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Halting Communal Violence - What policies would you
recommend for ending communal violence in India?
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Dr. Khilnani's Response:
India is a secular democracy and since independence in 1947 the
Indian state has been relatively effective in containing communal
Violence. The numbers killed in such violence, prior to the current
violence in Gujarat, were in the region of around 12,000. This is of
course a terrible blot, but one needs to see it in the context of a
50-year period of profound social change and stress within a society
of almost 1 billion people. The reason the Indian state can claim this
success has much to do with the role and legacy of men like Jawaharlal
Nehru, the first prime minister: he was committed to combatting communal
violence, and it was that deep personal commitment, even more than
specific policies, which help to curb communal violence. Sadly, and very
worryingly for the country, the personal commitments of India's current
leadership is exactly the opposite. They are happy to use communal
divisions to try to garner political support, and to foster violence.
The basic architecture of the Indian state and constitution remains
secular, but the men who now operate this structure are communal
in their ideology and beliefs. This is the cause of much of the tension
and strain which India is currently experiencing.
In terms of more immediate policy changes that would help ease
communal tension, there are four I would suggest. First, to set aside
the issue of the temple at Ayodhya and to make clear to Hindu activists
that a temple cannot be built here; second, to subject Mr Modi [chief minister of Gujarat - ed.] and his
government to public and legal scrutiny for his and its role in the
Gujarat violence; third, to move with greater resolve towards opening a
debate with disaffected Kashmiris to try to arrive at a compromise
solution on the issue; and fourth, for Muslims in India to begin a
debate over the place and content of Muslim civil law within the Indian
legal system -- in particular, to recognize that the rights of Muslim
women are currently heavily restricted by their subjection to the
Sharia, and that a process of gradual reform must begin.
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Dr. Kak's Response:
Communal violence often has an economic basis. Therefore, I would
recommend redoubled emphasis on economic growth. I'd also recommend
major administrative reforms for devolution of power to towns and
communities, less bureaucracy, and electoral initiatives so that the
citizens have a greater say in how their affairs are run. Many times
communal violence is a response to frustrations and helplessness
citizens feel in dealings with India's bureaucratic structures.
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Dr. Kak's Rebuttal:
I couldn't disagree more with the notion that somehow Nehru's ideas -- however idealistic they might sound -- represent the best way to bring harmony. I don't think the Ayodhya temple or the Kashmir issue are the primary causes of disharmony; at best they are symptoms of a deeper malaise. To give an example from a different place, there is no emotive issue between America and the Arab world, yet September 11, 2001 happened.
The problem with Nehru's ideas is precisely his idealism. His policies were prescriptive: do this, put such and such thing on the table, remove such and such issue, and problems will be solved. But the real world is imperfect. To solve problems is to recognize the messiness of reality and then see what can be done.
I think the demonization by the left of the BJP is part of the problem. It reminds me of how Ronald Reagan used to be called a child-murderer by his political opponents in the 70s and the early 80s. The least academics should do is to understand both sides of the debate; otherwise they come down to the level of the propagandist and the rabble-rouser.
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Dr. Khilnani's Rebuttal:
I agree with this as far as it goes. But one must add that
communal violence is also encouraged and incited by politicians and
extremists and with the BJP, the RSS (Hindu group Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sing - ed.], and the umbrella "Sangh Parivar,"
we are dealing with organizations committed to spreading religious
hatred and violence.
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