10th Anniversary Issue
August - September 2003 

Year 10    No.90-91
POLITY


 


‘A synonym for anti-communalism’

KN Panikkar

Communalism Combat started its life in the wake of the Ayodhya movement when communalism was making serious inroads into the social consciousness, both among Muslims and Hindus. The mass media was then slowly succumbing to the pull of communal discourse and, as a result, secular space in the media was steadily shrinking. Several well-known media personalities were hesitant to take a stand, if anything, many of them had started recognising the cultural logic of communalism. During the Ayodhya movement, much of the mainstream media, either directly or indirectly, helped to further communal discourse.

Combat appeared at that time, driven by the idealism and commitment of two young journalists who left their positions in the mainstream media to enter the challenging and dangerous path of fighting communal forces. And, as the saying goes, they took the bull by its horns. Their passionate involvement with the cause had even then convinced me that their endeavour would develop into a successful intervention. A historian is a poor judge of the future. But in this case my hunch has been proved right.

During the last ten years, Combat has been at the forefront of the struggle against communalism, be it of the majority or the minority. As a result, Communalism Combat has now become a synonym for anti-communalism.

During the last 10 years, communalism has constantly changed its strategies and tactics. It has adopted new modes of mobilisation, by invoking new symbols and incorporating new social groups into its field of influence. Governmental authority has been used to control educational and cultural institutions and to set up new organisations to further communal influence. Innumerable programmes have been pursued to deepen the religious divide in society and, wherever possible, this division has been used to promote communal conflict.

The activities of communal organisations have penetrated to the masses, increasing thereby the reach and influence of communalism. Both the print and the visual media have been successfully used in this effort. Examples of the mainstream media succumbing to communal pressure are far too many. In almost every media establishment, including those in which the editorial policy is decidedly secular, there is substantial communal presence today. A regional newspaper, which claims the legacy of the national movement, publishes articles by communal ideologues twice a week. This is an indication of the influence communalism has gained in the mainstream media.

Secular cultural activities to counter communalism have been of a limited nature. They have been mainly confined to a limited circle of middle class intellectuals and have not been able to reach out to the vast mass of people who are being constantly drawn into the communal argument by the continuous activities of communal cultural organisations. Their field of activities is mainly the urban centres, which provide a relatively protected secular space in which to operate.

Very few venture out for organisational or mobilisational work. In fact, an anti-communal cultural activist recently advised against undertaking anti-communal activities outside the safe circle of metropolitan towns. The secular forces do not dare; they do not confront; they only protest. The best example of this secular failure was the demolition of the Babri Masjid.

The modes of secular intervention have remained unchanged for a very long time. Many have not been able to go beyond press conferences, public statements and, if pushed to the limit, a protest demonstration. They have not been able to match the communalists in inventing creative strategies to reach out to the people. Worse still is the grip of sectarianism among them. Many seem to be more concerned with preserving the domain of their activities rather than advancing the cause through innovative methods.

In contrast, Communalism Combat has been pro-active. More importantly, it has dared and seized the initiative on many occasions. Its interventions in the wake of the Bombay riots and the more recent Gujarat massacre are good examples of this. Many an atrocity perpetrated against the minorities and women would not have been brought to light but for the courage of Combat. Thanks to the relentless efforts of the editors of Combat, the Srikrishna Commission Report and a comprehensive fact sheet on the Gujarat genocide are accessible to the people.

These are commendable efforts, as democracy can not survive when people are ignorant of the oppression of fellow citizens. In all these activities, Combat has consciously tried to create a broad secular front.

Indian society is going through a dangerous phase in which communalism threatens to undo the liberal, democratic, secular character of the Republic. However, as in any historical situation, there are several possibilities. Whether our society will be ruled by fundamentalism and obscurantism or a liberal, democratic ethos will win the day shall be decided by the nature of human interventions. Anti-communal and secular organisations, therefore, face a greater challenge today.

Because communalism is on the ascendant, social and cultural institutions are passing under its sway and public discourse is assuming its complexion. The future of the country will depend upon whether secular forces can respond creatively to it and constantly expand the secular space through innovative undertakings.

(KN Panikkar is vice-chancellor, Sree Sankaracharya University of Sanskrit, Kalady, Ernakulam, Kerala).


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