Communalism Combat is not merely a magazine. It never was. It was brought out by Teesta and Javed as a mission. It still remains the same.

Fighting communalism and fundamentalism is not a very profitable business. Most of the time one stands to lose because one never knows whose interest is being hurt. And the moment someone’s interest is hurt, you loose business. Who knows this better than Teesta and Javed?

This truth needs no evidence or proof – that communalism and corruption are two faces of the same coin. Corrupt people, in order to hide their sins and to divert public attention from their crimes, put on the holy garb of religion. Sometimes, the garb of religion is not enough, so they start preaching communalism and hatred against other communities, just to prove their commitment to their own community. This is a naked fraud.

I have seen the ups and downs that Communalism Combat has gone through all these years. I sometimes wonder how this brave lady, Teesta, and her equally brave husband, Javed, are still able to continue their mission. For I know that it is not only the financial burden that they are carrying, it also involves great risk to the physical security of this brave couple.

This is the more so, because, when they attack Hindu communalism the Muslims enjoy it; but when the Muslim communalists are attacked, they sulk. With the result that sometimes both Hindus and Muslims are angry with them. Nevertheless, they still carry on their mission fearlessly and this is what arouses great respect for Communalism Combat in the hearts of liberal, secular and civilised men and women.

It requires great courage and determination to bring Zahira before the media exposing the conditions of the judicial system in Gujarat today. If the NHRC has moved the Supreme Court praying for a retrial of the Best Bakery case outside Gujarat and the Supreme Court has issued show-cause notice to Narendra Modi, the credit goes entirely to Communalism Combat, specially to Teesta Setalvad. No other journal in India has served the goal of peoples’ right to information better than Communalism Combat.

I wish continued success and all the best to my courageous sister, Teesta and her husband, Javed.