State violence strikes again: Forbesganj Firing UN Special Rapporteur Rashdia Manjoo on Gender Violence in India
Remembering Asghar Ali Engineer: Ram Puniyani
VOLUME 1 ISSUE 3 3 VOLUME 1 ISSUE 5th 5thJune June2013 2013
Forbesganj Firing Richard Kamei
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back in 2011, the land between these two villages including the road was given to a private company-Auro Sundaram International Company by Bihar Industrial Development Authority to set up a Glucose factory. The villagers made it clear that the road should not be taken away and if so, they should be provided with an alternative road. Agreement to some extent was achieved out of meeting but the very next day the company turned back and blocked the road leading to this incident of What followed next was a peaceful ‘Forbesganj firing’. protest on 3rd June 2011 against the blockade of the road. To which A fact-finding team of ANHAD conthe police forces clamped down on firmed the killings of villagers on the protestors and they chased their visit to the area. The team them right into their homes; injur- said, “The police opened fire on the ing men, women, and children and protesters and chased them to 4 persons including an infant and their homes. According to many a pregnant women were shot dead eye witnesses present on the scene (sources said 6 persons were shot the order to fire was given by the SP Garima Mallik. SDO, Ashok dead). Agarwal, MLC, BJP, Saurabh AgarTo this day, justice exists only in wal, Ashok Agarwal’s son and the form of hope for the villagers of Managing Director of the Auro Rampur and Bhajanpur while the Sundram International Company judicial commission of six month were present on the scene when term set up by the Bihar Govern- firing was ordered”. ment under Nitish Kumar-the Chief Minister of Bihar, has turned Inside this issue: into years. The compensation to 3 the death and injured, and other UN Special Rapporteur Rashida on demands are being mired into the Violence Against Women in India politics of delaying justice. Protest Updates 7
FootPrints
NATIONAL ALLIANCE OF PEOPLE’S MOVEMENTS
n 1st June 2011, the outcome of the meeting of the villagers (Rampur and Bhajanpur), the company officials and administration upheld the possibility of the road connecting the two villages (Bhajanpur and Rampur) to remain. Then on 2nd June 2011, the company took a u-turn and the villagers saw a completely different picture- the connecting road between the two villages was blocked by the private company to pave way for the factory to come up.
Rampur and Bhajanpur are two villages under the block of Forbesganj of Araria district of Bihar. These two villages have 90 per cent Muslim population and they have an old connecting road. Few years
Obituary: Asghar Ali Engineer
Editorial
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A demand was made to dismiss SP and all policemen who were involved in the firing in ‘Forbesganj firing’ incident. A sum of Rs 10 lakh to relative of deceased and Rs 1 lakh to injured people are being made. A job to the family members has also been made whose breadwinners died in the firing and a road to two villages. So far, compensation of Rs 3 lakh had been given only to the family of infant who was shot dead during the said incident. The Bihar government didn’t pay heed to this demand and made it clear that the compensation and due course of law will only be made on the basis of the report of judicial probe. Under mounting pressure from the centre and civil societies, a formal notification of judicial commission was constituted on 22nd June 2011 with three terms of reference: circumstances leading police forces chased to the incident, sequence of protestors right into events and justification of the their homes. 4 police firing on persons including an 3rd June 2011. This commisinfant and a sion was slated pregnant women to wrap up in six months. were shot dead Few days before 22nd December 2011, the term of the commission got extended to a year and then later to another year; the judicial commission is expected to finish the inquiry this June 2013. Chances loom that it may get extended again. The motive of this extension of judicial commission is seen as a tactic to delay the justice and in diluting the evidences of this incident. On 30th March 2013, an arrest warrant has been slapped against 50 villagers including those who were shot dead and those who were injured, their family members and witnesses of the incident. This surfaced when the judicial commission is still pend-
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ing and Supreme Court is hearing a petition that seeks a CBI probe. The arrest warrant is said to be made from the FIRs filed by the police and officials of Auro Sundaram International Company. Villagers are baffled at this news and according to some sources; the company is playing politics to divide the villagers in supporting them. The discourse of ‘Forbesganj firing’ is suggestive of a nexus between the state and private company. The way how Bihar Government of Nitish Kumar politicised the outcome of this incident is uncalled for. The extension of the judicial commission is a way of protecting the high handedness of authorities and upholding the interests of private company. The incumbency done to this incident only means that the state conveniently denies the rights of (Muslim) minority in seeking justice and living peacefully. The brutality of ‘Forbesganj firing’ is condemnable and more so when Nitish Kumar Government treated it casually.
