Industrialisation and Violence Riots in Rourkela by B. B. Chatterjee; P. N. Singh; G. R. S.

Rao Review by: Sara Joseph Economic and Political Weekly, Vol. 3, No. 3 (Jan. 20, 1968), p. 191 Published by: Economic and Political Weekly Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/4358152 . Accessed: 25/01/2013 17:33
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REVIEWS

Industrialisation and Violence

Sara Joseph
Riots in Rourkela, by B B Chatterjee, P N Singh, G R S Rao; Popular Book Serviccs, New Delhi, 1966; pp 85, Rs 16.
THIS is a book that deserves to be widely read and discussed. Unfortunately it has a confusing and unappealing jacket, ungraceful English and some printing mistakes which do not add to its superfical appeal, but I hope that most readers will not be put off by them. The riots involved were the communal disturbances which took place it] Rourkela in March 1964, following closely on similar riots in Calcutta and Jessore. TAlousandsof people were involved and 34 were reported killed. This study attempts to understand and analyse the fundamental tensions and attitudes present in the thrcc main communities which exploded inLo violcnce. Most of the questions in the schedule, therefore, relate to the feelings of Moslems or Hindus or Adivasis towards each other. This was ground enough for all kinds of tensions and cross tensions to develop among the people of the different communities. Yet the trouble when it came took the form of an attack on the local Moslems by the other two communities. This can only be related to the anti-Hindu trouble in East Pakistan and the passage of refugee trains through the area shortly before the riots
INTERESSTING COMMENTS

In this context, the book has some iinterestingcomments on the role played A socio/psychological survey cain by Press reports and rumours in fomentonly describe images and attitudes ing the trouble. It appears that colourful and suggest the possible underlying reportage of anti-Hindu atrocities in East causes which determine these attiPakistan did play a part in triggering tt'des. If such surveys are to be of off violence. We have only to see the use as background material for townway in which student riots seem to set planners and administrators they will About 200 people were interviewed each other off in a chain reaction to have to be backed by the findings of with the aid of schedules from selected understand this. Yet the practice which economists anthropologists and poliareas in Rourkela, the centre of the the Press seems to have adopted of play- tical scientists. Yet this survey ends disturbances, and from outlying areas ing down such disturbances,to the point on the hopeful note that the responwhere there was relatively little trouble. sometimes of refusing to use the word dents from the three comnunities The majority of respondents were 'communal', hardly seems to help. Surcly interviewed did not feel that mutual Hindus who form also the majority of the public has a right to demand to antagonism and insecurity need be the local population. In addition pur- be informed about what is going oII permanent, nor that such disturbances posive sampling of some representatives in the country, and unprejudiced and were either inevitable or unavoidable, of key professions was carried out to sober reporting rather than a refusal if proper measures are taken. Some fill out the data collected. They werc to acknowledge the facts seems a of the measures which they suggestleaders of political parties and trade better answer to the problem. ed are interesting and vary from unions, the Press, different communities, What strikes the lay reader of this rational ones to expressions of hatred and representatives from Hindustan book is that there must be potential and fear. They include 'mutual underSteel, the Government and the Rail- Rourkelas scattered all over the collnlstanding', 'social education', 'a special ways. It is the tabulated results and try. People involved, in the Durgapur police force fcr Rourkela', and 'all interpretation of this data which forms complex for instance, have described mnuslimsshould leave India', 'Governthe book. the difficulties of a town which has ment should punish Pakistani spies', far beyond the limits for etc." The main importance of this survey eLxpanded is that it highlights the tensions which are created by rapid social change following industrialisation. Rourkea used is availatle in Madras from to be primarily an agricultural and tribal A Krishnamoorthy P Aiyaswamy area although there was always a small 87 Venkatachala Mudali Street 156 Poonamallee High Road local Moslem and Hindu populatiotn. Madras 29 Mylapore Industrialisation dislocated the ageMadras 4 Phone 88154 old customs and life of the people and brought in an enormous immigrant Higginbothams Pvt Ltd New Century Book House population from all parts of India, Civil Aerodrome 6/30 Mount Roadpeople who were usually more sophistiMeenambakkam Madras I cated than the local Adivasis at least, Madras 27 and with different customs and cultures.

which it was originally intended with consequent social and economic tensions. Violence, communal or other. wise, has become almost endemic in ouir society. The fourth Appendix tc the book makes a plea for a nationwide survey to pinpoint possible areas of disturbance so that plans can be made for integrated development of the areas. At present the approach to such problems seems often to be confined to rather unimaginative administrative measures when trouble is threatened, to police or army action during the crisis and inadequate relief measures after the event. Yet inter communal tensions do not always resolve themselves with the passage of time. In fact they sometimes get exacerbated as time passes, unless adequate long-term measures are taken.

Economic and Political Weekly

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