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In your opinion, what has contributed to the maintenance of peace after the blasts? Responses received on What has retained Communal Harmony after blasts? - as compiled on– 20th Sept. 06
Terrorists have been striking at the communally sensitive spots of Mumbai and others of the state like
What has resulted in this transformation? How are police mohalla committees involved in maintaining the tranquillity? What does it indicate?
Please advise what could be other reasons.
--------------------------------------------- 1. What has retained Communal Harmony?
It is indeed one of the most pertinent questions of the hour. However, it is also interesting to note that harmony and mutual coexistence is intrinsic to human society for it is a society based on interdependence and exchange.
Nevertheless, we cannot turn a blind eye to the communal outbursts we have seen across history. Most of these were politically motivated, but after the blasts, even political incitement has not worked and the reason lies within people themselves. It is a question of daily needs of people that converge at most of the points irrespective of socially, religiously or politically constructed identities. We have always felt that despite belonging to different faiths, human beings share the same bodily needs, everybody feels thirsty, hunger pangs strike every stomach and communal riots only add to such woes by making living conditions worse.
We have been working on these premises in the ghettoes that were formed in Jogeshwari after the 1992-93 Mumbai riots. We have succeeded in bringing youth groups from various communities together to understand that it is the youth who need to fight the menace of political manipulation through greater awareness. At the same time, the key lies in cross community interactions which bring to the fore several aspects that help in breaking down stereotypes that categorise communities into essential religious groups. After the blasts of July 2006, members of all these groups contacted each other through phones and put up boards urging people not to heed rumours. They also assured the police that they would co-operate in maintaining peace in their respective areas. This response of the civil society in the form of small community based organisations reflected the maturity of people in the face of adversity.
In fact one of our colleagues has been researching on syncretic shrines--shrines that are visited by people from all communities since they are manifestations of people's religious beliefs rather than being spaces do not welcome people from the "other" religion. these are sites with a history of over thousand years and are tangible testimonies of the permeability of religious communities that are hardly parochial in nature. these are spaces where social divisions become blurred; surely we have heard of the Mount Mary Fair, Baba Makhdoom Shah Mahimi, Haji Malang of Kalyan and Vitthal of Pandharpur. They all bear testimony to the fact that human society has much to value rather than falling prey to vote bank politics that is driven by power play and vested interests.
We need to work more in building socio-political awareness about people's rights irrespective of communal identities for that is the true essence of a society which has matured over the years and has exposed the sycophancy of the political parties who fail to draw from the repositories of harmony that still stand their ground at various corners of the country. We need to get out of our urban apartments and interact with people---learn about diverse cultures, religions, cuisines and celebrate each other's joy to be able to respect equality, justice and peace.
hope to hear about more perspectives on this question.
Masood Akhtar and Rama Shyam
SAHER (Society for Awareness, Harmony and Equal Rights) Jogeshwari, Mumbai Rama Shyam Tata Institute of Social Sciences Deonar, Mumbai400088 -------------------------- 2. Sanity of people worked somehow, but nothing else ! --------------- 3. Biggest factor that works in such incidents is fear and desire to get on with the life. Our democracy (with all its corruption and weakness) is also strong and is a binding factor. We need to make our education system strong to program the children who are going to be tomorrow's citizens with values, wisdom and love of all. Unless we do that things may go from bad to worse. ... ---------------- 4. Kindly see this write up on "Is all out War Justified?Are there alternatives?" ------------------------ 5. My opinion: If this is followed by stern action against the culprits by the concerned authorities, things will start improving. There lies the hope for the future. Thanks and regards. M D Hegde, Mumbai,Sept 17 ---------------- 6. Dear sir, We do not think that Police Mohalla Committees are responsible for the peace that is prevailing in Mumbai and
Since opening up of the economy, opportunities are galore for the Indians. Mumbai and even a medium sized business town like
Hitesh Trivedi Shri Nand Education Trust info@shrinandeducationtrust.org ------------------------ 7. Here is my view: Question 1: Economic prosperity is first reason behind the maintenance of peace in Mumbai. In Mumbai, every body is owner of at least something, and involved in a continuous process of economics. Second reason is that people of Mumbai have rugged experience of living with difficulties and competition and yet with fair and friendly attitude. Because of the difficulty in living, they perfected an art of inter-dependence, and share each other’s concern and know to love and respect one another.
Mumbai is a well known neglected city by the national government but because its people are rich by cultural, natural resources and character, they are righteous and courageous. God bless them.