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UN Special Rapporteur on Violence Against Women The Indian government invited UN Special Rapporteur Rashida Manjoo to visit the country from 22 April to 1 May and look into the prevailing living standards of woman in India. These are a few excerpts from her initial findings.
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he Government of India has signed and ratified numerous international human rights instruments. It has also adopted many progressive laws and policies at the Union and State levels, including amendments to existing laws, to address various manifestations of violence against women. At the institutional level, the duty of promoting and protecting the rights of women and children is vested in numerous Union and state level Ministries, departments, commissions, committees and missions. Furthermore numerous programs and policies have been put in place in recent years to address the issue of violence against women within a human rights and development framework. These include schemes addressing the needs of victims of rape, trafficking, domestic violence, and so on. Some of these schemes address counselling, support, skills development, access to benefits and also to shelters. Public/private partnerships have been forged within different spheres including the police sector. However, despite these various positive developments, the unfortunate reality is that the rights of many women in India continue to be violated with impunity. Redress mechanisms of mediation and compensation erode accountability imperatives, further fostering norms of impunity. A law and order approach to sexual wrongs, as in the aftermath of the Nirbhaya case, foreclosed the opportunity to establish a holistic and remedial framework. It fails to address the structural and root causes and consequences of violence against women.
Manifestations women
of
violence
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violence in different spheres whether perpetrated by state actors or condoned by the State, were shared with me during the mission. In India gender violence manifests in numerous ways and varies in prevalence and forms based on several factors including geographic location. Some manifestations include sexual violence, domestic violence, caste-based discrimination and violence, dowry related deaths, crimes in the name of honour, witch-hunting, sati, sexual harassment, violence against lesbian, bisexual, and transgender people, forced and/or early marriages, deprivation of access to water and basic saniA law and order tation, violence approach to sexual against women with disabiliwrongs fails to ties, sexual and address the reproductive rights violastructural and root tions, sex seleccauses of violence tion practices, violence in cusagainst women. todial settings and violence in conflict situations, among others. These manifestations of violence are rooted in multiple and intersecting forms of discrimination and inequalities faced by women, and are strongly linked to their social and economic situation. One interlocutor described violence against women and girls as functioning on a continuum that spans the life-cycle from the womb to the tomb.
Domestic
Violence
Several experiences of direct and indirect Many victims of domestic violence live in
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family settings with deeply entrenched norms of patriarchy and cultural practices linked to notions of male superiority and female inferiority. The lack of effective remedies, the failure of the State to protect and prevent violence against women, the economic dependence of many women on the men in their lives, and the social realities of exclusion and marginalization when speaking out, often results in women accepting violence as part of their reality. The current focus by state actors on preserving the unity of the family is manifested in the welfare/social approach and not in the human rights based approach. It does not take into consideration the nature of relationships based on power and powerlessness; of economic and emotional dependency; and also the use of culture, tradition and religion as a defence for abusive behaviour.
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Conflict-related Gender Crimes
It is crucial to acknowledge that conflictrelated sexual violence is occurring at the hands of both state and non-state actors. The Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act and the Armed Forces (Jammu and Kashmir) Special Powers Act (AFSPA) protects the armed forces from effective prosecution in non-military courts for human rights violations committed against civilian women among others, and it allows for the overriding of due process rights. Interpretation and implementation of this act is eroding fundamental rights and freedoms including freedom of movement, association and peaceful assembly, safety and security, dignity and bodily integrity rights, for women, in Jammu & Kashmir and in the North-Eastern States. Unfortunately in the interests of State security, peaceful and legitimate protests often elicit a miliThe Protection tary response, which is resulting in both a of Women from culture of fear and of resistance within In Manipur, I heard Domestic Vio- these societies. anguished stories of lence Act is a positive devel- In consultations in Manipur, I heard anyoung women who opment in the guished stories from relatives of young have disappeared a s p i r a t i o n a l women who have disappeared without without trace...found goal of protec- trace or who were found dead shortly after tion for victims going missing. The lack of response from dead shortly after of family vio- the police is the norm in such cases, with lence. However the attitude being that these are mostly going missing. the discrep- elopement cases. Consequences of such ancy between disappearances include exposure to sexual the provisions abuse, exploitation or trafficking. More of the laws and generally, many tribal and indigenous the effective implementation thereof, women in the region are subjected to conwhether through the use of police generally tinued abuse, ill-treatment and acts of or protection officers in particular, is a re- physical and sexual violence. They are decurrent complaint. Despite provisions in- nied access to healthcare and other necestended to offer legal, social and financial sary resources, due to the frequency of assistance to victims, many women are un- curfews and blockades imposed on citiable to register their complaints, therefore zens. Moreover, the chronic underdevelopincreasing their vulnerability. They are ment prevalent in the region, coupled with also deprived of the benefits prescribed in frequent economic blockades, is having an the law - as proof of registration of cases is impact on the overall cost of essential required for access to many benefits. Fur- items, and is exacerbating the already vulthermore, prevention of violence, as a core nerable situation of women and children due diligence obligation of the State, does living in the region. not feature in the implementation of this law.
