Author: Nirendra Dev
Publisher: Samskriti
Year: 2004
Language: English
Pages: 203
ISBN/UPC (if available): 8187374292
Description
Rose would perhaps no longer bloom in many Muslim contryards. Gujarat was caught in heart rendering genocide. The country hung its head in shame. India’s pluralistic character had gone into hiding. What have the country lost? What did Hindu gain?
Flown into Ahmedabad less that 24 hours after a compartment of Sabarmati Express was torched at Godhra Station on 27 February, 2002, a formerly PTI reporter Nirendra Dev found himself in a myriad of conflicting situations. There were many things new encountered. It was difficult to tell rumours from facts.
The book, penned in a lucid narrative fashion, makes a right attempt to look at crucial aspects of a common man’s life in Gujarat, where post-Godhra arson against Muslims had approval from the common Hindus. Mahatma Gandhi had brought religious teaching into politics to raise it to a higher plane, as wrote Nirad C Chaudhary but Gandhi’s Gujarat marked a new history for Gujarat, where politics and religion clashed only to herald mayhem.
The book analysed to focus on history and how Gujarat became a Hindutva laboratory, Gujarat has also witnessed interesting political clash in 1980s when the politicians formed a powerful grand caste alliance of Kshtriyas, Harijans, Adivasis and Muslims (Khams). This benefited initially but at the same time left a space to exploit the upper castes Hindus and gradually others to indoctrinate them with the theory of Hindutva. So much has been the pressure and influence of Hindutva among the electorate in Gujarat that a former RSS man had to lead Congress battlefront into the December 2002 elections. The writing could not be clearer for memories that even Congress could not give up the need to appease Hindu sentiments-a visible change in Indian politics from what we had something called Muslim appeasement.
The compendium identifies some of these factors and contends that by simply tackling any one problem, total normalcy and true secular society cannot be restored. The book also talks about Muslim mindset and how their leaders have perhaps only harmed their interest.
Contents
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
FOREWORD
INTRODUCTION
Gujarat’s Communalism-a Perspective
Five Minutes Train Halt at Hell
Gujarat-a Seething communal Cauldron
Life in Relief Camps
Communal violence-a Socio-political Analysis
Economic Fallout-Industries Take a Beating
Modi’s Justification and the Centre’s Subtle approval
Utter confusion in Administration
Gill Magic-Super-cop repeats His Success
Akshardham Attack-Terrorism Strikes Gujarat
Watershed Polls-Triumph of Modi Brand
The Fallout of Gujarat 2002