Bomb Blasts in Varanasi

On March 7, 2006, a week before the festival of Holi could be celebrated in the city of Varanasi, twin bomb blasts rocked the mystical city on the banks of the Ganges and sent resounding shock waves
throughout the country. Two persons were killed when a bomb exploded at the Varanasi Cantonment railway station. Another bomb, which killed 21 worshippers, was planted within the precincts of the Sankat Mochan temple, a temple devoted to Lord Hanuman and to whom the devout offer special prayers on Tuesdays and Saturdays.

The vicious act of violence was aimed beyond the lives that it took. It was carefully planned to provoke the devotees and the devout, rationalists and others alike. Located on the banks of the holy Ganges, Varanasi, ancient Kashi, is a pilgrimage centre for the devout and central to Hindu scriptures and religiosity, Hindustani music and poetry. Deep grief and legitimate outrage could have been used as a potent mix and brewed to spiral retaliation. Unfortunately, this has happened many a time before.

Instead, drawing deep from the spirituality and mysticism that has woven itself around Kashi, devotees responded by continuing their darshan before Lord Hanuman within 40 minutes of the tragedy. The special ablutions for the lord and weekly kirtan and arti resumed close to the spot where blood had been spilt hours earlier, cleansing the rage and offering solace in grief.

Temple mahant, 68-year-old Dr Veer Bhadra Mishra, a hydraulic engineer and former faculty at the Banaras Hindu University, led the way, refusing to let this blow tarnish the temple’s tradition of inclusiveness and tolerance. It was not as if the barterers of hate had not played their hand. They had tried. To enter and use the temple precincts, not in Hinduism’s cause but for their narrow personal gains. To revive their flagging political careers via a potent dose of vitriol and never mind that some more blood was spilt. The Katiyars, the Advanis, the Joshis and their new avatars, all tried.

Quietly, but firmly, they were asked to stay out and leave Kashi alone. By the next morning, residents of the city – Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs and Christians – demonstrated peaceful outrage against the acts of terror. Burkha-clad women, Muslim traders and Muslim clergy were not only visible in their protest and grief but could also be seen offering prayers at the temple.

Within hours the tide had turned. To those of us who hail from more jaded parts of the country it may have seemed like magic, divine intervention, perhaps. But, drawing on centuries of a lived syncretic culture and the deep ties that bind ordinary residents in this sacred town, it was the quiet and determined efforts to nullify forces of retaliatory violence that won the day. Following the spiritual lead of the mahant and his devotees, men and women, traders and clergy, poets and musicians, youth, academics, social workers, all strove silently to replace fear, suspicion and rumour-mongering with genuine communication. Anger at governmental and administrative failure resulted in a peaceful closure of business the next day, with Muslim brethren leading the way. For weeks, positive stories of peaceful restraint, shared sorrow and dignified protest filled the news.

                                     
Dr Veer Bhadra Mishra, mahant of the Sankat Mochan temple, pays tribute to Varanasi, with
its unique blend of Ganga-Jamuna sanskriti or tehzeeb (culture), and to the people of different faiths who responded with peace and dignity to an act of hatred and violence. An exclusive interview with Teesta Setalvad.

Namaskar. What was your immediate response when the twin bombs burst?
On that Tuesday, we were at Tulsi ghat, near the home of Sant Tulsidas, where the mahant of the temple resides. It was at around 6.15 p.m. that we heard news of the blasts; it was a huge shock, unbelievable. We had no experience in dealing with something like this. Immediately, rumours were spread that the blasts had taken place at the Kashi Vishwanath temple. After rushing to the spot we saw panic and confusion.

During auspicious months, weddings are solemnised within the temple precincts and on that day, Tuesday, dedicated to Lord Hanuman, 13/14 marriages were being solemnised at the temple when the bomb blasts went off.

First there was talk that a gas cylinder was responsible. About 1-2,000 persons had gathered; there was screaming, shouting and panic, anger with the police and administration. Those victims who had died and others who were seriously injured were being rushed to hospital. People were running, screaming, there was blood on the spot, near the tree inside the temple.

My first response was to calm people down. The inspector of the nearby Lanka police chowky had contributed to the panic by asking the devout to flee from the temple. In this panic and confusion anything could have happened. And if something did happen, it would have led to the inevitable chain reaction.

Magar Hanumanji ki kripa se – Hum log kehte hai, hum log kya hai, hum to nimmit matra hai, hamare paas koi aisi shakti nahin (But by the grace of Lord Hanuman, we knew what to do – We believe that we are nothing, the force comes from above). Fortunately, I found the will and strength to simply reiterate one message. Television channels had started showing the news and the moment they arrived at the temple, the one thing we said was, "Shanti kisi bhi haal mein banaye rakhna hai (Peace must be maintained at all costs)". It was a tragic moment, a grave moment. In the temple’s 400 year history, never had such a tragedy occurred. For the first time we had to stop worship at the temple, the worship of Lord Hanuman. But still, we who believe that there are forces greater than us found that we had given out the right message – peace and restraint at any cost. There were 1-2,000 persons there; if the wrong message was spread, if the gate had been broken, anger and violence could have spread within minutes.

As mahant of this temple, you and your colleagues played a historic role…
The devotees who were present, who had witnessed this tragedy, had begun to feel dejected and defeated. After the ritual evening bath at the temple that evening, around 9.45-10 p.m., I decided that the arti, an evening ritual to the lord, must resume. All the evening rituals for the lord must resume. That was a critical decision, a good decision. The inspector of the Lanka chowky was also silenced by this act, by things returning to normalcy.

