For once, we are proud to be in UP

IT IS time to salute the people of the state. Despite all provocations they, the members of all communities, have remained stoically silent and maintained a dignified peace. Responsible religious leaders of the communities have also shown restraint. Their positive approach has also saved the state from a communal catastrophe.

IT IS time to salute the people of the state. Despite all provocations they, the members of all communities, have remained stoically silent and maintained a dignified peace. Responsible religious leaders of the communities have also shown restraint. Their positive approach has also saved the state from a communal catastrophe.

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Beginning with the Ayodhya blasts in 2005, the state has gone through a spate of unfortunate events that could have engulfed it in an irrepressible communal frenzy. The self-styled leaders of both the communities made every effort to plunge the state into a communal fire. But they failed. People foiled their nefarious designs, rejected their divisive plans. The tolerance, the open-mindedness with which they tackled each and every situation calls for their commendation.

It all started with the Ayodhya explosions. It was a clear-cut conspiracy to blow up the Ram temple, a religious place, over the ownership of which the two communities have fought battles on streets for over a decade besides a century-long legal wrangle. But good sense prevailed and despite desperate efforts to give it a communal hue, peace prevailed, not only in Ayodhya but also all over the country.

Do you think this could have been visualised in the 1990s when a little spark could have thrown the country into the throes of worst-ever communal crisis.

After the Ayodhya blasts came the Mau riots. There, too, the angle was communal as it happened during the festival of Bharat Milap, when traditionally people leading the procession hit the gate of the mosque and a Sanskrit patshala. The festival came when Mau was disturbed but passed off peacefully.

Thereafter came certain emotive-religious issues, one after another, which enraged the Muslim community. If the issue of minority status of AMU excited them, India’s vote against Iran at IAEA agitated them. Many questioned Muslims coming on the streets on a ‘videshi’ issue. Perhaps they were oblivious of their strong sentiments for Iran, the second biggest pilgrim centre for them. Then came the cartoons of the prophet by a Danish cartoonist, coupled with the visit of US President George W Bush, for whom the minority community has little respect. Rather they despise him.

Thus some leaders of the community took advantage of the raging issues and enraged community, organised demonstrations all over the country including UP.

However, it is Uttar Pradesh that hit the headlines more because of a cabinet minister in the Mulayam government, who thoughtlessly announced a reward of Rs 51 crores for the cartoonist’s head. His announcement kicked off a countrywide debate on the reward’s justification in a democratic set-up. Before others could react, more acceptable and respectable leaders of the community condemned him for his fatwa. It is another matter that the Mulayam government, that foresaw mobilisation of minorities in its favour, took time to distance itself from the controversy. Significantly, twice their protests got violent in the state capital, so much so that four lives were also lost, yet peace and harmony prevailed.

And in this disturbed scenario came the Varanasi blasts, that too in Sankat Mochan temple on a Tuesday. As news spread about the blast, even in Lucknow, with some forces spreading rumours of all types, people ran indoors. They did not lose their mental equilibrium. They did not throng the streets for avenge. What a display of strength and of harmony.

The Varanasi scene was no different. While politics took centrestage, people worked in the background to ensure the city did not play into their hands. Peace committees, which had always prevented ugly situations from going out of control during annual Jala Bhishek programme at Sringar Gauri temple near Kashi Vishwanath temple, became active.

Away from the media glare they monitored the communal situation. One more factor aiding maintenance of communal harmony is the silk trade. Approximately a population of five lakhs is directly or indirectly linked with the saree industry -- the traders are Hindus and weavers Muslims. As for buyers they come from all over India as well as from abroad. Whatsoever, whether economics or social commitments, Varanasi stood out as a city thronged by people in search of peace and salvation.

Last, but not the least, came twin blasts of Varanasi.

However, the real test comes now. The festival of colours, Holi, has many a time ended in clashes. However, if the prevailing mood continued this time it would only help in strengthening the bond between different communities -- specially Hindus and Muslims.