I belong to the city of Ahmedabad and though I was not born here… I say I “belong” to this place. I know I speak for everyone who has stayed in the city ever that there is something about this place, which makes it your own. And what makes a city special? Its people… warm, loving and caring people who embrace everyone with open arms…
And when the very same loving people turn into vicious blood-thirsty animals, the city bleeds! This is happening to my city right now… at this very moment… And what pains me beyond anything is the fact that this is not the first time it has happened and unfortunately, not the last time as well!!
Back in 2002, I witnessed the massacre and blood-bath myself and to tell it was a ghastly sight would be an understatement. Acid bulbs being dropped, vehicles being set on fire, people being stabbed in broad-daylight, houses/shops being set on fire… do not even begin the describe the horrific sight of a riot.
I am not short of reasons to resent the Britishers for having ruled us for centuries… the biggest being the “seeds of hatred” they sowed inside the hearts of people in this part of the sub-continent. The hatred a Muslim feels for a Hindu and vice-versa. More than 60 years after they left us, we are still paying a huge price for the the “Divide and Rule” policy they adopted. They may have stolen our “Kohinoor” but this was the biggest damage they did to our soul – something that will take much longer for us to come out of… I am not sure if we will ever… But, I hope someday we do…
Here is a snapshot of some statistics regarding riots (Source1, Source2)
I would like to add to this that all these numbers mostly indicate crimes done to minorities in India (Muslims/Sikhs). However, it will be unfair to indicate that numerous innocent Hindus become targets for rioters almost on a daily basis in many Minority dominated areas of the country. And all this happens in the name of God. One small incident catapults to unprecedented porportions because of fragile religious sentiments.
I have only one thing to say to all Rioters: Kill, Burn, do what you want. But, DO NOT commit crimes in the name of God. No religion propogates violence and neither your Bhagwaan, nor your Allah is happy to see you do this. Wake up… before its too late!
Sad state of affairs/
I was expecting a much more lighter post after such a long hiatus.
I could not stop myself from writing on this after reading this news item today: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/ahmedabad/Ahmedabad-walled-city-on-the-boil-one-dead/articleshow/5979197.cms
Well, hindu-muslim animosity goes way beyond british rule !! ..
Godhra train burning was the root cause of the massacare that took place post-godhra in our lovely city .. This time too, an attack on Hindu wedding procession was the cause of riot .. One hindu boy was dragged and brutally killed by minority in shahpur area of ahmedabad .. These riots are nightmares for us but we have to understand and introspect why and who starts it all?? .. Why majority is always at the receiving end in the beginning and then backlash becomes inevitable ..
According to me, a common average hindu population is no more concerned about ram and allah but he is more into GDP and Sensex .. Whereas the Indian Muslims, still feeling marginalized, hang on to thread that binds them all together – Religion. They have a sense of belonging in there..
On a lighter note, fighting for a religion is like fighting to see who has the strongest imaginary freind !!
I meant its the British Rule which really triggered it all… It may have been before it as well coz essentially the Mughals raided our land and ruled us for centuries…
See its difficult to point out the wrongs here… its a question of who came first – the chicken or the egg!! Everyone will have a different perspective… Thats good… So keep them to yourselves… Why do you bother about what the other person thinks like…?
Sigh! I ws witness to what happened in Hyd recently as part of such riots b/w the two groups .. so cud nt agree with u more
This is truly a never ending fight in India. I wonder when we will let the acid bulbs, lathis and chains fall and go back to living in peace.
you keep wondering buddy and have a good life.
Muslims are never the “victims”. Don’t even label them as that.
Islam is not a religion of “peace”. That’s the biggest joke. You say anything against that bugger mohammad and you’re as good as … you know what.
We can’t really blame the British for Hindu/Muslim violence… the fact is Muslims cannot get along with ANYONE… some examples:
1) israel/palestine
2) bosnia/serbia (yugoslav war)
3) india/pakistan
4) muslims vs christians in nigeria and all over africa
5) muslims in europe causing problems
it’s everywhere.
Muslims are the problem.
This is the attitude… the exact attitude which has been responsible for our downfall. May your God (whoever you believe in) give you the fore-sight to see whats right and whats wrong!!
@Nova: Couldn’t agree with you more. it’s the saddest thing that can happen. Espicialy in this age and day, when technology seem to envelop us from all sides, except the brain (where the matter of tolerance and love is concerned.)
@Ashok
“Muslims are the problem.” I guess statement like these are the problem. When there’s ariot, it gets noticed. Does anyone care about the atrocities being acted up on a million hindu brides across the nation? One off issues…but a million drops make a sea.
So, more than muslims or religion or anything, it’s the attitude of the average man that’s the problem.
When people of two faiths cannot tolerate one another, it’s a problem.
When the groom’s family cannot tolerate the bride (and vice versa), it’s a problem.
When the parents cannot handle their kid’s failure, it’s a problem.
When children are abused and not granted rights, it’s a problem.
And there are a lot of other problems which do ot involve muslims alone…
If people like us, who can “think”, can present a better picture and try to better the attitudes of at least those whom we can influence, I think we have hopes for a better tomorrow.
