives RSS. The nationalism of the RSS the Muslim League. This amounts to on the language of power and asserted itself by actually murdering vindicating Jinnah in a way that violence, not on the love of humanity. Gandhi then, and today it is as history did not. The groups who It has little respect for the human zealously trying to destroy all that sought most actively the creation of rights of even those people it seeks Gandhi stood for. Gandhi’s Pakistan, the Mohajirs, find to unify as a nation. These types of nationalism was based on his themselves treated like unwanted nationalists are forever endangering opposition to oppression of any group aliens in the nation state of their own the lives and well-being of their by another. He was essentially anti making. Their language (Urdu), their fellow nationals in the pursuit of statist. He stood for the right of all culture, their connections with power games as, for instance, Hitler the disadvantaged and oppressed relatives in India, their lingering and Khomeini did, and now Mr groups (no matter what their religion) emotional attachment to the land of Advani is seeking to do. and against their exploitation by those their birth and ancestors, are all By systematically building an who controlled state power. Mr suspect and under attack from the atmosphere of hysteria among the Advani’s nationalism, on the other Muslim Punjabis, Sindhis, Pathans, Hindus they have caused frenzied hand, is desperate to grab hold of Baluchis and others who exist so clashes between the kar sewaks and state power in order to subordinate uneasily together in today’s Pakistan. the police, resulting in firing and all those within the country to his Despite the desperate attempts of the Muslim League and the army generals deaths. The peaceful town of tyranny and to wreak vengeance on to weld the various groups in Pakistan Ayodhya has been turned into a already vulnerable groups. into one nation based on religion, the virtual battlefield. Instead of mourning To achieve that end the ethnic strife in Pakistan is far more those they mislead, those whose nationalists build upon a culture of virulent today than before partition. blood is on their hands, they are resentment, fear and hatred; the BJP The Baluchis, the Pathans, Sindhis, glorifying their victims as martyrs, Combine is encouraging Hindus to a Punjabis and Mohajirs all seem to be encouraging more and more Hindus false view of Muslims and other to a frenzied do-or-die mood. locked in more deadly battles than minorities as betrayers of the nation. had raged on the continent in 1947. Furthermore, their politics will make One of their chief arguments is that the lives of Hindus even more Human rights violations are even Muslims had no right to stay in India precarious in Punjab and Kashmir by more severe in Pakistan than in India. after the creation of Pakistan. providing greater legitimacy to the The ruling elite of Pakistan has taken As someone whose family was separatist politics of fundamentalist much longer to even begin to allow among the millions forcibly driven out groups in the two states. The lives of some weight to the political rights of of their homes in 1947, who had to Hindus in other countries, where they their fellow Muslims, for example, the migrate as refugees from the land that are in a minority, are also being right to vote— something that the is now Pakistan, I share the anguish seriously jeopardised. There are people of India refuse to relinquish. of the BJP-RSS at the criminal already many reports that Hindus are The spectre of military dictatorship is manipulations that led to the partition being attacked in Bangladesh and forever haunting Pakistan. Their of India. However, they try to get Pakistan. They may become even democracy is far more fragile than that people to forget how it came about. of India. Pakistan’s Mullah politicians more vulnerable in the Gulf countries. The chauvinist nationalism of the RSS have not yet learnt to accept even In western countries, the prejudice and Hindu Mahasabha, which found women from elite families as equals in against Indians may be further support among large sections of the public life. For example, Benazir’s strengthened as reports of murderous Congress as well, was a key reason prime ministership was hotly disputed strife in India reach those countries. for the success of Jinnah. It is ironical whereas in India Indira Gandhi was Gandhi’s Hinduism Versus that the BJP-RSS Combine wish to easily accepted as Prime Minister. No Advani’s fashion their politics in the Jinnah religious leader cast aspersions on The respectability accorded to mould, a man they hate so much. In Indira Gandhi solely as a nationalism is due to its mistaken fact, the politics of both Jinnah and consequence of her being a woman. association with anti-colonial the BJP-RSS are merely two sides of All this is inextricably linked to the movements in third world countries. the same coin. politics of intolerance upon which the The vast difference between the two Those who hold that Muslims had Islamic nation laid its foundation — becomes evident if one compares no right to stay in India with the the politics of driving people out of Mahatma Gandhi’s politics with that creation of Pakistan are seeking to their homes through bloodshed in