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Communal Violence
Numerous human rights mechanisms have addressed the violation of women’s human Communal violence, inspired by religious rights in India. The substance of some releintolerance, is visible in some parts of In- vant recommendations addresses the foldia. Indiscriminate attacks by religious lowing issues: majorities on religious minorities, including Christian and Muslim minorities, is 1. There is a need for urgent measures to frequently explained away by implying that end the alarming decline in sex ratios equal aggression was noted on both sides. (CEDAW, CRC) Also, such violence is sometimes labelled as ‘riots’, thereby denying the lack of security for religious and other minorities, and 2. The negative effect of personal status disregarding their right to equal citizen- laws aton the achievement of overall genship. This issue is of particular concern to der equality (CRC, CCPR, and CEDAW). many, as the wounds of the past are still Such laws need to be reformed to ensure fresh for women who were beaten, stripped equality in law (CEDAW). naked, burnt, raped and killed because of their religious identity, in the Gujarat massacre of 2002. 3. The social and cultural patterns of disIndia has embarked on a journey of aggres- c r i m i n a t i o n sive economic growth and this path is against women Economic viewed as the route to simultaneously ad- require urgent action by the dressing its human development chaldevelopment S t a t e lenges. Despite the inclusion of beneficial (CEDAW). policies is resulting provisions for women and children in the in forced evictions, Five Year Plan, the impact of economic development policies on women is resulting 4. Ensure that landlessness, threats in forced evictions, landlessness, threats to all victims of to livelihoods...and livelihoods, environmental degradation, domestic viothe violation of and the violation of bodily integrity rights, lence are able among other violations. The adverse conse- to benefit from bodily integrity quence of resulting migration to urban ar- the legislation on domestic eas is reflected in the living and work conviolence. Deditions of many of these women and chil- velop a comprehensive plan to combat all dren, for example living in slums or on the forms of violence against women (CEDAW). streets, engaging in scavenging activities Domestic violence is endemic. The Protecand in sex work etc. Some women have tion of Women from Domestic Violence Act committed suicide; others are frequently and Section 498-A of the Indian Penal exposed to acts of harassment and vio- Code must be enforced effectively (CESCR). lence, including sexual assault. It was strongly argued by many interlocutors that India’s pursuit of neo-liberal economic growth must not be pursued at the expense of vulnerable women and children, and their right to a healthy and secure environment.
5. The implementation of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, the Public Safety Act and the National Security Act, and the Armed Forces (Jammu & Kashmir) Special Powers Act should be repealed (HRC, SR Summary Executions), as it perpetuates impunity (HRC), and is widely used against
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12. Continuing disparities in literacy levels are of concern, in particular the educational status of scheduled castes, scheduled tribes and Muslim women (CEDAW). Effective measures must be adopted to re8. To expeditiously enact the proposed duce the drop-out rates among Dalit girls Communal Violence (Prevention, Control (CERD). and Rehabilitation of Victims) Bill, 2005 with the incorporation of: sexual 13. More effort is needed to end customary and gender-based crimes, including mass practices which deprive women from uncrimes against women perpetrated dur- derprivileged classes, castes and religious ing communal violence; a comprehensive minorities of their rights to human dignity system of reparations for victims of such and to non-discrimination (HRC). crimes; and gender-sensitive victim- I would like to encourage the government centred procedural and evidentiary rules, of India to ensure specificity in addressing and to ensure that inaction or complicity the multiple and intersecting inequalities of State officials in communal violence be and discrimination that women face. My urgently addressed under this legislation. mandate has consistently voiced the view dowry and dowry-related violence are of great concern (CEDAW, CRC, CERD, and HRC). Violence and social sanctions due to inter-caste relationships are
A legislative and policy approach will not bring about substantive change if it is not implemented within a holistic approach
9. Grave concern is exp r e s s e d about the continued existence of women and girls employed as domestic workers and their experiences of sexual a b u s e (CEDAW).