Wonderful reply Scorpia! I couldnt agree with you more!!
@scorpia – thanks for your idiotic response.. you are trying to paint the bride abuse/pressure on kids/etc/ problems as “Hindu problems”. The reality is this has nothing to do with Hindu religion. Be happy you are a Hindu and not a burka-wearing muslim woman whose husband beats her every night and cheats on her with multiple women. Be happy you don’t have to worry about acid being thrown on your face for exposing your ankle. don’t just run your mouth.
And yes, muslims and islam are indeed the problem. muslims kill non-muslims because of their religion. muslims kill people for islam. muslims are a violent bunch – eg. reaction to danish cartoons of mohammad.
India’s downfall – one day – will be because of it’s “secular” attitude – people like YOU!
the muslims don’t think like that. even indian muslims. they will kill you while you are on your way to work on the local train without giving a second thought. you and your secular attitude make me sick.
@Ashok: I respect your sentiments and you have the right to have your opinion as much as any one of us. But, let us have a forum of mutual respect here without abusing others’ thoughts and opnions. I may not agree with what you have to say, but the least I can do is agree to disagree.
Having said that, coming to your point… India can not/will not prosper as a nation of only “Hindus”… We have so much of diversity and so much of interdependency… thats our biggest strenght and to an extent our biggest weakness!! India is what it is because of its diversity… and the more tolerant we become towards other’s religion/feelings/opnions, the more we will grow as a nation!
Nova,
Riots are brutal. Loss of precious human life is depressing and unwarranted.
Yet, the British angle doesn’t hold.
We have such wars many centuries before the British even dreamt of coming down.
Religions may not propagate hatred, however, they are the sole reason of such riots.
People from all religions need to introspect, in a dettached manner. Answers lie within.
Also, I suggest you read The Infidel by Ayaan Hirsi Ali. The book is quite an eye opener and will answer a lot of questions ordinary people like us have…
Religions are the reason – I agree… And do you know why? Coz there is so much poverty, illiteracy and misery in some parts of the world that those people are vulnerable enough to be brain-washed. The Quran/Gita are mis-interpreted and taught to them… Watch this talk by a lady who did research on such guys: http://scienceblogs.com/grrlscientist/2010/05/tedtalks_sharmeen_obaid_chinoy.php
And yes, I am gonna try and get this book… Is there a soft copy out there somewhere?
nope, i couldn’t find one…
Okies thanks
As Jonathan Swift says “We have just enough religion to make us hate, but not enough to make us love one another.”
So true man… so very true!! I always thought Religion was all about faith… This has however gone to the other end of the spectrum… blind faith!
Religions are like the peel of a banana, the fruit is the free spirit. The destination and the goal is same, the problem is that people start fighting/arguing to decide whose peel is better? and in that process forget about the fruit. They hold the peels and throw away the fruit! such a shame!!!
Usually people think “Allah” means Muslim God…. where as “Allah” in arabic means just “God” like “Bhagwan” “prabhu” etc..
Agree!
Coming to the point of “FAITH”.
What is trust? and what is faith?
Trust: is something which you know is going to happen. eg: You have told your friend to book tickets to the cinema for the evening show, you trust him that he buys the tickets…
Faith: You are lost in a forest, you are very thristy and you are not able to locate water. You come accross a bunch of tribals and you ask them water, they donot have water, instead they have some liquid which they say will quench your thirst…. you donot know what it is.. yet, you believe that it might quench your thirst and not harm you. This is faith.
Faith is walking into the unknown knowing that nothing is going to happen to you and you are not alone in that journey.
So, people who have faith in something will not harm others because they believe in that so strongly that they know nobody can take away their faith just by some stupid actions.
So, people who take lives in the name of faith do not have faith at all! they are just hate mongers who are trying to settle scores when there is some tension around.
All said and done… the world is full of contradictions infact, the entire creation is full of contradictions. where there is light there is also darkness. where there are messengers of peace… there are hate mongers and terrorists as well!
Like how a ray of light takes away the darkness, we need to make people aware of what they do… and what their actions can do for others… we all need to be that ray of light!!
tamasOma jyotirgamaya – from darkness towards light
Hope i did not bore you…
Love
Pradeep
Beautiful!! That deserved to be a post in itself
Loved the bit “Faith is walking into the unknown knowing that nothing is going to happen to you and you are not alone in that journey.”
Thanks Nova dear….
Though I agree with most of it … but somehow this statement – “Kill, Burn, do what you want” leaves a not-so good taste.
(i read this post quite some time back and somehow this statement has remained with me, in not so good way i must confess!)
Nik, I know what you mean… Somehow this post was meant to do exactly that… leave you with a bad taste in your mouth… To make you think… ponder… wonder if life indeed as trivial as some people make it…
Have you ever witnessed a riot first hand?
No .. I haven’t … Though I did my schooling in Baroda, I moved to Bhopal for engg. during riots and when I visited Baroda (March 2002 end approx) it had subsided … Also, I sort of lived a cocooned life inside a township for long!