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20 years of communal harmony in a week

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Children dressed up in different religious garb kept a display of various faiths outside CWC school in Versova, where 20 years of the Mohalla Committee Movement Trust celebrations were kick-started on Monday.

More than 2,000 people witnessed the inauguration, including Mumbai Police commissioner Rakesh Maria, as the police have collaborated with the trust for the event.

Formed by locals in 1994 after the riots in Mumbai, the trust tried to bridge the gap between communities as well as between the police force by setting up committees in sensitive areas of the city. The trust today organises various community events, especially during festivals, to promote peace and religious tolerance.

"Back then, we used to go to every sensitive locality and urge people to join us and ask for forgiveness. The real legwork was done by Sushobha Barve, we supported in whatever way we could. Today, we celebrate all festivals together in these areas, where committees have been set up, and women tie rakhis to all their fellow community members and even the policemen. We have been successful in diffusing tension in many of these areas," said 85-year-old chairman of the trust JF Rebeiro, IPS.

This is the third communal harmony week organised by the trust after 2011. "We earlier had peace committees right after the riots to establish better police and public relationship and get all communities together. We keep devising interactions between the youth and women through public meetings," said Ajay Kaul, the principal of the school, who too has been a facilitator of the trust since its inception.

Former police commissioner Satish Sahni, who was also actively involved with the trust, said there has been no problem in the city since 1993. "Everyday should be harmonious, not just a week. We need to be sensitive to other people and make adjustments. I know how alienated and apprehensive people were after the riots, we had lost their trust. We still don't have the desired relationship with them, but it's better now," he said.

The event began with a geet-ghazal performance, but the audience had to wait for two hours before the chief guest arrived. "Our children study in this school and, hence, we were invited. But they couldn't attend due to their exams. It should have been kept during vacation as the youth needs to listen to this and take things forward," said Millat Nagar resident Mohammad Asif Shaikh.

The event ends on November 23 with a symposium on communal harmony at Satyabhama hall in Govandi.

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