10. Harmful practices on women and girls, including forced marriage, dowry and dowry-related violence are of great concern (CEDAW, CRC, CERD, and HRC). Violence and social sanctions due to inter-caste relationships are also of concern (CERD). 11. The impact of mega-projects on the rights of women should be thoroughly studied, including their impact on tribal and rural communities, and safeguards should be instituted (CEDAW).
that the failure in response and prevention measures stems from Government’s inability and/or unwillingness to acknowledge and address the core structural causes of violence against women. Linkages should be made between violence against women and other systems of oppression and discrimination prevalent within societies. A legislative and policy approach will not bring about substantive change if it is not implemented within a holistic approach that simultaneously targets the empowerment of women, social transformation, and the provision of remedies that ultimately address the continuum of discrimination and violence, and also the pervasive culture of impunity. My comprehensive findings will be discussed in the report that I will present to the United Nations Human Rights Council in June 2014.�
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Protest Updates Aruna Roy Quits NAC Again Aruna Roy has resigned from the Sonia Gandhi-led National Advisory Council (NAC). Her decision to quit is in the government refusal to accept the council’s recommendations on minimum wages to workers under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS). She communicated her decision to NAC chairperson, Mrs. Sonia Gandhi stating that she did not wish to be considered for another term of NAC. Her term ended on May 31st.
hand, they claim they have huge World Bank - provided funds for providing amenities, toilets, water posts etc to all slums. And on the other they continue on their slum-free city plan. There is Slum Act, 1971 which has a provision (under section 4 & 5) for declaration of slums and slum improvement with amenities however they are not fulfilling their own written promise to declare 19 and more slums, made us in May, 2011 and again in January 2013 and March, 2013 by the state level ministry and Chief Minister as well as in March, 2013 by the Municipal Commissioner. In the name of protecting mangroves thousands of families, in Ganpat Patil Nagar, Borivali and Kannamwar Nagar, Vikhroli are being evicted in the absence the high court direction.
Ms. Roy first quit the NAC in 2006, expressing her unhappiness at the government moving away from the Common Minimum Programme, whose implementation the council was meant to oversee. But she returned to the NAC in the UPA’s second We will not allow the demolition scam of term in 2010. 2004-05 (75000 houses demolished) to She will be replaced by Dr. Virginius Xaxa, be repeated. a professor in Delhi University and author of ‘State, Society and Tribes: Issues in Post Do write to letters and condemn the ac-Colonial India (2008)’ and the seminal ar- tion to – Municipal Commissioner, ticle “Tribes as Indigenous People of India.” MCGM, The Chief Minister of Maharashtra and the Principal Secretary, Housing BMC on Demolition Drive Again
Do support our petitions pending before the National Human Rights Commission The Municipal Corporation of Greater and National Commission for Protection Mumbai (MCGM) is all out to demolish a of Child Rights. no. of slum communities which house dalits, minorities and unprotected work- Shri Prithviraj Chavan, ers, beginning NOW. It’s absolutely un- Chief Minister, justifiable and unconstitutional. The Ma- Government of Maharashtra, harashtra Government and Brihanmum- Mantrayala, Mumbai bai Municipal Corporation are engaged Ph: 022-23634950 in this land grab from the poor denying E-mail: chiefminister@maharashtra.gov.in , 60% of the city’s population a mere 9% of ashish.valsa@gmail.com land. The many contradictions hit at an obvious strategy, adopted by the state to avoid exposure and to confuse everyone concerned of the right to shelter. On one
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Shri Debashish Chakrabarty, Principal Secretary, Housing, Government of Maharashtra, Mantrayala, Mumbai Tel: 022-22023036 E-mail: psec.housing@maharashtra.gov.in
Sitaram Kunte, IAS Municipal Commissioner Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai Municipal Head Office Mahapalika Marg Mumbai-400 001. Tel:022-22620525 E-mail:mc@mcgm.gov.in
Uniting the Nation Asghar Ali Engineer’s Struggle for Preservation of Plural Ethos Ram Puniyani
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he events of last over two decades have shown us, more than before that the efforts of dividing the nation by communal forces have been a major obstacle to social peace and process of development. In India while the communal violence began with the Jabalpur riot of 1961, it is from last couple of decades especially from 1980s that the divisive politics has tried to drive a wedge between different communities along religious lines. The regret is that it is only few social workers and scholars who took this issue in all its seriousness and Asghar Ali Engineer can be counted amongst those few. He also spent major part of his social efforts to fight against the ideology and machinations which led to communal violence and the victimization of minorities, time and over again, year after year. Engineer was a student when Jabalpore riots took place. It clearly left a deep mark on him. The imprint of this tragedy got reflected in his social engagement with the issues related to communal violence and communal politics all through. His talks and articles reflect about the impact of Jabalpur violence, its impact on nation and its influence on the conscience keeper of the nation, Pundit Jawaharlal Nehru. Engineer’s work on the issue of communal violence, communal ideology and communalization of society spans on a vast canvass and will easily fill volumes.
