February 27, 2002 has registered itself as another black day in India’s history of communalism. It is a strong reminder to the fragility of our social equilibrium and the depth of our societal polarisation. How violent and brutal communal frenzy makes us. How quickly do we forget the bonds of togetherness formed by years of communitarian association. How quickly do we ignore that we are human beings first. Being a Muslim or a Hindu is secondary. How soon does communal fury drive us to pick up a sword and shove it across our neighbour’s abdomen.
Unsuspecting devotees of Lord Ram boarded the Sabarmati express from Gujarat. Their mission was to participate in Kar Seva or voluntary service. Their destination was to reach Ayodhya, the birth place of Lord Ram, where a Ram temple is being built. Their purpose was to offer their service for its construction. These men and women started their ill-fated journey in a jovial mood. They were singing Bhajans and merrily waiting for their destination to arrive. The contingent contained men and women in all age groups. Six hundred metres from Godhara, a mob of 1500 communally surcharged Muslims was waiting for them at a railway bridge. As part of a preplanned controversy, they were ready with sharp swords and long knives to attack Hindu volunteers. They had piled up stones and bricks to pelt the train in advance. Petrol bombs, kerosene oil to set the compartments on fire were stocked at the site in advance. Someone pulled the chain at the predetermined location. The train stopped. The started pelting bricks and stones with vigour. Volunteers didn’t know what happened. They were struck with fear and panic. Those attempting to escape were knifed or cut with swords. When brick batting and stone pelting was over, Muslims set the train compartments afire. Fifty-eight men women and children were burnt alive. This naked display of communal hatred went on for about two hours. A child in his teens who is an eyewitness of this whole incident narrated the whole story to a TV channel. He managed to escape and save his father. Both have received burns and injuries and are recovering in the Godhara civil hospital of Gujarat.
The week following this incident on February 27 was even more gruesome. As news of the merciless killings at Godhara spread across Gujarat, feelings of revenge and hatred for Muslims began to rule Hindu psyche. Property worth millions was set on fire. Communal riots in the following week took 300 lives. Three hundred families suffered irreparable damage. Seeds of hatred, suspicion and mistrust were sown and it will take a very long time for this wound to heal. The Indian sub-continent has a history of communal riot. Last week’s events in Gujarat are among the blackest in the inventory of religious madness.
Unsuspecting devotees of Lord Ram boarded the Sabarmati express from Gujarat. Their mission was to participate in Kar Seva or voluntary service. Their destination was to reach Ayodhya, the birth place of Lord Ram, where a Ram temple is being built. Their purpose was to offer their service for its construction. These men and women started their ill-fated journey in a jovial mood. They were singing Bhajans and merrily waiting for their destination to arrive. The contingent contained men and women in all age groups. Six hundred metres from Godhara, a mob of 1500 communally surcharged Muslims was waiting for them at a railway bridge. As part of a preplanned controversy, they were ready with sharp swords and long knives to attack Hindu volunteers. They had piled up stones and bricks to pelt the train in advance. Petrol bombs, kerosene oil to set the compartments on fire were stocked at the site in advance. Someone pulled the chain at the predetermined location. The train stopped. The started pelting bricks and stones with vigour. Volunteers didn’t know what happened. They were struck with fear and panic. Those attempting to escape were knifed or cut with swords. When brick batting and stone pelting was over, Muslims set the train compartments afire. Fifty-eight men women and children were burnt alive. This naked display of communal hatred went on for about two hours. A child in his teens who is an eyewitness of this whole incident narrated the whole story to a TV channel. He managed to escape and save his father. Both have received burns and injuries and are recovering in the Godhara civil hospital of Gujarat.
The week following this incident on February 27 was even more gruesome. As news of the merciless killings at Godhara spread across Gujarat, feelings of revenge and hatred for Muslims began to rule Hindu psyche. Property worth millions was set on fire. Communal riots in the following week took 300 lives. Three hundred families suffered irreparable damage. Seeds of hatred, suspicion and mistrust were sown and it will take a very long time for this wound to heal. The Indian sub-continent has a history of communal riot. Last week’s events in Gujarat are among the blackest in the inventory of religious madness.
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