POLITICAL IDEOLOGY RESEARCH PAPER

RELIGIOUS FUNDAMENTALISM IN THE STATE OF GUJARAT WITH REFERENCE TO GUJARAT RIOTS

RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

Aims & Objectives

This Research Paper is an attempt to understand the role of Religious fundamentalism during and before the riots in Gujarat.

Research Issues
1) What led to the massive riots in Gujarat? 2) Impact of the hate speech given by NarendraModi? 3) Do Fundamentalist groups threaten the citizenship rights?

Abstract
This research paper involves the ideologies and strategies that prevailed during the Gujarat riots and also talks about the overall failure of a state to protect the rights of the people. The violence in Gujarat was not just violence between two communities. It was rather a well-planned and systematic genocidal attack on people from Muslim communities, carried out with the support of the state. This paper also highlights Hindu fundamentalism due to three reasons: firstly, it has gained state power in a democracy, so it is succeeding in dividing the electorate along religious lines, thus altering the face of Indian society. Secondly, it has cleverly managed to create an image of a majority population victimised and under attack. Thirdly, democratic power in the hands of fundamentalist groups threatens the citizenship rights. The demolition of the Babri Masjid in December 1992
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and the inaction of the

then government in the face of the violence against Muslim communities that introduced and succeeded this event were clear indicators of the Hindu fundamentalists growing strength and popularity. The composition of the mobs that took to the streets in Gujarat showed that a new kind of Hindu community was being fabricated. People traditionally put down by the Hindu mainstream the lower castes like Dalits, the indigenous people Adivasis, and women. A sense of Hindu identity had brought them together, but this was no natural coming together. It was the result of a well-planned strategy by Hindu fundamentalists, who have been trying to gain a foothold in Indian society since the 1920s.

1 The Babri Masjid Ram Janmabhoomi controversy has been one of the major planks of the Hindu fundamentalists propaganda. They claim that, during Mughal rule, a temple that stood at Ram s alleged birthplace was demolished and the Babri Masjid constructed. Their demand was demolition of the mosque and reconstruction of the temple. On 6 December 1992, the mosque was demolished by thousands of volunteers, while the state administration stood by and watched.

The presence of the BJP in power has changed the political scene. The carnage in Gujarat was marked by unprecedented levels of hate speech and hate propaganda 2. The implementation of right-wing economic policies and the processes of globalisation have accelerated. It reflected their clear control over the bureaucracy and appointments for all key posts, in the police force, the judicial system and departments of education. A new concept of citizenship and democracy is emerging in which Hindus alone have a Natural right to be citizens. All others are only tolerated, and were given secondary status which threatened their basic citizenship rights.

Chief Minister Narendra Modi Terming the (Godhra) attack as pre-planned, violent act of terrorism , Mr Modi said that state government was viewing this attack seriously. The Times of India, Feb 28, 2002. "With the entire population of Gujarat very angry at what happened in Godhra much worse was expected". Narendra Modi, at a Press Conference in Gujarat, Feb 28, 2002.
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Introduction

Religious Fundamentalism

The concept of "religious fundamentalism" in a world today which has become a virtual village, as science and technology make rapid strides in every possible sphere. Above all, in an age where liberalization, privatization and globalization seem to govern every dimension of one's life, does "religious fundamentalism" have any place? The American Heritage Dictionary defines "fundamentalism" as "a usually religious movement or point of view characterized by a return to fundamental principles, by rigid adherence to those principles, and often by intolerance of other views and opposition to secularism". Three elements therefore constitute this definition. A so-called return to the basics/ roots, a rigidity/intolerance towards anything that is different, leave alone opposed to one's thinking or ideology, a definite opposition towards anything that is secular. In the Indian context, "secularism" is a positive concept which emphasizes one's ability to be open, accepting and adjusting to another's beliefs, ideologies, and cultures. It is neither anti-religion nor antiperson. In the best sense of the word, a secularist can be deeply religious and simultaneously, will have the ability to work with men and women of goodwill on significant issues, without allowing the narrow confines of one's religion to be a hindrance. Hindu-Muslim violence continued in the centuries that followed, with the pace and intensity picking up in the second half of the twentieth century. The events in Gujarat in March 2002 shocked whole of India. India has seen violence between religious communities before like the establishment in 1947 between India and Pakistan saw violence of unusual proportions. Since then, violence between religious communities has been a recurring phenomenon. Over the years as we know it, the nature of the violence has changed. Along with increased control by Hindu fundamentalist groups of culture and ethics of Hindu society, there has been a corresponding growth of other fundamentalisms, like Islamic fundamentalism. Hindu fundamentalism in India is, in some senses, a ruling effort. The multiple practices and beliefs of Hindu communities are being complicated, and uniformity is imposed. The terms religion and culture are used interchangeably. Nationalism can be redefined as cultural nationalism . It is not mentioned in the constitution that there can be parties of specific religion but the right-

wing Hindu organisations function under various names in India. There are, however, three main right-wing Hindu organisations: the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and the Bharatiya. In the last two decades, the VHP has actively worked to help the BJP gain electoral gains by creating a Hindu electorate which would back the BJP under all circumstances.

What led to the massive riots in Gujarat? The events in Gujarat between 27 February and 2 March 2002 show the success of this Hindutva project. The facts summarised below are based on reports by citizens groups, women s groups, human rights groups from Gujarat and across the country, and also by international agencies like Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch3. On 27 February 2002, there was an attack on a train carrying Hindu karsevaks4 from the demolished Babri Masjid site, where they had gone to offer their services for building a Ram temple. A compartment was set on fire just outside Godhra, a station in Gujarat, and 59 women and men perished in the blaze. The assailants were not known and the motive was not clear, but by late evening there had been statements from the Gujarat government and the Hindu right-wing organisations to the effect that this was a deliberate attack on the karsevaks by local Muslims resident in the area where the attack took place. In a matter of 72 hours, about 2000 people were killed.