standing the dynamics of communal violence, he must have spent days in and days out, investigating the communal riots, their aftermath and their impact on the social and political affairs. He can easily be credited with being the major scholaractivist who pioneered this area of investiHis work, to be referred below, shows gation. He spent enormous energy to investhat he took a serious interest in under- tigate and analyze the communal violence
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in India. He can also be regarded as the foremost scholar-activist who not only commented on the issues related to communalism, but also gave his forthright opinion on the range of those, against the heavy odds. He has been criticized by the communalists of both the religions for his opposition to the politics of violence in the name of religion. Communal Violence
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he communal violence of Jablapur (1961) shook Engineer very deeply, the very concept of violence in the name of religions was anathema to him as he was steeped in the spirituality of Islam right from his childhood. He was taught that Islam does not preach violence, and no religion teaches violence, so why this violence in the name of religion. This is the point when he decided to devote his life to promote communal harmony. It was an event which was to shape the course of life and work. He not only intervened after the events of communal violence to douse the fire of the violence but made it a central part of his initial life as an activist to investigate the acts of violence in depth. Starting from Biharsharif riots to Gujarat carnage, he spent time in unraveling the truth of the violence mostly by field studies. His reports on these events are a landmark in the area of riot investigation, in understanding the underlying machinations of this phenomenon. Biharsharif was a stronghold of CPI due to its following amongst the Bidi workers. Dr Engineer could unravel that RSS in order to spread it hold in the area, used the dispute between Yadavs and Muslims over the land for cemetery, to instigate the violence (1981). Godhra witnessed riots on and off during 1980-81. Engineer investigated these riots as a part of a team. The conflict here was mainly between Sindhis and Ghanchi Muslims. While Sindhi immigrants were looked down by other Hindus, for various reasons but those Hindu groups supported them
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against Muslims. The material reasons of poverty of Ghanchi Muslims and growing demands of Sindhis for facilities was the root cause of the trouble which assumed religious color. The report pointed out that rumors played a lot of role in this violence. Engineer also studied the Ahmedabad violence of 1982. Extensive field investigation was done for this. In this case the poor Muslim locality of Kalupr and Daryaganj face the brunt of the violence. An incident over kite flying turned into stone throwing and violence. Just prior to this VHP had started its work in these areas and prepared the ground for the skirmishes. VHP virulently talked against the conversions of Harijans to Islam. The communal forces resorted to heavy propaganda, especially through distribution of leaflets in the area. These leaflets used a communal version of history, demonization of Muslim kings, and emphasis on singing Vande matram, and opposing those who kill cow. Some people drew the attention of Gujarat government to this virulent propaganda, but there was no response to those appeals. Pune and Sholapur were in the grip of violence in 1981-82. These were precipitated in the aftermath of Ahmedabad violence and VHP as usual had been at the forefront of spreading the communal venom. It was a period when VHP had launched a Jan Jagaran (People’s Awakening) campaign all over India. This campaign was based on demonization of Muslims as foreigners, beef eaters, etc. This was also a riot which took place in the aftermath of Meenkshipuram conversion of dalits to Islam in 1981. Dr. Engineer makes a very pertinent point while relating the communal violence to the core issue of atrocities on dalits. He points out, “VHP is raising the hue and cry of conversions of Harijans in Meenakshipuram so that people do not pay attention to the screams of dalits burning in the pyre of discrimination.” (Communal Riots in Post Independence India, P 265) The aggressive campaign of VHP intimi-
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slogans. There was attack on small shops owned by Muslims after which Muslims were attacked. Meerut riots have also been a big sore on our polity. Meerut a city with great syncretic traditions also suffered the violence. Here the main goal was to co-opt the dalits, to give them liquor etc and to use them for violence against Muslims. Here the riot had more political reasons than economic ones. The riot was instigated on the issue of some piau (where one gets water to drink). One Muslim advocate and another trust were involved. Tension mounted in April 1982 and the provocative propaganda was stepped up. Biased attitude of police and communal slant of newspapers added to fuel to the fire. Similarly Vadodara Hyderabad and Assam riots were also studied by him. His major observations have been that a small incident is taken advantage of by communal forces, the rumors add havoc to the situation and communalized state apparatus, police in particular, plays a partisan role, worsening the plight of minorities. Apart form these riots of Mumbai 199293 (Report of EKTA Samiti, 1993) Gujarat carnage has also been studied by him (Sowing Hate and Reaping Violence, CSSS 2003). The studies by him have been used as a base by many a scholars to make interpretations and conclusions about the phenomenon of communal violence. He does interpret every riot on its ground and the specificities of the particular violence are well reflected in his studies and reports. Another aspect which emerges from his studies and reports is that gradually the intensity of communal violence is worsening, and it did peak in Gujarat violence. He has vividly presented the failure and complicity of police machinery in this violence. It seems that the deeper process of communalization has been going up in last three decades. And now even the other minority Christians have also been brought under the chopping block of communal forces.
