I'm ashamed and I apologise. I'm ashamed of what Hindus have done to Muslims in Gujarat and I apologise to the entire Muslim community in India for what has happened to them in Gujarat. I condemn the Muslims who perpetrated the Godhra carnage which triggered the subsequent violence in Gujarat, but I cannot agree that it sanctifies the latter. A day's anger and outburst is understandable but sustained violence for over 2 months is clearly untenable.
I speak as an ordinary Hindu, Indian citizen. I am sorry that I have to use such a label --- I have always seen myself as an Indian citizen without any other qualification -- but I am forced to use the Hindu label in the context of what I wish to express.
I have always been taught and sincerely believed that being a Hindu meant much more than following a religion - it meant (to quote an overused cliché) a way of life. What does being a Hindu mean ? It means, to me, tolerance, openness to all other thoughts, non-violence, compassion, concern for the poor and downtrodden, extending a helping hand to the suffering, respect for the elders, and the mores and beliefs of others.
All these beliefs and pride in being a Hindu lie shattered after what has happened in Gujarat. Some people committed crimes in Godhra -- why should innocent be punished in other places ? Those that wanted to take revenge -- I ask you, why did you not have the guts to go to Godhra and punish the perpetrators of the carnage there. Even that would be wrong in a democratic set-up where we live by the rule of law, but it would have at least focused anger on the criminals and not on the innocents.
I appeal to all Muslim friends to believe me that while the destruction was wrought upon you by Hindus, these people were not Hindus, for this is not what Hinduism teaches ; do not make the same mistake that the Hindus did in believing that the Godhra carnage, being perpetrated by Muslims was therefore committed by the Muslim community as a whole. What happened in Godhra was a criminal act by some people who were Muslims ; however to hold the entire Muslim community elsewhere as responsible for the crime and then proceed to punish them for it, is an equal, if not bigger crime.
My friends in Gujarat and many others argue that "why this concern for Muslims only -- why did you not protest similarly in case of Kashmiri Pandits ?"
(2)
I agree we were wrong in not having taken up the cause of the Kashmiri Pandits more vigorously than it has been done and I plead guilty to the charge of indifference. But can this lapse on the part of all of us (and I include myself in it) justify the killing of innocent people in some other part of the country ? How exactly does this action promote or help the cause of Kashmiri Pandits ?
I appeal to all Hindus in Gujarat to abandon this reckless revenge journey they have embarked on and put a stop to all violence immediately. It is time to heal, not wound ; it is time to build, not destroy ; it is time to patch up, not tear asunder ; it is time to return to Hinduism as it is meant to be, not as it has been distorted to become.
Some argue that Muslims need to be taught a lesson, once and for all to force them to "fall into line". This would be the gravest crime we could commit against India. India's biggest strength lies in its mixed tapestry -- the weaving together of so many languages, religions, cultures into a oneness called India. Removing any strand from this magic weave will only weaken what remains behind -- no homogeneity can ever be as strong as the amalgam of the many. Even nature testifies to this. No virgin and pure metal is as strong as alloys which combine the different strengths of the individual metals into a synergistic strength of the combine. Therefore this argument of expecting Muslims to behave like we (i.e. the Hindus) dictate, needs to be abandoned forthwith.
Simultaneously, I urge all Hindu friends, who feel similarly, to express their apology in the manner they deem best, for whatever has happened, post-Godhra, in Gujarat ; every effort at reconciliation will speed up the healing of the wound.
I also appeal to all Muslims who have been affected by the riots to fight the (natural but dangerous) desire "to take revenge one day" ; this will only keep the fires of hatred burning for ever. I realise that this advice is easy for me to give but I cannot see any other way. Similarly, I appeal to all victims, of the Godhra carnage, and their families to put a stop to the "revenge" campaign that has been unleashed and concentrate on rebuilding what we have destroyed.
Any continuation of the present violence will destroy us all -- be it Hindus or Muslims or any other. India is much bigger than any one of us or any one community -- and we cannot make India strong by making any of its constituents weak.
hemendra k. varma
mumbai, april 30, 2002
I speak as an ordinary Hindu, Indian citizen. I am sorry that I have to use such a label --- I have always seen myself as an Indian citizen without any other qualification -- but I am forced to use the Hindu label in the context of what I wish to express.
I have always been taught and sincerely believed that being a Hindu meant much more than following a religion - it meant (to quote an overused cliché) a way of life. What does being a Hindu mean ? It means, to me, tolerance, openness to all other thoughts, non-violence, compassion, concern for the poor and downtrodden, extending a helping hand to the suffering, respect for the elders, and the mores and beliefs of others.
All these beliefs and pride in being a Hindu lie shattered after what has happened in Gujarat. Some people committed crimes in Godhra -- why should innocent be punished in other places ? Those that wanted to take revenge -- I ask you, why did you not have the guts to go to Godhra and punish the perpetrators of the carnage there. Even that would be wrong in a democratic set-up where we live by the rule of law, but it would have at least focused anger on the criminals and not on the innocents.
I appeal to all Muslim friends to believe me that while the destruction was wrought upon you by Hindus, these people were not Hindus, for this is not what Hinduism teaches ; do not make the same mistake that the Hindus did in believing that the Godhra carnage, being perpetrated by Muslims was therefore committed by the Muslim community as a whole. What happened in Godhra was a criminal act by some people who were Muslims ; however to hold the entire Muslim community elsewhere as responsible for the crime and then proceed to punish them for it, is an equal, if not bigger crime.
My friends in Gujarat and many others argue that "why this concern for Muslims only -- why did you not protest similarly in case of Kashmiri Pandits ?"
(2)
I agree we were wrong in not having taken up the cause of the Kashmiri Pandits more vigorously than it has been done and I plead guilty to the charge of indifference. But can this lapse on the part of all of us (and I include myself in it) justify the killing of innocent people in some other part of the country ? How exactly does this action promote or help the cause of Kashmiri Pandits ?
I appeal to all Hindus in Gujarat to abandon this reckless revenge journey they have embarked on and put a stop to all violence immediately. It is time to heal, not wound ; it is time to build, not destroy ; it is time to patch up, not tear asunder ; it is time to return to Hinduism as it is meant to be, not as it has been distorted to become.
Some argue that Muslims need to be taught a lesson, once and for all to force them to "fall into line". This would be the gravest crime we could commit against India. India's biggest strength lies in its mixed tapestry -- the weaving together of so many languages, religions, cultures into a oneness called India. Removing any strand from this magic weave will only weaken what remains behind -- no homogeneity can ever be as strong as the amalgam of the many. Even nature testifies to this. No virgin and pure metal is as strong as alloys which combine the different strengths of the individual metals into a synergistic strength of the combine. Therefore this argument of expecting Muslims to behave like we (i.e. the Hindus) dictate, needs to be abandoned forthwith.
Simultaneously, I urge all Hindu friends, who feel similarly, to express their apology in the manner they deem best, for whatever has happened, post-Godhra, in Gujarat ; every effort at reconciliation will speed up the healing of the wound.
I also appeal to all Muslims who have been affected by the riots to fight the (natural but dangerous) desire "to take revenge one day" ; this will only keep the fires of hatred burning for ever. I realise that this advice is easy for me to give but I cannot see any other way. Similarly, I appeal to all victims, of the Godhra carnage, and their families to put a stop to the "revenge" campaign that has been unleashed and concentrate on rebuilding what we have destroyed.
Any continuation of the present violence will destroy us all -- be it Hindus or Muslims or any other. India is much bigger than any one of us or any one community -- and we cannot make India strong by making any of its constituents weak.
hemendra k. varma
mumbai, april 30, 2002
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