The Carnage of Godhra and the fight for Justice

In February 2002, the whole country witnessed an event of shame. It made people question the very fact of Expression of Religion. For many people, the state of Gujarat burned for close to one month, and it culminated in the GENOCIDE of more than thousand individuals of a particular community. The government suported the act, and even today the Chief Minister of Gujarat is considered a Demi-God by the majority. The carnage in Godhra showed us that Secularism is indeed dead and buried in this new India, and the fact that in India, a genocide has happened and sections of the Indian public do not want to acknowledge this. It is this event, and what happened in Ayodhya 10 years before this, made me into an Atheist, and thus writing that ALL forms of organized religion must be purged.

In the morning on the next day following the event, when the horrors unfolded, my instinctive burst of emotion was that, "I AM ASHAMED OF BEING A HINDU". At that time, there was a heated argument between Me and my Family, and i let it go because i was still young. Now, in 2007, i stand by what i have said. The carnage that was carried out by Extremist Hindu Organizations indeed made me sick, and thus made me an Atheist. The Godhra carnage continues to be called as the most shameful incident to affect India in the Post-Independence Era. The chaos, the fanatism, the carnage was there for everyone to see.

What began as a reaction to the burning of the Coach of Sabarmati express fanned the flames of Communalism throughout Gujarat. The Death of 58 Kar-sevaks travelling to Ayodhya all died in the fire, and in these riots more than 1000 muslims died. Some were lynched, others were burned, some were beaten to death, some were thrown out of their house, while some others were thrown into Ovens, to burn to death. The situation in Gujarat was almost similar to the mid-1930's and 40's Nazi Germany, in which Nazi Storm troopers targetted Jews and their property. In some instances, the local media added fuel to the communal fire, whereas the national English and Hindi print and Television media gave the balanced version. We must be thankful, perhaps, that most of the viewers watched the event Live on National Television, and hence the riots did not spread to the whole country. Media channels like NDTV and DD gave balanced versions of the story, and thus kept the social fabric of the nation intact.

The most symbolic event in this is the BEST Bakery case. Zaheera Sheikh, who was a witness to the burning of 21 Muslims by Mobs in the Bakery at Vadodara. The case was fought at the Highest courts of the country, and at that moment, Zaheera sheikh turned hostile and thus began the Mockery of the Judicial system, as well as denying Justice to the victims of the Genocide. She was paid 18 Lakhs by a BJP politician, and thu the reason for her becoming Hostile. Today, because of Dirty Communal politics and Greed, the victims of the Gujarat might have a tough road for Justice. I was reading a book titled "The Best of Tehelka-2", and following the material in the book, i was determined to write about this atrocity.

Genocide was taking place in front of millions, and yet some sections of society sought to give it Legitamacy. The Godhra Carnage is proof of the fact that Secularism is DEAD in India, and also that Organized religion is a roadblock for Prosperiety in India. The Godhra carnage is another reason why Groups like VHP, RSS and Bajrang Dal should be banned and punished. Inspite of Highlighting these flaws, the public might not care, unless another riot erupts. The Psyche of Indian Society almost degenerated on that fateful February of 2002, and this degeneration revealed the Horrors that was exhibited.

Yet, the Public will remain ignorant and communal, because that will be the way from now on. That will always be the Way now. What about us, who Cry for the Justice of the people who died in the Genocide? We will have nothing, only historical records and reminders, as well as images of the Gruesome tragedy. The Godhra carnage shows us what happens when the majority remain silent, and that Fanaticism shall always lead to blood and destruction. Gujarat today stands for the Ghettociation of Muslims, and even now the Majority Public are silent, because that will be the way from now on. That will always be the Way from now on.