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He also draws our attention to the fact that these episodes are not sporadic or spontaneous. There is a deeper motive behind these. There is a good deal of planning in such episodes. His other studiesreports show that popular perceptions about minorities lay the base for violence, the propagation of myths and biases against Muslims and Christians make the job of the communal group easier. What is undeniable is that communal forces take advantage of every conceivable opportunity to strengthen them, first by instigating the violence, then perpetuating it and in the process they increase their political power. Apart from his own book-reports on the violence he has edited several volumes on the issue Communal Violence in Post Independence India, Communal Violence after Independence, Bhivandi Riots, and Communalism and Communal violence to name the few. He continues to chronicle the communal riots on regular basis and these are published as Issues in Secular Perspective, the January issue of this periodical carries his compilation and analysis of Communal Riots of the year past. Communalism-Secularism Activist’s scholars in India have faced a challenging task of understanding, defining and intervening in the situations related to communal violence. How does one understand the phenomenon of communalism in Indian society? Why India is plagued with this problem? These must have been the issues dogging his mind when he began his parallel study of Indian history and analysis of contemporary issues. While unravelling the Indian history, the communal interpretation of which is major component of communalization of social thinking, he focused on overcoming the communal interpretation of history and presented the view of looking as history of kings as battles for power and wealth. He understands lives of people as an ongoing journey of interaction, some frictions and major synthesizing tendencies resulting in
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syncretic traditions. His major book on this, Communalism in India (Vikas, 1995) gives a good reflection of his thinking on the issue. He tried to evolve his workshops with different sections of society on these lines. Later he came out with many articles and books on this issue. (List appended) In his work the medieval history is presented not as a battle between Hindu and Muslim kings but as battles between kings for power and wealth. He draws heavily from original sources and from the works of national Historians. The issue of temple destructions, Jijia, policies of Muslim kings, spread of Islam and other aspect of social life during that period gives a good reflection of those times and is an effective tool in breaking the myths and misconceptions in peoples mind about it. The traditions of Sufis, Bhakti saints and their emphasis on values of love and amity is brought out effectively. The mixed traditions of society do convey that Hindus and Muslims were good companions and religion was not the cause of discord, the social interests were, and sometime surely these interests did come in the garb of religion. But communalism as a political phenomenon was introduced here after the coming of British rule. He takes up the vexed issue of role of Muslim leadership in freedom movement and the role of communalists, Muslims and Hindus both in aggravating the communal violence even in pre-independence India. He handles the issue of partition of the country very delicately to focus that the main responsibility of partition lies on the head of British, while Congress leadership and Jinnah’s obstinate nature added to the issue. He seems to agree more with Maulana Abul Kalam Azad on this point that partition could have been prevented had Maulana’s suggestion of sticking to Cripps Mission proposals been accepted. As a part of dispelling myths about Muslim minorities he has written on the ‘Role of Muslims in Freedom struggle’. Fascinated
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by the approach of Gandhi in politically uniting different communities and emphasizing on non-violence and peace he has also compiled volume on Gandhi and communal harmony. His fascination for Gandhian approach to communal problems is seen in his work all through. His sense of Gender justice is very strong and he has shown how Islam gives equality to women, and highlights how women are the worst victims of communal violence. The list of his contributions and web site gives and ample insight into his concerns and how he has handled them in a humane manner. His regular publication, Secular Perspective has a good circulation and is reproduced in many a websites and newspapers across the globe. Secular Intervention
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t is difficult to decide as to which aspect of Engineer’s work is more important than other. There is a deeper integration in different facets of the work and one can see the deeper connection between different facets of his work. His intervention in social issues began with his concern for communal harmony. His urge to study and understand the communal problem began with the tragedy of Jabalpur violence, later his study led him to intervene and undertake the campaigns and awareness work to promote communal harmony work. In Mumbai from late sixties he brought together like minded friends in to groups, Awaz-e-Biradaran. This group started talking about communal problem and raising the awareness about need for harmony through taks in schools and colleges. As Engineer had deep interest in Urdu literature also, he did come in contact with prominent writers who also got involved in helping in the harmony work. With outbreak of Bhivandi riots, 1970, he camped in Bhivandi, along with Balraj Sahni the renowned actor, for two weeks, going to villages and talking to the victims and helping them. His group also involved
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prominent writers to issue the message of marches. Peace marches were also organpeace through All India Radio. ized in different part of the city. In Mumbai he also became part of Indo Pak friendship movement. At the same time he came in contact with the Sampradayikta Virodhi Committee (Committee against Communalism) in which doyens like Subhadra Joshi and D.R. Goyal were associated and Engineer started contributing to their work. The response of Muslim leadership to the issue of Ramjanmbhumi disturbed him immensely, he held that Muslim leadership should be in the background, and the issue should primarily be tackled by secular activists and scholars. He also brought to the notice of Muslim leadership that it is important to agitate on the issues of Muslim poverty and backwardness. The Gopal Singh Committee report, which was lying in the cold storage, needs to be implemented. He himself involved many secular activists to issue appeals for peace.
