S a y 'N o'
Mahasweta Devi
Nurturing a communal situation
and religious fanaticism for years have resulted in explosions which
the people of West Bengal and the state government have always resisted
and been extremely vigilant. This time, too, there has not been an exception.
People have been ringing
me up from other parts of the country full of praise for our government.
It's nice to hear them say so.Those who are calling me are mainly from
Gujarat and its neighbouring states.
I have appealed to the President
in an open letter on 2nd March: Today, 4th of March, I want to say that
Gujarat has made it clear that they are continuing their affront against
the minorities. A few Hindus and Muslims, especially a few Hindus, have
sheltered the helpless victims, distributed food to victims of both
communities, and done honour to humane ideals.
But the central and the Gujarat government have proven their incompetence
beyond doubt.
The Prime Minister himself is paying heed to the demands of the Sangh
parivar. Does everything have to wait till the Supreme Court passes
it's verdict?Like many of my peace-loving countrymen, I believe:Silence
only proves our complicity.Those accused of the inhuman killing of the
kar sevaks in Godhra need to be givenexemplary punishment.The same applies
for those responsible for communal riots and carnage in Gujarat.
The central and the state
governments have largely remained passive. I have already appealed to
the President to intervene. I want to tell the union government that
there's only one way they can control the shameful situation. Ban all
religious institutions which are aggressive, violent, war-like and blood-thirsty.
We, the majority of Indians,
do not want a bloodbath in the name of religion. Please ban all such
institutions. We have brought enough insult to the name Bharatvarsha
by allowing such fundamentalist religious institutions to prosper and
turn violent. We Indians do not want such aggressive, malevolent institutions
in the name of religion. Say 'No', say 'Ban them
now'.
(In context of the communal riots and carnage in Gujarat Mahasweta Devi
wrote this letterwhich has been published in newspapers of
all languages in India.)