If you have nothing to loose, terror is just a cruel entertainment. I feel
Question 2: Healing effect does not come from police. Change of face of police is although helpful. First of all, in
Question 3: Part 1: Police should be more professional and equipped by technology. Psychology of police is hopeless but they have to at least perform their job well. Police is object of fear but it also is ineffective. At least police should set up camera at railway stations, bus stations, and booth of ticket. They should watch it, and record it for 24 hours. After nothing adverse is found, they should remove it from records. Police is not expected to improve economics or wealth creation ability that contributes to peaceful co-existence but it should at least focus well on technology of security.
Part 2: Mumbai should be SEZ (special economic zone), and with autonomy in taking decisions of security, and economics. It can be safe and beautiful as people of Mumbai. People of Mumbai are very nice but the city administration and concept of it is horrible.
K G Misra ------------------------------- 8. Tolerance and accommodation which is the hallmark of ------------------- 9.
In my opinion, people have evolved, they have learned from their past mistakes. They know that by acting out violent scenes they are behaving as puppets in disruptive forces' hands. Also, they know that no good will ever result from riots and killing people. I am sure mohalla police will have their share of contribution to this, but still I feel the peace is more because of people's sensitivity and maturity.
Regards, Aparna --------------- 10. I think it's the common man's wish. 1992/93 onwards I personally have come across a wide variety of people who opined that religious leaders and polititicians speak from a safe place to breach the security of mass on road. These charlatans travel in Mercedes and use others like valueless creatures. The mohalla committees are definitely doing well to communicate. The active persons are really well wishers of the country. Respective community listen to their understanding and confide. It stops rumours and inspects/investigates the falsehood. There by truth prevails and emotions are not transformed into egos. Anger does not translate in vengeance. Government should arrange district level meets for wider cover and interactions. The participations in religious celebrations generates love and respect and harmony. regards panda ---------------- 11. The press is everywhere! ....and is becoming more and more powerful in creating awareness and educating people.....Mumbai is now a more vibrant industrial city than ever before. More and more people are absorbed in its' commercial set up.. A larger portion of the populace belonging to different communities mingle closely at places of work.... Inter-dependence and intermingling has become condition of life. This in turn has actually brought people of different communities more closer to each other.....the
JAGDISH KHANNA ------------------------------- 12. For over five hundred years Mumbai has been a Gateway of India, where Europeans, Arabs arrived as visitors, traders and even conquers too. Mumbai became a hub for traders for both foreign and local people. It's Mumbai's prosperity that attracted people from every state of ------------------ 13. Probable people have realised that these riots are motivated by few for their personal gains nagarajan nagarajan --------------------------- 14. police molla committees help is must .people also have come to unders stand that there are wolfs in sheep .hence it is must to see that secular ngos immediately take tit for tat action when any fascist organisation make hue and cry to win voters and divide citizens on religion basis ---------------------------------- 15. The
The Malegaon blasts, on the other hand, look to be in response to the Bombay blasts because that's what revengeful acts are -- a vicious cycle of violence.
Bombayites have seen bloodshed in the horrible two months of December 1992 and January 1993 during riots and the consequent revenge bomb blasts in March 1993. Maybe we don't want to see that again. Maybe communal forces do not have a handle on the police and administration that much as they had during that time. And, all this, of course significantly due to the awareness spread by the mohalla committees created after the Jan 1993 massacres.
In addition to peoples' own desire for peace it is also the international attention on
Rajesh ---------------- 16. It is not that only Mohalla committee has worked for Communal Harmony and peace. There are other organisations and Forces working also in the country.
We have started a project called Connecting Communities in Mahim, this venture is led by Mahim youth Group and guided by Center for Dialogue and Reconciliation where Mr. B.G.Deshmukh and Rajmohan Gandhi are Co-Chairman, also Ms. Sushobha Barve Exe. Secretary of CDR is putting lot of efforts which is unknown to many people.
I therefore send you here the project report of what is being done in Mahim and we are also in a process to replicate it in other parts of the City. Kindly keep note of it.
Regards, Ashraf Ahmed Shaikh Mumbai --------------------------------- 17. hello we are ready to performer a street plays on communal harmony in various parts of city as well as state please invite our academy. regards. Mujeeb Khan. ----------------- 18.
Here are my answers. I am not attached to any mohalla committee or organisation and they are purely my individual views.
1. What has resulted in this transformation? I think this essentially reflects the tenuous nature life in Mumbai. I would not put it down to any committee or community's effort, but rather the maturity of the people. As it is everyday you weather some disaster and your natural reflexes harden. The pressures of living in the mega city are unique and builds resilience amongst it dwellers. I want to summarize this by saying that Mumbai has learnt to dry it tears quickly and smile again for another day.
Regards, Shilpa -------------------------- 19. I personally feel the reason for communal harmony being retained is the ---------------------------- 20.
I have not live in
Mirza ----------------------- |
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