8 MANUSHI order to force a partition. Since the Pakistani nation was based on a lie, it lar&vlar Hksn fcyxkbZA made the Pakistan ruling elite far more lrUg d s yPNu luq q HkkrkAz vxfur Jfrq ijkuq fc[;krkA neurotic and insecure in their politics. p On the other hand, despite serious lr vlrfUg dSvfl djuhA ftfe dqBkj pnau vkpjuhA problems and conflicts, India has dkVb ijlq ey; lquq HkkbZA fut xqu nsb lqx/ clkbZA retained a democratic polity — and rkr s ljq lhlUg p

No.60 (September-October 1990) 9 the scorpion in his hand, the latter with that of Shiv and Parvati. They letters against making Sita go through stung him. The pain of the sting wouldn’t be annoyed if anyone sits the agnipariksha compelled Sagar to jerked the Mahatma’s hand and the and reads verses from the Koran or deviate from his text and make it a scorpion fell back into the water and Bible in front of them. Mostly they do different, symbolic act. Many folk began drowning again. The Mahatma not claim exclusive obedience. Even songs depict Sita as defiantly picked up the scorpion again and the today in many rural areas a baba, a protesting Ram’s injustice. act was repeated several times. Some fakir or a sadhu will be received with Since Hindus do not even hesitate onlookers were very puzzled by what reverence by both Hindus and to pass judgement on the appeared to them as the Mahatma’s Muslims. Shrines of bhakts and wrongdoings of their gods,it is foolishness. They asked him: “Why tombs of sufis and darveshes are unlikely that Mr Advani and company do you persist in saving the scorpion visited by both Hindus and Muslims. will manage to get away with their when you know he will sting you?” In some ways one can even be an manipulations for too long. Much The Mahatma replied: “The atheist without being any less a stronger voices will arise against this scorpion’s dharm is to sting, my Hindu. A Hindu is free to create his or Combine’s machination from among dharm as a human is compassion. I her own gods or goddesses. Almost the Hindu fold than from among have to be true to my dharm, not every village in India worships its Muslims. adopt the dharm of the scorpion. How own local deity without interference, Pampered or Betrayed? can I forego my dharm and return as well as treasuring the stories of The Combine seeks to portray injury for injury when even the Ram and other gods, without Muslims as a group which considers scorpion is not willing to leave his requiring permission from any itself above the law of the land. own?” centralised heavenly authority. The Among the proofs of special The BJP-RSS-VHP Combine seem god/goddess one creates can be privileges supposedly enjoyed by the determined to destroy the dharm of named according to the devotees’ Muslim community are cited things Hindus. wishes. The bhakt also has the such as the enactment of the Unlike the god of Semitic religions freedom to make the god look and act retrogressive Muslim Women’s Judaism, Christianity and Islam, the in diverse ways. Devotees are free to Protection Act in violation of the gods of the Hindus are not jealous credit their chosen gods with the Constitution, the appointment of a gods. We Hindus have an easy attributes they consider important couple of governors and vice- relationship with our gods. We laugh For example, Meera’s Krishna seems and joke about them as one would to be her own special being, different chancellors from among Muslims, with one’s friends. We play games with from the Krishna of the Geeta or installing a couple of token ministers them and even take the liberty of Mahabharat. in the cabinet, getting the government getting annoyed with them. They All this and more has provided a to indulge in mindlessly extravagant rarely order their worshippers to attack good deal of space for dissent and pro-Arab and anti-Israel foreign policy other people’s gods and religions. A diversity within the Hindu religious rhetoric and getting this or that book whole pantheon of them coexist with and cultural tradition which counter- banned through protest each other and with various acts some of its oppressive aspects. Undoubtedly, the politics of the goddesses as well. None of them Hinduism also has the unique tradition current dominant leadership among claim absolute supremacy or demand of worshippers allowed to judge the the Muslims often does live up to the absolute loyalty. Our gods are not actions of their gods as they would pernicious stereotype that the B JP- known for wreaking vengeance on those of ordinary human beings. RS S Combine assert is characteristic their devotees if they go and pray to Krishna’s goading of Yudhishthir to of Muslims. They often give the other gods, or in mosques, tell a lie during the battle of impression of being religious fanatics