10th Anniversary Issue
August - September 2003 

Year 10    No.90-91
POLITY


 


‘In defence of truth’

Satchit Balsari

Gandhiji said that Truth and Non-violence are as old as the mountains, and that he had nothing new to offer to the world. But we do not yet seem to have learnt these ancient virtues. On the contrary, we seem – through our words and actions – to be dismissing them as garbs of the weak.

The world seems as divided as it has always been, if not more so now than before, by the ‘schism of isms’: Capitalism, fundamentalism, extremism, pacifism, egalitarianism, libertarianism, chauvinism, conservatism, classism, racism, and casteism. Each of these loaded words seems to award a select group of individuals unique characteristics. The number of ingenious ways in which man has thus succeeded in separating himself from others is truly remarkable.

Among this army of dividing ‘isms’ in India, is an old monster which, though simmering until now, has raised its head again – ‘communalism’: the philosophy of pitching groups of humans, divided (often extraneously) along the lines of caste, language or religion, against each other.

The last decade has seen urban India transformed by aggressive globalising forces. Yet, under the façade of progress lurk the dangers of grossly skewed development, rural impoverishment and environmental destruction. India’s energies should probably be focussed on alleviating its millions from abject poverty and illiteracy, and on taking strong and determined strides to check the impact of globalisation on its ecosystem, on its rural economies and, most importantly, on India’s vibrant and diverse culture. Yet, the nation’s energy seems to be diverted to shredding the fabric of Indian society, by employing the old ploy of turning Indians against each other: in the name of God.

The resounding silence of Indian society to its own splintering is very numbing. We do not seem to be willing to protest what is even unequivocally unjust – we are either too busy, or we do not care; ‘sub kuch chalta hai,’ or ‘yehi hai India.’ There are few voices that have spoken out – clearly and bravely – and there are few heads that have been raised – against all odds, against this madness of alienating human from human. One among these voices that have been raised in various corners of India is that of Communalism Combat.

CC has determinedly and incessantly protested all violations against the rights of humans, and especially Indians, since its inception ten years ago – across regional, religious, and political lines. CC has informed its readers in a consistent and timely manner about a wide range of issues, whether they be the atrocities committed against the Pandits in the Valley, their continued hounding in Jammu, the extreme violations committed by the Taliban in Afghanistan much before September 11 put them on the world’s radar, the Talibanisation of Kashmir, the slow demise of Kashmiriyat and its replacement by religious fanaticism, or the death of insaniyat in the violence-stricken state of Gujarat.

As an Indian abroad, in search of some glimmer of hope and sanity back home, it was encouraging to see the Sabrang team contribute to the compilation of the exhaustive Concerned Citizen’s Tribunal Report on the massacres in Gujarat. At a time when fear of retribution keeps many from speaking out against the obvious subversion of justice, the slights to our Constitution and the forced remodelling of our very identity, it is commendable that Communalism Combat voices the concerns of the outraged in a succinct, comprehensive, cohesive and truthful manner.

Millions of Indians continue to remain disenfranchised and disempowered. Equality and social justice are hard to achieve through the pursuit of untruth, divisiveness and violence. Maulana Abdul Kalam Azad’s words after Gandhiji’s death hold great significance to date: "We must not let his work come to an abrupt end. Communal harmony was his greatest concern and we should endeavour to fulfil his mission in life." The realisation of the rights and freedom of millions in India depend upon our success in adhering to truth.

I thank the CC team for their inspiring work over the decade, and wish them the strength and courage they need, in their defence of Truth.

(Dr. Satchit Balsari is research associate, Program on Humanitarian Crises, Harvard School of Public Health, Massachusetts, U.S.A.).

 

 

 


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