Gomantak Times, Panjim, Wednesday, August 8, 2007
Professor Ram Puniyani from Mumbai is an individual committed to preserving the social fabric of India. Now, a full-time social activist, he took voluntary retirement from his job as a biomedical engineering professor at the Indian Institute of Technology, Powai to commit himself to creating awareness about the need for communal harmony in India.He speaks to Arti Das on this burning issue.
The poor people of any community are the main victims
Q: Why did you give up your job as a professor and turn your attention to social activism?
A: Actually, I used to do social work even when I was a professor. I have a serious interest in understanding the Human Rights of weaker sections of society. I am also a member of EKTA, Committee for Communal Amity, Mumbai and am working for secular initiatives for many years right from 1993. I am campaigning for the defense of democratic rights especially of minorities.
Q: According to you when was the actual beginning of the communal violence in India?
A: Communal disharmony was prevalent before, but it picked up in 1984. It became worse in 1990’s with the Ram temple movement, the Rath Yatra that communalised the society and the whole Ayodhya issue that crystallised the society. This then lead to the Mumbai riots in 1993 and then,a series of bomb blasts in Mumbai. The worst communal violence was the Gujarat violence in 2002. One thing we should note that whenever there is communal violence in India it was followed by terrorist attacks. So, it only shows that terrorists took advantage of the situation.
Q: What is the reason for this communal tension?
A: The main reasons for this are the propaganda and systematic poisoning of people’s mind by the section of the media and some political organisations. Also, they sent a social message that what they are doing is right - both logically and historically.
Q: Looking back at history, do you think Partition of India had anything to do with disharmony?
A: Yes, to some extent it can be correct. Partition happened mainly because of the British government’s policy of divide and rule. So, they instigated the communities of India. And we should not forget the fact that only elite Muslims and Hindus were in favour of it, as they wanted their individual identity.
Q: Where do you think Goa stands when it comes to communal harmony?
A: I think here the percentage of communal tensions and disharmony is less compared to states like Maharashtra. Here, there is a lot of awareness about it and acceptance for other communities.
Q: You recently wrote an article on the RSS or the Sangh Parivar, where you mentioned that they are inculcating communalism.Why did you say that?
A: I consider the RSS a major factor for causing communalism. They are indoctrinating people’s mind with communal ideas. Through their shakhas (camps) they have been spreading hate against minorities. Giving rise to communal divide through their various groups like Vishva Hindu Parishad(VHP) and BajRang Dal.
Q: Communalism is also prominent at Muslim madrasas and religious conversions are also practiced by the Christian communities. What is your opinion?
A: Madrasas give religious educationto their community. At the same time, I should say that they are contributing to communalism, but the percentage is very low. About Christians, I don’t think so, as the official census of India shows a constant decline in the population of this community. In 1981, it was 2.44 per cent, in 1991, it was2.34 per cent and in 2001 it is 2.30 per cent of the population.
Q: Does communalism give rise to terrorism?
A: Not totally. The main reason for terrorism is the politics of control over oil reserves. This has given rise to global terrorism.In India, it is due to the unsolved Kashmir issue and also because of some communal reasons. So, we should not hold it as the sole reason, but does contribute in some way.
Q: Who suffer the most in this type of violence?
A: The poor people of any community are the main victims of both communal riots and terrorist attacks.When any bomb blast takes place it kills innocent people of both communities, as terrorism has no religion.
Q: Where do you think India is heading in regards to communal violence?I think we are at the critical path.We can either choose the path of destruction due to communalism or we have to realise the dangers of it and thus bring back the values of freedom movement.
Q: How are you trying to keep communal harmony in place?
A: Our fight is not against a particular religion. We condemn all types of communalism. Our fight is between communalism and democracy. We are trying to create awareness in schools and colleges that all people are the same and remove misconceptions by sensitising the young and the media. I am hopeful that this new generation is more tolerant and thus there is a need to develop India economically and socially, as we are one of the fastest growing economies of the world.
Professor Ram Puniyani from Mumbai is an individual committed to preserving the social fabric of India. Now, a full-time social activist, he took voluntary retirement from his job as a biomedical engineering professor at the Indian Institute of Technology, Powai to commit himself to creating awareness about the need for communal harmony in India.He speaks to Arti Das on this burning issue.
More about Ram Puniyani
He has also been engaged in understanding global and local changes, which have resulted in communal violence. He is particularly concerned with the adverse effects of globalisation and the rise of fundamentalism,particularly in India. Dr Puniyani has contributed articles to various magazines and journals on these themes. He has authored three books around these subjects: 'Fascism of Sangh Parivar’, 'TheOther Cheek’ and 'Communal Politics: An Illustrated primer’. At present, Dr Puniyani is continuing with his endeavour to understand these phenomena with a focus on human relationships geared around substantive liberty, equality and fraternity.