gurudwaras or churches. They are Kurukshetra is not condoned by all incapable of adhering to secular even forever able to accommodate Hindus. Likewise Ram’s Shambhuk norms even though they demand that new gods in deference to the wishes vaddh and his unfair treatment of Sita Hindus practise secular politics. The of their worshippers—be they recent in subjecting her to agnipariksha virulence with which too many creations within the Hindu fold such hang heavily on the collective Muslim leaders oppose the human as a Santoshi Maa, or the gods of other consciousness of the Hindus. The rights of Muslim women, crush religions who are prepared for mutual discomfort of the Hindus with the dissenting voices within their own accommodation. Most Hindu gods agnipariksha came out very clearly community and promote religious would not get upset if a Hindu family when, during Ramanand Sagar’s intolerance has contributed to adds a picture of Jesus Christ along Ramayan serial, a spate of protest destroying some of the moral and

10 MANUSHI social strength of their own employment, housing or education tion. He tried to fill the hearts of his community. Their politics has and show all signs of being a followers with real self respect, which strengthened the voices of marginalised minority. included respect for others, no matter intolerance among the Hindus. Seeking Hitlerian Popularity how different. The BJP-RSS, through However, government policy has Mr Advani and the BJP are feeling manipulation and lies, are making played a major role in keeping Muslim extremely heady with the large crowds even Hindus feel insecure and unsafe leadership addicted to the politics of they have been able to gather for their in their own land. Such is the power crumb gathering. It has also given meetings on the Ram Mandir issue. of relentless propaganda that the Hindus an excuse to believe that the Mr Girilal Jain approvingly calls this endangered Muslim minority is made government is pampering the Muslim the largest mobilisation of the Hindus out to be a grave threat for Hindus. minority. The dominant political after Gandhi. It is the most absurd The Muslims who are experiencing parties, especially the Congress, have comparison ever made. Gandhi’s more and more difficulties providing not moved away from knee jerk Hinduism was rooted in the bhakti their own minimal security are accused responses calculated to consolidate tradition which stood for the oneness of jeopardising the security of India. the Muslim vote bank and aggravate of all human beings. Worship of god Hitler, too, succeeded in getting large the communal divide rather than was to be expressed through a love crowds to cheer him even more working out a coherent, just policy of and respect for human beings enthusiastically than those who have majority-minority relations. Far from irrespective of their caste, creed, attended the BJP-RSS rallies cheer enjoying special privileges, the vast religion, gender. Violence was not Advani. But, often, mobilisation of majority of Muslims are denied even permissible even against the mass hysteria around hatred and fear the fundamental rights promised by agression of an enemy. has no less disastrous consequences the Constitution. Most of them are Gandhi tried to liberate from fear for those who are thus mobilised than poor and despised and are compelled of all kinds the minds of all those for those who are oppressed. to live in ghettos. They are not given Indians who joined him. This included The most serious negative equality of opportunity in fear of physical torture and depriva- consequence of this current campaign

Sabari gives berries to Rama who eats them heartily to her great delight

No.60 (September-October 1990) 11 to consolidate Hindus against bodies of Muslims from the us against visiting Muslim minorities, teaching Hindus to feel Hashimpura area into the canal, and neighbourhoods. The Hindus fed us persecuted, filling their minds with forced a mass burial of scores of with gory stories about how some lies and misinformation, is that many Muslims they had massacred in women journalists who ventured into Hindus have come to believe that Maliana village. Muslim areas were brutally raped and getting rid of Muslims is their national Lies to Instil Fear murdered, how even PAC men were duty, that when they indulge in On the whole, among the shops, dragged into mohallas and pogroms against Muslims they are houses and commercial butchered, whereas the authorities doing it to defend their religion and establishments attacked or burnt confirmed that nothing even their rashtra. Murder and mayhem is down, about 90 to 95 percent belonged remotely resembling these things had thus being made respectable, leading to Muslims. However, the death and happened. Their fear of those they to a large scale criminalisation of many injury toll was even more imbalanced. had helped butcher bordered on the sections of the Hindu community. Despite intensive efforts, we could bizarre. They felt unsafe in their own This, in