| Published on 12-12-2007 In National | | Viewed 1433 times | | Sultans, Yousufs and Collective Amnesia |
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| Written by
Girish Nikam | 
If any psychologist is looking for a place to conduct his field study on the phenomenon of "collective amnesia", he has to come to Gujarat. It is here that he can test all his theories and hypothesis, about why and how people as a group try to forget incidents which had impacted their lives like never before, not too long back.
Not being a trained psychologist one would rather refrain from coming to any conclusions, on what one has seen and heard over the last nearly a week traveling through the length and breadth of this state, which is considered a successful hindutva laboratory. It would be however interesting to share with anyone who has any interest in this State, its people, its history, not to speak about its recent violent and controversial past.
Even as the TV news channels, especially the national ones, debate furiously over the way in which Narendra Modi has shifted focus from his development agenda, with which he began his campaign to communal issues, the debate just does not get reflected on the ground. Whether it is in tribal districts deep down in the southern part of the State or in Mehsana, which is in the North or in Saurashtra, where one has traveled, it is difficult to find anyone, including journalists, with whom these issues can be discussed with any amount of objectivity.
Ramesh and Chandubhai are two young tribals, who are clearly out there at a Sonia Gandhi rally in Mandvi out of their own personal interest, and show all signs of voting for the Congress. Talk of communal politics of Modi or the Godhra and Post-Godhra pogrom, draws a blank from them. They are not interested in discussing it. They would rather discuss the problems they face in their day to day lives, including the water problems to their fields and power not being available for irrigation adequately or lack of health facilities in their village.
In Surat city, when the topic is raised with a senior journalist, he says it is not so much an issue and turns to other issues like how the media, especially TV seems to be arraigned against Narendra Modi. "Congress seems to control these TV channels", he mutters to himself.
Drive up to Bharuch, know to be home to many Muslim NRIS who have made their fortune in the Gulf, the scene is not very different. Wali Patel, a Muslim auto rickshaw driver, with henna-ed beard, waiting for passengers outside the railway station, talks in riddles. He is all praise of Modi and his government, and he says almost conspiratorially, "it is better to forget what has happened". But then after some prodding about whether the events of 2002 does not exist in his mind, he looks around ensuring no one is hearing him and says in satta language, "90 paise Congress, 85 paise BJP"! It is difficult to get through him.
Chand Khan however is more forthcoming. A native of Farukkhabad in Uttar Pradesh, he has been in Gujarat for last 15 years, and was working in a Bakery (not Best Bakery) in Vadodara, when the 2002 carnage happened. "It left us shattered, without any job for six months. Now I have found a job in Ankleswar, in a Muslim owner's bakery. He has come to Bharuch to distribute bakery products early morning. "Let us see things may change, Muslims are not as afraid as they were in the last elections.
They will vote in full strength". But he is not sure if it would be enough to defeat Modi.
P.C.Vyas, a retired officer from a private industry on his morning walk, says all the right things about harmony in the society and how he himself partakes in his Muslim friend's festivities. But he is also not inclined to talk about the carnage when asked what he thought of it. He is reluctant to say anything, but finally also adopts the famous "action-reaction theory" of Modi.
Come to Rajkot in Saurashtra, where the 2002 events were not as fierce as in Central and North Gujarat, and it takes an altogether different hue. A group of Muslim men are walking up to the Congress candidate's office in the heart of the city, late in the night. As one starts talking to them about the election prospects, Yousuf, a 30-something, speaks up for the group. A kirana dealer in the city, he says, "it is not that all of us will vote for Congress. It depends on the candidate".
Asked about what he thinks of Modi and his government in the last five years, his reply is revealing. "He has given a very good government". What about the safety of his community? "What safety, we have had no problem. Atleast we have been able to earn our living peacefully". What about fake encounters and Muslims being targeted? "Those who indulge in such things (criminal acts) should be targeted. Should Dawood Ibrahim be spared?". What about Soharabuddin? "If anyone indulges in such acts why should they be spared?".
A young Congress worker, Montu Joshi, in Surendranagar, despite actively working for the Congress candidates, is completely taken in by Modi and his development record. What about the 2002 carnage and the anti-minority attitude of Modi, which his party talks about? Montu dismisses it. "We here in Saurashtra had no such problems, it is not a problem at all". Period. He does not think it is an issue worth discussing further.
Sultan an young 25 year old cab driver operating in Ahmedabad echoes Rajkot's Yousuf. He admits he is in a minority as far as his views are concerned among his family and friends." But in the last five years we have not had curfews and tensions, which earlier would not allow us to work and feed ourself".
If the Sultans and the Yousufs seem to have completely taken in by the Modi propaganda and also from their own personal experiences, the "fear factor" or the lofty ideals of "freedom of expression" and "freedom of speech", as we in the media see it, seems to be the casualty. Or is it that the machismo that Modi exudes, has rubbed off on the Muslim youths too?
So is it a collective amnesia at work? Or is it just playing safe? Why is there no sense of outrage as many people outside Gujarat experience when one talks of the 2002 carnage. Why it is that no one wants to discuss it even? Why is there no sense of remorse among majority of the Hindus, and why do they not even want to discuss it? Will the cause of democracy be served better by indulging in this collective amnesia? Or is it a sign of a sick society which does not want to confront the truth? |
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