Don’t miss the connection between 06/12 and 26/11; lessons for healing
Nov 26th, 2009 |By Girish Nikam
It is a coincidence that the first anniversary of the mind-numbing and the most daring terrorist strike ever witnessed in India in Bombay last year, and the leak and subsequent publication of the 17 year old inquiry into the demolition of Babri Masjid has happened around the same time.
Though some would feel outraged for drawing comparisons between the two events separated by 16 years, it cannot be overlooked that the two events have a symbiotic relationship. While the last year’s attacks on the financial capital was the most brazen and condemnable incidence of Islamic terrorism with international footprints, witnessed in India, the December 6,1992 act was the worst example of Hindu fundamentalism in the modern age.
Both events clearly depict how the perpetrators of these acts get misled and carried away by the seeds of intolerance that are sown in their minds, by fundamentalists using religion to further their political ends. Like there are Islamic fundamentalists across the globe who takes great satisfaction in the chaos and mayhem they cause, there are Hindu fundamentalists who are preening over their role in the demolition (even declaring it on their Facebook pages) and the subsequent acts of harming the secular nature of this country.
In fact it is no secret that the two forces feed on each other, and grow not certainly at the expense of each other, but directly in proportion. It happened all through the late 1980s and 1990s right into the beginning of this century. The events of Dec.6, 1992 were used by Islamic fundamentalists to cause mayhem in Mumbai first in 1993 and subsequently across the country. In fact, Islamic fundamentalists in India and internationally still use the video clippings of the 1992 outrage as well as the Gujarat carnage ten years later, to enlist and indoctrinate the likes of Ajmal Kasab to wage their ill-advised wars across the globe.
Simultaneously the Hindu fundamentalists have not let go an opportunity to spread hatred against all Muslims by using similar clippings of the attacks by Islamic fundamentalists. Only difference between the two is that more Hindu fundamentalists have acquired respectability by getting into mainstream politics, than their Muslim counterparts in India.
It is this political clout of these ultra right wing Hindu forces which is on view now following the release of the Liberhan Commission report. They are now seen all over the TV screens and print space, trying to divert the attention of the country from the findings of the Commission, to more trivial issues. They are making it seem that the legitimate enterprising journalism, of scooping out the report, as a crime bigger than the one they committed through the act of demolition and thereby gravely hurting the secular fabric of this country.
The Rath Yatri L.K.Advani, who in his book “My country, My Life” , described Dec.6, 1992 as a “day of Hindu awakening of truly historic import”, is leading the pack hoping to revive the glory of the Ram Janambhoomi movement, which he spearheaded, throwing the golden rule of keeping religion out of politics, to the wolves. It is entirely another matter that the “Hindu awakening”, which did give dividends to him and his party for a decade and half, has now stopped yielding fruits.
It is this sinister nature of politics, which is the key in the Liberhan Commission report, notwithstanding some of its infirmities, especially the propensity of the Judge to jump to conclusions more than in one place. Not giving an opportunity to Atal Behari Vajpayee to defend himself, and commenting on his role in the report, is certainly something Justice Liberhan is not able to defend. But that does not take away the value of the Report, which is still being deciphered.
It is not that much of what is “revealed” in the Report was not known earlier. The media reports of the run up to the demolition and the happening on the D Day itself, chronicles more graphically what happened. There was no doubt in any media person’s mind that day, that the demolition was a well planned exercise. The sinisterism of the Sangh Parivar was in full view all along, and subsequently too.
Both Vajpayee and Advani, despite their subsequent “pseudo-moderate” stands, were the biggest beneficiaries of the actions of the Hindu fundamentalist mobs. This is something the hardcore hindutvawadis, are unable to stomach, as they feel let down by this big two. For they are seen as the symbols of betrayal of the Hindutva cause, as they both are seen as having abandoned the Ram temple cause, except providing large dollops of lip service, through the six and half years that they enjoyed the fruits of power.
What Liberhan does is expose these sinister designs and that’s why the entire Sangh Parivar is squirming in discomfort and trying to find alibis to shift the blame. But that is something they would be unable to succeed in, as the country and even their once upon a time hard core supporters, including some drum beaters in the media, have seen through them.
For the Congress, despite its myriad spokespersons adopting an aggressive posture, the publication of the report is a moment of reckoning. The embarrassment of its own Prime Minister, P.V.Narasimha Rao, getting a virtual clean chit, except for being dubbed as a “day dreamer”, is not something they themselves don’t enjoy in private. The fact of the matter is that a naďve Rajiv Gandhi and a not-so-naďve Rao are both responsible for the events leading up to and the demolition itself, as well as its subsequent consequences on the country as well as the Congress itself.
It is another matter that the Congress as a party is not openly admitting to it, as much as BJP as a party cannot admit to its obvious role in damaging the secular fabric of this country. Both parties would do well to introspect about their own roles and do some loud thinking. The least both parties can do to assuage the damage caused to the psyche of this nation, instead of playing tu-tu-main-main, much to the disgust of the common man.
As far as the lessons of 26/11 are concerned, it is heartening that the trial of Kasab and his known and unknown accomplices are on track and in an unprecedented swift manner. Not much need be said about the grief and the experiences of coping with it by the victims’ relatives and the nation as a whole, as the media, is replete with it. The TV channels which went overboard last year and caused much concern by its irresponsible and shrill reportage, however seem to have learnt very few lessons, as it once again goes overboard to commemorate the anniversary. In fact going by the commercial take-ins by these channels, it seems more of a celebration rather than commemoration!