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The site www.onlinevolunteers.org has its focus on the Gujarat Carnage since March 2002. Kar sevaks is the term used for volunteers willing to offer free services for community activities.

With reference to an article Wounds of history written by Sheela Bhatt it talks about the hardships faced by the people of Gujarat and the way they lost their pride etc. If we look back in to history Gujarat always had its open borders has been at the mercy of anyone who came to plunder it unlike Maharashtra or South India it did not have any rulers from their side who stood against Religious conflict. Hardly any newspaper has taken the trouble to understand Gujarat.

Impact of the hate speech given by Narendra Modi?

The carnage in Gujarat was marked by unprecedented levels of hate speech and hate propaganda Some examples: Chief Minister Narendra Modi Terming the (Godhra) attack as pre-planned, violent act of terrorism , Mr Modi said that state government was viewing this attack seriously. The Times of India, Feb 28, 2002. "With the entire population of Gujarat very angry at what happened in Godhra much worse was expected". Narendra Modi, at a Press Conference in Gujarat, Feb 28, 2002. Modi said he was absolutely satisfied with the way in which the police and State Government handled the backlash from Godhra incident and happy that violence was largely contained "We should be happy that curfew has been imposed only at 26 places while there is anger and people are burning with revenge. Thanks to security arrangements we brought things under control".When asked that not a policeman was visible in most areas where shops were looted and set on fire, he said he hadn t received any complaint. The Indian Express, March 1, 2002. "Investigations have revealed that the firing by the Congressman played a pivotal role in inciting the mob." CM Narendra Modi on Chamanpura incident where former MP Ahsan Jaffri was burned

alive with 19 of his relatives. On being asked what could have lead to the Ex-MP opening fire it was probably in his nature to do so. The Hindustan Times, March 2, 2002. Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi on Friday termed barbaric the murder of former Congress MP Ehsan Jafri along with 19 of his family members, but said there was firing from inside the house. The Indian Express, March 2, 2002 Asked about the violence, Modi quoted Newton s third law every action has an equal and opposite reaction - to virtually justify what is happening. The Times of India, March 3, 2002.

It is clear from a close perusal of the speech that there is a desire to create hatred and ill-will towards the minority.

the speech displays a definite communal bias, denigration of the minority community, ridiculing and belittling of the Holiest Scriptures of the minority

The claim that nothing happened in the form of riots after the speech is irrelevant, dangerous and untenable because the sense of excluvism and sectarianism obvious in the tone and tenor of the speech not only goes against he concept of emotional integration of the Indian people but also engenders an intense feeling of alienation among the Muslims towards the Hindu community. In this perspective the speech of the chief minister is injurious to the Preamble of the Indian Constitution and Particularly Article 51-A

51-A. Fundamental duties. It shall be the duty of every citizens of India(a) to abide by the Constitution and respect its ideals and institutions, the National Flag and the National Anthem; (b) to cherish and follow the noble ideals which inspired our national struggle for freedom; (c) to uphold and protect the sovereignty, unity and integrity of India; (d) to defend the country and render national service when called upon to do so; (e) to promote harmony and the spirit of common brotherhood amongst all the people of India transcending religious, linguistic and regional or sectional diversities, to renounce practices derogatory to the dignity of women; (f) to value and preserve the rich heritage of our composite culture; (g) to protect and improve the natural environment including forests, lakes, rivers and wild life, and to have compassion for living creatures; (h) to develop the scientific temper, humanism and the spirit of inquiry and reform; (i) to safeguard public property and to adjure violence (j) to strive towards excellence in all spheres of individual and collective activity so that the nation constantly rises to higher levels of endeavour and achievement]. 32. I say and submit that appropriate action needs to be directed against the state of Gujarat on the issues raised above. 33. I say and submit that the annexures are Xerox copies of their originals. 34. The contents of the above affidavit have been read over to me and explained to me and I say that the paras 1 and 33 to be true and correct to the best of my knowledge.

Teesta Setalvad, secretary of the human rights organisation Citizens for Justice and Peace (CJP) has stated that the state government was trying to dilute the concentration and attention on not just the on-going trials in critical riot cases but the historic investigation and prosecution ..wherein the chief minister of the state and other influential persons are accused 5.

Conclusion
The paper attempts to understand "religious fundamentalism" in the context of the reality of Gujarat today, and how this "religious fundamentalism" impedes on the rights to religious freedom of an ordinary citizen. The example of Gujarat which we have detailed above is a clear case of how this religious freedom can be used for narrow political gains but in the wake of it, it brings also plenty of suffering, hardships and misery to the ordinary citizen. Whilst it is important for religions to go back to their fundamentals (like core values), what is also important is the ability of the leaders of these religions to transcend narrow and confining walls which keep people suffocated and which ultimately also make them puppets in the hands of those who seek to peddle religion for narrow political gains.

Correspondent, DNA. "Govt Trying to Derail Legal Process in Gujarat Riot Cases: Teesta Setalvad - India - DNA." Mumbai India - News - Sports - Entertainment - DNA. 31 Jan. 2012. Web. 14 Feb. 2012. <http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report_govt-trying-to-derail-legal-process-in-gujarat-riot-cases-teestasetalvad_1644313>.
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