Normally on Tuesday, the arti begins at about 8.30 p.m. Having the Tuesday arti only about 40 minutes late, this one action diffused the atmosphere of fear, anger and dejection. After the arti, special ablutions are performed for the lord with the curtains drawn. Then the devout get a glimpse of Lord Hanuman. After this ritual we have a kirtan that ends with another smaller arti.

That Tuesday night, after we had made sure that all normal rituals had been completed, all of us were still reluctant to leave the temple premises and unsure of what we should do. We made it clear to the local police inspector that temple rituals would begin at 4.30 a.m. as usual. This would also help all of Varanasi to return to normal.

What was the next step, then?
Around this time, we received intimation of the visit of the union home minister, Shivraj Patil and Smt Gandhi. The temple follows a strict routine so it was closed by the time they arrived. This timely visit had a much needed salutary effect. When none from the local administration had bothered, their coming provided solace. They visited the spot and offered darshan to Hanumanji. I was deeply moved by their visit. Both Smt Gandhi and Shri Patil offered us their support and sympathy.

What was the atmosphere in the temple town from the next day?
My hair stands on end when I recall the fright and terror of that night... The next day’s hartal (protest) was spontaneous, everyone led it. Who made sure Madanpura was closed? Our Muslim brothers and sisters… Such a unified protest has never ever taken place. It was a moment of tragedy for all of Varanasi, Hindu and Muslim. There was pain and mourning all around. For the next few days there was a stream of visitors to my abode at Tulsi ghat. Any outsider could have mistaken Tulsi ghat for a Muslim neighbourhood, there were so many Muslim visitors. This gave us strength and peace. The beautiful and the unexpected could happen.

Did political leaders then try to capitalise on the situation?
Oh yes, from the very next day there was a long line of politicians visiting us. The first was Shri Vinay Katiyar. We believed his motives were suspect. That is why I told him that we are not in favour of your dharna in the temple or its environs; we are not in favour of any procession by you. The worst has happened, now we should work constructively for peace. Thereafter Dr Murli Manohar Joshi, Rajnath Singh, Advaniji (senior leaders of the Bharatiya Janata Party) all came. To all of them we said the same thing: peace should be the only message.

How much love the people of Benaras and India, Muslims and Hindus, have for this temple, for Hanumanji’s darbar! It was this deep and abiding love for Benaras and the temple that overflowed in Muslim hearts as well, in all hearts alike. Hence no one could take unfair advantage of this tragedy though many tried.

The sorrow and restraint shown by all those who have faith in Benaras, the worshippers, deserves the highest praise. People of all faiths feel for Kashi and it was this overflowing affection for the temple, among Hindus, Muslims and others, that flowed from this tragedy. That our reactions were appreciated by people from all over India, from so many quarters, President Abdul Kalam included, also acted like a positive force in this moment of grief.

How much is the centuries old tradition of intermingling of faiths and cultures, the Ganga-Jamuna tehzeeb, responsible for the people’s response?
People in Kashi live together, breathe together, love the holy Ganges together. For centuries this has meant shared devotion, music, poetry. Benaras has given the world Krishna Maharaj and Bismillah Khan. It is the people of Benaras who must be given the real credit for the peace we see today. Bhagwan ne jo yahan diversity banayi hai (And this diversity the Lord has created here)… We, who are also men of science and technology, we know well that if the world were to be homogenised it would grind to a stop. Diversity is a necessity, created so we can complement one another.

This land has been described as a beautiful garden, with flowers and trees of different kinds…
Yes, the rich diversity of our part of the world has rich flavours, smells and tastes. It has seeped into people’s lives and consciousness. It is an experience from within… I am a rationally trained mind with a committed heart. I believe that both as mahant of the Sankat Mochan temple and as hydraulic engineer, the lord has gifted me with two critical parallel faculties, physical and metaphysical. There is a necessary interface between the two, a committed heart and a rationally trained mind. Today men of science have gradually begun to accept that there is a world beyond the mere physical, the here and now, where physical ends and metaphysical begins.

Both faculties are gifts from the creator, allowing us to live in peace, in happiness. There are moments or situations when rational thinking must stop and we must be governed by the heart, by commitment, by love. At other times the moment demands that love must stop and rational faculty must prevail. These are two vital domains of living.

Do you think it is necessary for a religious head to have rational training, as you do?
I have been saying for over 25 years that the fish in the Ganga are dying, soon we human beings living on its banks will follow if we fail to save the river. For over two decades I have been working on the issue of purification of fresh water bodies with Ganga as the symbol. Fresh Water Bodies Pollution is a serious issue. The Ganga catchment area provides sustenance to 40 crore people. Domestic sewage and industrial pollution contributes to 95 per cent of the pollution and this can be stopped. This is an issue on which we all need to join hands with timely and principled action.

As religious head, you have played a significant and unique role in sending out a message of restraint and peace at a moment of deep grief and conflict. What is your message for others in similar positions?
Just this: that if ever, at any time, we are faced with tragedy, our reactions must be calm, carrying messages of peace. For any of us, Hindu, Muslim, Christian, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain – if we believe in the true tenets of our respective faiths – we simply have to have love, respect and affection for each other. Our faiths must not be misused for wrongful purposes. In our society, places of worship are being used for wrongdoing, to inflame passions, hatreds. This is wrong and must be stopped. If people were to themselves experience what happened in Benaras, many might recognise that this is the only way. For me, the words of Ramcharitmanas tell me that Sita and Ram are everywhere; if I believe that is so, I must love all. This sentiment pervades all faiths. Places of worship must not be used to gain political profit.