my view, is the biggest not identify more than five Hindus city where they had lived for danger. We must desist before the who had been killed by Muslims in generations. The loss of confidence Hindu community is criminalised, as Meerut. We met hardly any injured of the Hindu community was alarming Hitler once criminalised the entire Hindus, despite conscious efforts to considering they were a majority German people. This aspect of BJP- get to them. In contrast hundreds of actually able to get away with murder, RSS ideology and work becomes Muslims had been killed and since the police and the evident in any city which has hundreds injured. administration were on their side. witnessed large scale communal Yet such is the power of communal They were afraid to talk to any violence. propaganda that most Hindus we met strangers, including harmless looking Among the few cases I have were convinced that Hindus were the women like us. This was contrary to personally been exposed to, I would main sufferers; they went so far as to the normal warmth, hospitality and like to describe our experience in believe that Muslims had not only openness one encounters in visiting Meerut and Maliana after the great instigated the violence but also burnt most neighbourhoods in India — massacre of May 1987. An all-women down their own homes in order to urban or rural. In contrast, the team of Manushi volunteers spent claim compensation from the Muslims, despite having suffered about a week collecting information government, and that the paltry relief greater loss of life and property, soon after the killings. The officially measures announced (such as Rs received us without reservations, released figures, as usual, seemed to 10,000 for each person killed) were a grateful that someone cared to at least have very little relationship to the form of pampering the Muslim listen to their anguished stories. reality of the violence and minority. We were astonished to find It took a while for us to destruction. Even a casual visit that the Hindus were in some ways understand why those who had confirmed that in Meerut and Maliana more nervous and frightened than the looted, plundered and murdered had many more Muslim than Hindu Muslims. Though four out of five in reason to fear. The Provincial Armed neighbourhoods had been targets of the investigating team were Hindus, Constabulary had joined them and attack and looting. The pattern of we had greater difficulty in getting instigated them to violence. But they violence was similar to the one Hindus to talk to us. Invariably their lived in fear lest they be implicated reported in other such incidents in first question was: “Are you a Muslim and tried for the crimes they had Ahmedabad, in Bhagalpur and Gonda. or a Hindu?” putting on the defensive committed. Even though so many In Meerut, wherever Muslims anyone who was not identified as Muslims had suffered violence, the lived together in large numbers, as in Hindu. Among the few Hindus who PAC stood guard only over the Hashimpura, Gaddha or Maliana, talked to us, a large number warned Harijans and the other Hindu Hindus were usually accompanied by the PAC in their looting, killing and ij fgr lfjl /ke Z ufga HkkbAZ ij ihMk+ le ufga v/kekbAAZ murdering spree. No real resistance fuu;Z ldy ijkuq ons djA dgms aW rkr tkufga dkfcns uj AA 1 AA or retaliation was possible in such a situation. Therefore, loss of life and Brother, there is no religious duty like doing good to others, no meanness like property was extremely one sided. It causing pain to others. This, dear brother is the doctrine of Veda and Purana that I is well documented and well known have disclosed to you, and the learned know it well. that the PAC dumped dozens of Tulsidas Ramayan, Uttara-Kanda (40)

12 MANUSHI households, many of whom had been street full of Hindu houses had been incidents and the same conspiracy of the attackers, shielding them from attacked and killed by their own silence and evasiveness that journalists and outsiders, lest they neighbours. characterises people when they have inadvertently let out some damaging In a number of Hindu middle class terriblecrimes to hide. I was reminded facts. Many of these people were only areas, the fear was based on ignorance of what a German friend had told me too aware that they had the blood of fuelled by rumours. After the about a similar veil of silence in post their neighbours on their hands, and imposition of curfew, most people here World War II Germany. What could not hide the fear typical of had stayed confined to their happened during Hitler’s regime criminals—the fear of being caught. neighbourhoods and not witnessed became a taboo topic. Parents would They had been tutored by the PAC to any of the violence. They were fed on not answer even their own children’s allege that they had been attacked. hysterical rumours which they were queries about their involvement in They indulged in pathetic attempts to in no position to confirm from Nazi crimes except with an evasive show evidence