What however needs to be remembered amidst the shrill and hypocritical politics being played out on the Liberhan report and the whipped up hysteria about the anniversary of 26/11, is that both have a connection. We can only hope that there will be no more demolitions and cynical use of religion in politics, and thereby give less and less reason for the planners and perpetrators of 26/11 to enlist new converts to their perverted cause.
ends.
The author has rightly brought out the connection between 6/12 and 26/11.Rather the religious fanatism driven by the lust for power, led to the deaths of about 10000 innocents, whether in UP, Mumbai or Gujarat. This was in addition to the body blow delivered to the country’s secular fabric .History will judge Advani in a very harsh light. But Liberhans has correctly brought out the dual role played by Vajpayee..Such duplicity that played on human lives, ultimaterly gets exposed. Historically India has prospered only when we could tide over our caste and religious divisions. But once that raw nerve was touched, the cost to the country has been huge. This was true with Aurangzeb. This was equally true with Advani.
The only good to come out of Ayodhaya is a general awareness among common Indians that they should beware of this type of politics. I do not expect any success to the RSS drive for a revival of Ayodhaya movement.
Girish,
Very interesting comparison of the two.
Sir. U r a very senior journalist, columnist i hold lot of respect fr tht. But I beg to differ with u r view in d article.
U r article by equating the terrorists with d Ayodhya carnage speaks volumes abt the biased opinion u hold towards hindu organisations.
The so called intelligentsia in India is unable to see d difference between the Nationalist and d terrorists.
equating d both is giving justification fr their barbaric terror related activities by Muslim fundamentalist org.
We are unable to contain d terror activities by propogating irrational theories.
connecting 6/12 and 26/11 incidents Hindus ve been insulted without doubt.
Dear Mr. Sesharaghavachar,
Would you agree that the desecration of the Buddha statues of Bamiyan by the Taliban in Afghanistan was a terrorist Act? Even if you do not, both the then PM (Vajpayee) and the then Dy. PM (Advani) have come on record to state that the descration was an act of violence and a dastardly act which was terrorist in nature. On the same lines is the desecration of the Babri Masjid- another attempt to rewrite history- this time by Hindu groups. In both instances it was the right wing philosophy that carried the day. Both are terrorist in equal measure. Of that there can be no doubt.
Hi Sir
Very interesting findings and this is the fact end of the day.
I would like to ask Mr.Sesharaghavachar how blind one could be towards any ill happenings in this country even at times like these!!!!. Why are you so proud of what happened in Ayodhya? One cannot be so naive to understand that in the name of “religion” a lot has been done to this country! I’m a Hindu with a Muslim and Jew as my best friend! we respect our religions mutually and walk all paths of life! How do you differentiate a terrorist, Naxalite or so called “nationalist” in your opinion?
Terrorism,Naxals or the so called “nationalists” DONOT HAVE A RELIGION and if they claim they should be stripped of one! Rightly the Muslims of India did it by not coming forward to bury the terrorists of 26/11!!
As a Hindu, Bhagvad gita teaches me the intrinsic beauty that its knowledge applies to all human beings and does not postulate any sectarian ideology or secular view. It is approachable from the sanctified realms of all religions and is glorified as the epitome of all spiritual teachings, which are fundamental and essential for spiritual life from all perspectives and allows one to perfectly understand the esoteric truths hidden within all religious scriptures. Many great thinkers from our times such as Albert Einstein, Mahatma Gandhi and Albert Schweitzer as well as Madhvacarya, Sankara and Ramanuja from bygone ages have all contemplated and deliberated upon its timeless message. The primary purpose of the Bhagavad-Gita- Gita is to illuminate for all of humanity the realization of the true nature of divinity; for the highest spiritual conception and the greatest material perfection is to attain love of God!
Sir, its abt ur peer group…
I was watching some credible news channels and noticed how the reporters ducked (sensible) or Some argued on questions posed at them on their irresponsible reporting which affected the operations/victims of 26/11. I guess when the IB blacked out the military operations for sometime ,the same reporters were jumping around saying “this is the black day of Journalism” etc etc. Of course, to add the IB ministry’s absences of any proactiveness/lazy attitude by not issuing a notice to prevent the live feed! But my question is sir, do we need an IB ministry to tell these respected channels what’s the need of the hour? I guess the sensible have realized by now!
Enough is said on the politicians! We all know them! Superb article. Kudos sir
I think you are a typical JNU educated , M K Gandhi / J L Nehru brand of ideology person who even being Hindu hates Hindus & koves Muslims. It is people like you that have allowed Muslims to attack Hindus so openly in India . Pople like u should be shot at in the street
@ Ashok, well dude, it seems that your comments are extremely inflammatory in nature, if you cross-check with facts and find out your error in judgement, India is and always be a secular country, your comments are very unfortunate and there is a clear implication that your motivated in a very narrow sense of religion. we all have lived brothers for centuries, the britishers created this furore amongst hindus and muslims.like JAI HIND!
Ashok, you are doing exactly what Muslims who love Muslims and hate Hindus are doing. In what way are you different from them. The RSS and the BJP thinking that our country will become a Muslim country because they are breeding more just does not hold any water, because in spite of over 400 years of Muslim rule our country as essentially remained secular with the majoirty being Hindus. This kind of breast-beating will do nothing but cause harm to all of us
Hey Ashok…U think we should get Shot in the street….how abt activating a POTA….. mrKasab in the making? Psuedo Hindu we say in chorus! ! its like sand …the more you try to hold it tighter the more it slips out……stay secular..love all….May India grow leaps n bounds….