Author: M. V. Kamath
Publication: The Free Press Journal
Date: June 6, 2004
Book review of Islam and religious
riots (A case study) By R. N. P. Singh 364pp. Delhi: India First foundation,
Rs.500.
One does not expect Sonia Gandhi
to have time to read looks but whenever she finds it, she must manage to
read books life M.J. Akbar's Riot After riot, Pirata Venkateshwarlu's Red
Terrorism in India (remember she is getting the support of the leftist
parties) and now, the latest, R.N.P. Singh's Islam and Religious riots:
A Case Study.
Should she engage herself in this
self-educational activity, she might be more careful in using a word like
'secular' when she refers to her party or partymen. Singh's book has a
sub-title: "Riots & Wrongs, which tells it all. Singh, incidentally,
is not just anybody. If he speaks with authority, it is because he is an
ex-officer of the Intelligence Bureau, has been the recipient of the Indian
Police Medal and the President's Police medal. Just as importantly, this
book carries a Forward by K.P.S. Gill, former DGP of Punhab. Gill is very
forthright in his comments.
He writes, "Much of the secular
discourse in India has been based on a politically correct refusal to confront
the nature of religious communities and institutions and their past and
present activities; and on the fiction that 'all religions are equal' and
that their inherent message is the same. The truth is, unless communities
acknowledge reality warts and all and recognize the transgressions of their
own history within a constructive context, no real solution to the issue
of communal polarization and violence in India can be brought about".
This is telling the truth.
It was under a secular congress
government's presence in Uttar Pradesh that police arrested some seventy
odd Muslims and unhesitatingly shot them all without trial and had their
bodies thrown into the river. In Delhi there was a secular Prime Minister
Rajiv Gandhi them. Singh's case study of religious riots in India is comprehensive
and is probably the first book of its kind, at least in recent times. It
is divided into four parts.
Part I takes a fresh look at Islam
and Conflicts. Part II makes an inquiry into why Hindu-Muslim synthesis
has failed and studies why peace co-existence with other communities is
anathema to Islam. Part III deals with communalism and communal riots and
what the author calls "single dimensional approach to riots". It also makes
an effort at taking a realistic perspective of communal riots. Art IV consists
of chronological overview of all communal riots I India for over two centuries
beginning at a time when there was no BJP, no VHP, no RSS and no Narendra
Modi.
Unless one studies this background
to communal violence, due will never he able to understand contemporary
life in India. Then, of course, there are appendices and tables in connection
with communal riots. This is the work of a scholar and an expert. The accompanying
bibliography clearly indicates that Singh has taken his job seriously and
read widely. There is one glaring omission in the book through. Singh does
not write about the events that followed the assassination of Indira Gandhi
and the ruthless killing of hundreds of Sikhs by Congressmen.
In fact more people were killed
in the anti-Sikh riots that followed than were killed in Gujarat following
the Godhra incineration of over fifty Hindu women and children in a railway
coach. Singh dismisses it as an "unfortunate Hindu-Sikh riot", somewhat
rare. He may argue that this book is about Islam and religious riots, which
would be a weak argument for not exposing congress misdeeds, but let that,
go. Singh says that the term 'communal riots' in the Indian context is
generally used to refer to clashes between Hindus and Muslims and harbours
an in-built religious connotation.
Conventional wisdom attributes the
malaise, says Singh, to the British strategy of 'divide and rule' implemented
in the wake of the first struggle for freedom in 1857. That is party true.
Yes the British did attempt to separate Hindus and Muslims to keep both
under subjugation but there have been riots in India even before the British
consolidation their power in this country. It is interesting to learn that
the "first communal riot" took place in Ahmedabad in 1713. That by itself
calls for further study. Gujarat, it seems, has been peculiarly susceptible
to communal riots and there have been riots in Ahmedabad in 1730, in 1937,
and some other times. But Hindu-Muslim riots have had an all-India character,
riots having taken place in 1806, 1809, 1813, 1820, 1833, 1837, 1850, 1853
and so right upto 1897.
Singh believes that the post-independence
riots were "perhaps due to the Hindus' heightened distrust towards Muslims
and vice versa" and that "the typical Muslim outlook towards nationality,
nationalism and a soft corner for the partitioned part that is, Pakistan,
further fuelled it". And he adds, "The Muslims who stayed back in India
were perhaps hopeful of further partitions of India if the situation so
demanded". To buttress this point Singh adds: "Shortly after partition,
the views of one Qamarudding Khan, spokesperson of Oligarch Muslim University,
appears in Light of Lahore. It advised the Indian Muslims to lie low for
some time owing to tactical reasons and that soon they should stand up
for a similar cause, that is to demand partition of Muslim majority areas
of India". Wrote Qamruddin Khan: "The five crore Muslims who were compelled
to stay back in India would d have to fight for another freedom struggle.
The fight would be mainly fought on the eastern end and th! e western areas
bordering Pakistan did not mean that the Indian Muslims would invite Pakistan
for help. However, it was certain that Pakistan's presence in the neighbourhood
would embolden the Muslims. The Indian Muslims have half the battle and
for total victory they will have to scheme out another plan".
Further Qamruddin Khan wrote: "At
the moment, the Muslims should refrain from politically confronting the
Hindus . After a while the Indian Muslims should try to develop concentrated
pockets. The Indian Muslims should maintain close relations with Pakistan
and for running organizations, they should take help from them". Can this
possibly be one explanation why there have been to many communal riots
in Gujarat, which, incidentally is geographically close to Paistan? Out
secularists and liberals must study this further. Singh's book is an excellent
introduction to the subject He refers to the Khalistani Movement to Punjab,
Pakistan's support to it and the involvement of the ISI in Indian affairs.
This is a book for our editors to
read and digest. Perhaps they will be better able then, to appreciate Narendra
Modi and the affairs in Gujarat a little better.