These marches had important effect on the psyche of society and these gave lot of hope to the victims. As a peak of these efforts on 26th January 1993, in the thick of communal violence looming on the horizon, he organized a Peace march into the main areas of Mumbai. These activities were supplemented by the investigation into the Mumbai riots and the report brought out by EKTA Committee was remarkable for its in-depth work. This brought him face to face with the reality that police; the arm of the state to control the violence itself is much communalized. He decided to approach the police authorities for conducting workshops for communal harmony. It will be impossible to count the number of these workshops scattered in different parts of Mumbai, Mahrashtra and all over the country. He was faced with the challenging questions based on the biases against Muslims, their food habits, violence nature, Muslim Kings destroying temples, polygamy and what not. To his credit he has been conducting this difficult workshop with dignity and modesty coupled with deep scholarship of the issues.
He took initiative to form EKTA Committee in the wake of Meerut riots in 1987. This became the platform for trade unions and other progressive people of Mumbai to campaign for peace and to oppose the rising tide of communalism. Center for Study of Society and Secularism I witnessed his work directly mainly from 1992-93. During the Mumbai riots he uneanwhile he took up the task of fordertook many a peace marches in troubled malizing the awareness programs areas. The lasting impression in my mind and was instrumental in laying the foundais that of a sincere, honest and committed tion of Center for Study of Society and scholar activist. During the Mumbai vio- Secularism, which has emerged as the prelence, his office became a natural place for mier center for spreading awareness about all the activists to meet and during those secular issues. The CSSS, as we refer to it meetings over hundred activists used to in brief, has also undertaken research on throng to his office, standing in different the contemporary issues relating to the Nacorners of the small office, even balcony of tional Integration. On awareness front the office used to be full to the brim. He CSSS began experimenting with various used to sit in the middle, on the floor and modules for different sections of commuused to conduct the meting and make the nity. Its workshops ranged from half a day plans for action. Most of the planning’s affair to seven day in depth workshops for were peace marches and community work. serious activists and teachers. These workBehrampada, a area near Bandra was shops cover the theme starting from Hisgiven special attention for work, peace tory to the contemporary issues, terrorism,
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Islam and peace, values of freedom movement. I can guess that thousands of activists and others must have benefited from these workshops. CSSS has also set up Institute of Peace Studies and Conflict Resolution to formalize the training of activists into secular values. Plans are also foot to initiate the longer training for activists, teachers and students. His own engagement with multiple lectures and accepting infinite invitations from all over the country and globe are another facet of his work. What needs a mention here is his membership of National Integration Council during the UPA regime (2004-2009). He forthrightly raised the issues related to harassment of minorities in the name of terrorism amongst other issues. His interventions, along with the similar one’s from other important members and the efforts of tribunal on the issue, did affect the Government policy. With these interventions the routine pursed by Police authorities to arrest large number of innocent Muslims youth in the wake of blasts anywhere, came to halt.
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shared lot of meetings and travels together along the course of our work. The interaction during these periods has been another learning and sharing experience for me. One is privy to sharing his thoughts and ideas on most of the issues. I cannot help but recount an anecdote, which has left a deep impression on me. One of the mornings we were standing in the Mumbai University campus hall. The seminar was to begin in another 10-15 minutes or so. As we were waiting one of the speakers came in a taxi and we welcomed him. As we were talking to the speaker, the taxi driver got down, did a respectful namaste (greeting) to Engineer and said, Sir please continue your work, your writing, it is a source of peace for the society. I am sure there must be innumerable persons around the globe with similar sentiments.
