‘Don’t want to live through the trauma of another riot’

For those who have seen the 1992-93 riots in Mumbai at close quarters, it has been a terrifying last few days as the Ayodhya verdict threatens to put the city’s religious tolerance to test.

Determined not to let Mumbai plumb the depths of communal frenzy once again, those in neighbourhoods worst affected by the riots have been communicating the message of peace.

“We’ve seen the worst kind of bloodshed and don’t want to live through it again,” said Ibhrahim Tai, president of the Muslim Council Trust which held a peace rally at Pydhonie on Monday.
In other parts of the city, local elders assumed the role of arbitrators over paan-shop discussions with residents. “The idea is to diffuse anger against the government and other communities,” said Nagpada resident Yusuf Merchant.

They have also been discouraging the circulation of inflammatory SMSes or pamphlets. “The idea is to kill the rumours before they kill someone,” said Farid Shaikh, president of the Mumbai Aman Committee. He insisted that a long chat with the aggrieved party is mostly enough to diffuse communal tension.

A few religious heads gave sermons on the need for peace. “No religion teaches violence. The need of the hour is to build bridges between communities instead of worrying about temples or mosques,” said Rafique Siddiqui, an imam at a mosque in Dongri.

Students’ groups, too, have taken it upon themselves to ensure peace. Linking the birth anniversary of Shahid Bhagat Singh celebrated on Monday and the impending verdict, the Students’ Federation of India (SFI) has started a campaign on harmony in city colleges like Ruia and Siddhartha, the University Campus and some schools in Chembur.

“Bhagat Singh is one of the most secular and revolutionary figures in India’s freedom struggle. Hence, we decided to highlight him,” said Avinash Salvi, secretary, SFI, Mumbai.