factors responsible for communial violence in india
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At the root of communal violence is the base nature of humans. Humans don’t co-exists peacefully for a lengthy period of time. Religion is just one cause, a huge one but only one the reasons. However in case of India specifically, the reason that communal riots take place or cause huge loss to life and property is due to vested interests of political party and in some part their ineptitude. However I suspect it’s more of the former than latter.
No political party can be absolved of it. Some parties actively instigate the violence and even participate in it, other simply let things happen thinking that they will help them politically. If a CM really wants law and order he/she can command it. Communal riots are, in fact much easier to control than planned/unplanned violence and crime of the common kind (murder/loot etc). Once the police knows about it, they can clamp down, put a curfew and ask the army and PAC to join if things get out of hand. Just see the case of BSP Supremo Mayawati. She is not the best example of how a CM should be and she did precious little in any aspect of development in UP. However, to her credit when she’s in power neither do the Dalits get exploited (though reverse starts happening but the social machinery for that is scarce so the instances are fewer) nor do riots happen. When she ruled in UP she kept an iron hand over the police and administration (which itself becomes questionable sometimes considering she was insulting and condescending towards IAS officers and high officials). I felt so secure knowing that she won’t tolerate any nonsense. Petty crime in the city reduces, goonda raj declines, riots almost never happen and even eve teasing etc is rare. Though there is institutionalized corruption at various levels … that is a different issue. However, crime and riots become the least of your headaches. (Disclaimer: I am not her supporter and I never voted for her but I don’t mind if she comes to power .. I do give up on all developmental work ).
About human nature …. brother can’t live with brother. Sunnis can’t live peacefully with Shias. Then there are other sects like Ahmadis who just don’t get a chance. Then the Hindus have their caste system and untouchability, which according to Shashi Tharoor is still practiced by one out of every three Indian (or Hindu?). Whites can’t live peacefully with blacks. Arabs don’t deem non-Arabs equal to them. North Indians think they are superior to South Indians in some ways….. it’s all messed up.
In all this, education, humanity and rationality lets us devise means and foster atmosphere of universal brotherhood. We Indians live together and have been doing so for several centuries now. We are probably the biggest mix and match of ethnicity, religions, languages, skin colors, cuisines, cultures, art and traditions. It’s a miracle we co exist so lovingly. There is something in the Indian blood. While Muslims all over the world become increasingly rationalized and fundamentalists, Indian Muslims can’t seem to let go of their “Indianness”. Hindus never let the Muslims feel alienated and most of the time it is all fun and love.
It’s a pity our politicians fail to see this. They fail to see how they are the ones failing in quashing clashes when they occur. They are the ones who turn differences into chasms. They are supposed to be saviours but they take their turns in stripping India of peace and prosperity. In fact, sometimes I think if these so called saviours were not there, we would have drastically fewer riots and fights.
Hoping that things will get better, not worse.
No political party can be absolved of it. Some parties actively instigate the violence and even participate in it, other simply let things happen thinking that they will help them politically. If a CM really wants law and order he/she can command it. Communal riots are, in fact much easier to control than planned/unplanned violence and crime of the common kind (murder/loot etc). Once the police knows about it, they can clamp down, put a curfew and ask the army and PAC to join if things get out of hand. Just see the case of BSP Supremo Mayawati. She is not the best example of how a CM should be and she did precious little in any aspect of development in UP. However, to her credit when she’s in power neither do the Dalits get exploited (though reverse starts happening but the social machinery for that is scarce so the instances are fewer) nor do riots happen. When she ruled in UP she kept an iron hand over the police and administration (which itself becomes questionable sometimes considering she was insulting and condescending towards IAS officers and high officials). I felt so secure knowing that she won’t tolerate any nonsense. Petty crime in the city reduces, goonda raj declines, riots almost never happen and even eve teasing etc is rare. Though there is institutionalized corruption at various levels … that is a different issue. However, crime and riots become the least of your headaches. (Disclaimer: I am not her supporter and I never voted for her but I don’t mind if she comes to power .. I do give up on all developmental work ).
About human nature …. brother can’t live with brother. Sunnis can’t live peacefully with Shias. Then there are other sects like Ahmadis who just don’t get a chance. Then the Hindus have their caste system and untouchability, which according to Shashi Tharoor is still practiced by one out of every three Indian (or Hindu?). Whites can’t live peacefully with blacks. Arabs don’t deem non-Arabs equal to them. North Indians think they are superior to South Indians in some ways….. it’s all messed up.
In all this, education, humanity and rationality lets us devise means and foster atmosphere of universal brotherhood. We Indians live together and have been doing so for several centuries now. We are probably the biggest mix and match of ethnicity, religions, languages, skin colors, cuisines, cultures, art and traditions. It’s a miracle we co exist so lovingly. There is something in the Indian blood. While Muslims all over the world become increasingly rationalized and fundamentalists, Indian Muslims can’t seem to let go of their “Indianness”. Hindus never let the Muslims feel alienated and most of the time it is all fun and love.
It’s a pity our politicians fail to see this. They fail to see how they are the ones failing in quashing clashes when they occur. They are the ones who turn differences into chasms. They are supposed to be saviours but they take their turns in stripping India of peace and prosperity. In fact, sometimes I think if these so called saviours were not there, we would have drastically fewer riots and fights.
Hoping that things will get better, not worse.
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