He has also been a major part of the process to bring together all the activists working for the cause of secularism. Groups working for communal harmony all over the country have come together as a platform from last few years, All India Secular Forum. Touching Moments
W
hile one is talking on the social contribution of a person of high stature, there are some anecdotes which have been very touching at personal levels. I have (.cont. from Updates) Public Hearing Cancelled in Chutkla A public hearing was supposed to take place n Chutkla, Mandla dist., Madhya Pradesh, on 24th May. The hearing was called for the proposed Nuclear power plant which people protested against as they were not given information in Hindi. The Collector cancelled the hearing which people are seeing as their preliminary victory. More than 3000 tribals took out a rally to celebrate the victory. For more information contact Rahulji— 09424914706
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Editorial Politics of Violence and Counter Violence will only Maim Adivasis NAPM Condemns the Ambush by Maoists in Bastar Increased Militarisation in the Region would be no Solution
O
nce again in the ongoing politics of offensive and counter offensive between State andMaoists, adivasis have lost their lives. In an ambush on the convoy carrying Congress leaders, Maoistshave reportedly killed 27 people and injured several others including senior Congress leader, V C Shukla. On the intervening night of May 17 -18 too eight villagers, including three children, and a personnel of elite CRPF Cobra battalion were killed in a gun-battle near Edasmeta village in southern Chhattisgarh too. Adivasis caught in the armed conflict have been the worst victim of this war of control over resources, territory and sovereignty. That this happened during the Parivartan Yatra, a programme of the Congress Party to reach out to the people, is indeed unfortunate.
as Salwa Judum burnt houses, raped women, maimed and killed adivasis, the State supported it and failed to provide justice to adivasis and continued to brand them asMaoists and their supporters. A democratically elected government in Chattisgarh or at the Centre can't use the dictum of ‘you are with us or against us’. Its allegiance is to the rule of law and its duty is to protect the rights of its citizens.
Salwa Judum, an armed Sena of the young and adolescents worsened the scenario. It has been termed as illegal and directed to be disbanded by Supreme Court, but State government responded by making them part of the regular police. Even,
ers are braving brutality as a result of the war promoted by the state and Maoists, both. Mahendra Karma, openly supported Salwa Judum, a violent outfit and the same violence has killed him. This is tragic, yet a telling fact.
Even while, politicians across the political spectrum are terming this as an attack on democracy, let us not forget that every time an adivasi is jailed, killed, their houses burnt, women raped and their schools occupied to facilitate resource grab or termed as collateral damage in the 'Operation Green Hunt', democracy is attacked and the faith of citizens in the State's ability to National Alliance of People's Movements uphold justice and rule of law, shaken. condemns this ambush leading to loss of Violence on both sides is condemnable and precious lives. Life of those in power and should be avoided forever. leadership are important and so are the We fear that this latest ambush will now lives of common adivasis who are being be used by the state to justify further militortured, jailed and killed by Security tarisation in the region and make lives of forces and Maoists alike. In the ongoing Adivasis more difficult. There is an urgent conflict both claim to represent the inter- need for political intervention and dialogue. ests and work for Adivasis but their stance The guns of State or Maoists, will not solve and means has only alienated them and the problem. Politics of violence and perpetrated injustice on them. Their rights counter violence will only make lives of adihave often been violated resulting in large vasis and others in the region more diffinumber of adivasis in jail on false trumped cult, which will ultimately have an impact up charges. In the same Durma valley on the democratic norms and freedom of where the attack by Maoists have killed citizens elsewhere in the country, as seen Congress leaders, state administration vio- in shrinking spaces for non-violent, democlated all the existing laws and procedures ratic movements and arrest of activists. to facilitate land grab for Tata Steel. Soni Sori, Lingaram Kodopi and many oth-
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The swiftness with which the centre has promised all help in this regard and dispatched a large number of security forces, if the same urgency was shown for providing justice to the victims of Salwa Judum in all these years, Indian state would have won a bigger political battle by now. Awards, compensation and martyrdom will be bestowed on those killed by Maoists but Adivasis victims of this collateral damage and those languishing in jail need justice too. There is an urgent need to address that otherwise situation will only deterio-
rate. We demand that political dialogue in all sincerity be initiated to arrive at a political solution rather than increased militarisation.
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