Asian Voice has done an enormous service for communal harmony wherever we live. Sadly the media, whether electronic or print, highlights sensational news about strife, hatred and disharmony. Whereas in real life, in India and in Great Britain, the common man has more common sense and the stream of humanity is following at full speed.
I hail from Bharuch district of Gujarat. I left India about twenty five years ago. Bharucsh and Kutch are two districts of Gujarat where the minority communities live in large numbers. Bharuch has perhaps the second highest percentage of Muslims in Gujarat’s thirty odd districts - nearly nineteen percentage. Until 2002 there was distrust, suspicion, fear amongst the communities. The implementation of curfew - Indian Penal Code 144 - was a common occurance. Asssembly of more than five persons was prohibited during frequent riots.
I went to India and Gujaratj with my family in January this year. I am told that since 2002 there is no communal strife in Bharuch or Gujarat. Is that amazing? No that is age old Indian tradition. The politicans of the bygone era were the cause and the consequence was death, destruction and misery for the people. I might as well add that in Bharuch district a huge amount of investment both national and from abroad has poured in. Dahej, Ankleshwar and other areas are humming with industries creating jobs were all communities are able to earn their living.
Mohammed and Ramen families are surely most striking examples of communal comradeship but I know that in Bharuch, Amod and other towns and neighbouring cities have become increasingly more and more multifaith.
Even if this letter becomes longer please allow me some space to refer to Kutch where my wife hails from.
The vast dessert district of Kutch, second largest in India after Leh in Jammu and Kashmir state has as many as twenty-seven percent Mulsim residents. It has not experienced any communal troubles at all. Kutch is different then what it was in 2001 when the horrific earthquake killed thousands of innocent lives and caused indescribable damage. The government of Gujarat, with the support of Central government and the involvement of Indian and multinational companies has changed the face of Kutch. It’s population has doubled and agriculture in that formerly barren land is now the envy of many.
I am not trying to demean the efforts of Narendra Modi as a Chief Minister though he has ensured that investment and state resources are allocated to areas irrespective of the religious propfile of the polulation. The most important contributory factor are Indian values and the teachings of Sanatan Dharma. The Bible says ‘love thy neighbour’ but the Vedas even go much much further.
Asian Voice has done an omen service to it’s readers as well as to the people at large in this country. Can I say long live Asian Voice, long live humanity and long live communal harmony.
Yaswant Jadav
Leicester