of violence on their Muslims as they had scarcely any “We did not know what was homes. This usually amounted to Muslim acquaintances and had a happening, we just did our job.” showing us no more than a small stereotype of all Muslims as violently Reports of communal massacres mound of hay carefully burnt in a inclined riff-raff. from Bhagalpur, Ahmedabad, Gonda corner of their compound resulting in Criminalising The Hindus and elsewhere all testify to a pattern a small token loss, leaving the rest of There were dozens of similar of fearful silence or aggressive the house untouched. Among the tutored answers, a common one was: “We don’t know what happened, we were busy in our household work and did not want to look out” or “The Muslims burnt their own homes down to claim compensation, pampered cheats as they are”. The most bizzare was the answer we got from two women in Maliana, in the house directly opposite to that of an eleven- membered Muslim family, all of whom had been killed. The highly decomposed bodies of the Muslims were discovered from the well in their compound. “How did it happen?” we asked. “We don’t know, we were busy in our house,” the women told us. “Did someone come to attack them?” “No, we did not see anyone. They burnt down their house themselves to get compensation.” “But then how did they get killed?” “The bombs they bought to attack us must have exploded in their own house by mistake.” “But how could their bodies end up in the well on their own without someone throwing them in there?” “You don’t know how fasadi these Muslims are, they can manage almost anything,” was the unashamed answer, after which the women of the family closed the door and refused any further conversation. Later we learnt Many Indian homes are decorated with colourful renderings of Rama that this same lone Muslim family in a and Sita. This is a black and white reproduction of one that is popular

No.60 (September-October 1990) 13 evasiveness typical of criminals. here on the specious plea that Hindus of these areas. Provision of these While there is some mention being are treated badly in some of the Islamic basic necessities would be better made of the terrible consequences on countries. Even enlightened self taken care of if the local community, the lives of Muslims as a result of interest demands that we work out a with the temples and gurudwaras as being constantly made to live in fear just policy for dealing with the one source of support, took over all of violence, and the resulting minorities. these public tasks. ghettoisation and anxiety among Where Do We Begin? 3 An equally important task for them, we have altogether ignored the 1 First and foremost, we need to those who wish to restore lustre to disastrous effects of the BJP-RSS- restore the sanctity of our religious their faith would involve restoring the VHP incitements of the Hindu places and get the politicians out of tradition of temples as places of community. It is being systematically them. The distortions brought about learning, of religious studies, of criminalised. Not just the poor but in the system of temple management theology, as centres of arts and young men from so-called respectable during British colonial rule need to be culture. middle and upper class homes are rectified. Traditionally, religious 4 It is vital that we counter with encouraged to become leaders of places in India were not subservient carefully collected facts the hate looting and murdering brigades. to a distant political authority. Most campaigns of RSS-VHP-BJP that are When the whole community learns to temples were supported by the local based on deliberate misreporting and cover up these crimes, to try and rub community, which also exercised lies. We should insist that the press off the stink of blood from their control over its affairs. The BJP-RSS- and the government agencies give an conscience, it is a sure sign of the VHP attempt to take over the accurate description of the losses advancing ruin of the community. controversial Ram Mandir at Ayodhya suffered by Hindus and Muslims Those of us who value the well-being from the hands of the local priests is during the communal violence. An of our community must not only feel not the only example of politicians accurate knowledge of facts may help ashamed of the bloodshed being usurping religious sites. Even the to counter the mistaken sense of committed in the name of Hinduism communists in Kerala are known to persecution being inculcated among but also must take determined steps have fought fierce battles to try to Hindus and to restrain the to halt it wrest control over certain temples in irresponsible rhetoric of some Muslim In Our Own Interest the state. We need to work out clear leaders. It will not help us to evade this rules about the governance of 5 We need to work out concrete responsibility by pointing to the religious places and property, keeping ways of making large scale social irresponsible politics of most of the politicians away from taking over interaction possible between the two Muslim leaders. If the Hindu religious places and ensuring they communities. Such efforts should not community continues to use the remain in the hands of the be confined to Iftar parties hosted by follies of the Muslim leadership to worshippers. ministers. The increasing legitimise discrimination and violence 2 We also need to work out ghettoisation of the Muslim against Muslims, we will be doing so institutional safeguards so that the community is leading to an even at our own peril. The continuing enormous wealth generated by the greater communication gap than pogroms against the Muslims temples is used for social and spiritual existed previously. marginalises an already impoverished well-being rather than power games. 6 We need to work out ways of and politically vulnerable community Provision of free food and shelter for resolving communal conflicts without even further. If they are denied all who come for it, as gurudwaras do resorting to needless government legitimate means of earning their even today, could take care of many interventions. For example, an livelihood, even more of them are who suffer from hunger and important reason for the success of bound to be forced into a life of petty destitution, often in a way better than the BJP-RSS-VHP campaign is that, crimes and violence. Thus the some government run programmes. as always, the secularists continue to marginalisation, insecurity and The tradition of kar seva should be oppose them by relying mainly on the ghettoisation of the Muslim extended to improve the community’s power of the State. Few attempts were community has harmful physical environment, for example, in made to oppose them other than by consequences for all of us and for the the provision of sanitation, clean appealing to the government to use health of Indian society. It is foolish water supply, pucca roads. The force to prevent them from performing to insist on treating Muslims unjustly government has failed miserably in all the kar seva. The ham handed way in

14 MANUSHI which the police and the paramilitary forces were used to prevent the demolition of the mosque led to unnecessary bloodshed and killings, providing a halo of martyrdom to this murderous Combine. If we do not give up our slavish dependence on the State machinery to solve such problems, we will never move towards more lasting solutions to social conflicts. 7 We need to recognise that the vast diversity of India is a source of strength and vigour and has been crucial for the survival of democracy in India. Instead of treating this diversity as a liability to be gotten rid of, as the Hindu rashtravadis do, we need to work to protect minorities from attack and discrimination. A consensus on this won’t be difficult to attain. Every community is a minority in some part of the country, e.g., Hindus in Kashmir, Muslims in Jammu and, therefore, can be convinced to accept a uniform policy for the protection of minority rights in India. 8 The Hindu community can be mobilised to save its culture and religion from being distorted beyond recognition only if they are aware of it. In the name of promoting secular education, the Western educated elite has deliberately promoted ignorance A Madhubani painting depicting Saraswati — The Goddess of learning about India’s rich heritage.The task of promoting respect and creating unscrupulous smugglers is perhaps restoring whatever is left of those adequate facilities for the learning of more serious than the depradations historical, religious and other texts that our varied religions and cultural of Mughal invaders. Yet the Hindu shed greater light on our past. It is a matter traditions cannot and should not be rashtravadis have maintained a of shame that , even recent history, one left to the government. It’s best studious silence on this. They could finds records much better preserved in undertaken by social and cultural have performed a greater service if the British Museum and other foreign organisations functioning outside the they started a campaign to protect libraries than in Indian libraries. White government patronage system. these endangered temples. The ASI ants are merrily feeding on our precious 9 A very vigorous effort is also and other government departments texts and manuscripts.This process of required to preserve our ancient are incapable of dealing with this task. destruction needs to be immediately monuments, including temples, as The job of restoration has to be halted. Much is already lost We cannot these are repositories of our cultural organised on a larger scale by afford to lose any more. For a people heritage. Most of them are being ensuring the people’s concerned without a sense of its past is a people destroyed beyond repair due to participation. without a sense of self, and can more systematic neglect. The looting and 10 No less, perhaps even more easily be manipulated into self- plundering of ancient temples by important, is the task of saving and destruction.

No.60 (September-October 1990) 15