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VOICES –ECHOED, FILTERED, AMPLIFIED, DISTORTED: 

VOICES –ECHOED, FILTERED, AMPLIFIED, DISTORTED Gujarati Diaspora and Gujarati Media: Exchanges in Context of Gujarat Riots 2002.

VOICES –ECHOED, FILTERED, AMPLIFIED, DISTORTED: 

VOICES –ECHOED, FILTERED, AMPLIFIED, DISTORTED We all would sit in a circle and begin with whispering a sentence in neighbour’s ear. The fun would be when first and last players spoke aloud the sentence. The original and final sentences would never match. Share a secret- A childhood game. Law and order have two enemies: the Full Truth and the Complete Lie. When people realise the truth, they start revolutions. When they are fed lies they begin meaningless riots. Lies are the staple of every communal disturbance. They are spread by people who have a stake in this violence, who have something to gain out of impoverished Hindus and Muslims fighting each other. M J Akbar, Riot after Riot.

VOICES –ECHOED, FILTERED, AMPLIFIED, DISTORTED: 

VOICES –ECHOED, FILTERED, AMPLIFIED, DISTORTED Diaspora’s Voice The Connection-Indian Gujarati Media and British Diaspora Review of Gujarati Journalism’s History-Tracing the Hardliner’s Voice

VOICES –ECHOED, FILTERED, AMPLIFIED, DISTORTED: 

VOICES –ECHOED, FILTERED, AMPLIFIED, DISTORTED Gujarat Riots 2002. 59 Hindus, all from Gujarat returning on train-Sabarmati Express from Ayodhya, believed to be birth place of Lord Rama in North India were burnt to death at Godhra railway station, a Gujarat town following skirmishes between Muslim railway platform vendors and Hindu faithful on February 27,2002. What followed was worst - in retaliation for at least three months Muslims across the state, were killed raped, property destroyed by marauding mobs, supported by state BJP government, police and a silent consenting society.

VOICES –ECHOED, FILTERED, AMPLIFIED, DISTORTED: 

VOICES –ECHOED, FILTERED, AMPLIFIED, DISTORTED Provocative and Partisan Reporting of Indian Gujarati Press. Support to right wing by Indian Hindu Diaspora

Diaspora’s Voice: 

Diaspora’s Voice “Is it a plan to sell us all out? Only Modi remains man enough not giving in to appeasing them.’’ believes Manubhai, a British resident since last 20 years. Us is the Hindus, Them is the Muslims. His source of indignation were the statements made by L K Advani, leader of Bharatiya Janta Party(BJP)- who contrary to his hawkish image, in a recent tour to Pakistan praised M A Jinnah, the man believed to be responsible for India’s Partition. Keeping in touch: First generation- through newspapers and TV; new immigrants through websites of Gujarati newspapers and phone calls in India.

Diaspora’s Voice: 

Diaspora’s Voice C B Patel: Owner of Gujarat Samachar and Asian Voice- British Gujarati weeklies Supports BJP in India, but in Britain is pro Labour. “It is a community newspaper. It informs, entertains, involves and inspires readers, especially people of Indian origin, more so Gujarati Hindus.’’ Shamsuddin Agha: founder of Indian Muslim Federation (IMF), oldest Indian Muslim NGO in UK. IMF owes its existence to 1969 Ahmedabad Riots.

Diaspora’s Voice: 

Diaspora’s Voice Agha: “I have known C B (Patel) since long, but after Gujarat Riots when he played host to Modi, we stopped subscribing his paper. I have not spoken to him since last one year.’’ said Agha. ‘’They (Gujarat Samachar) always blow up negative news about Muslims.’’ “Sandesh is Sandaas(shit)’’ Shaheda Patel: ‘’When we were young, we visited each other and celebrated festivals together. But after problems started happening in India, gradually things have stopped. The younger generation does not interact as much.’’

Diaspora’s Voice: 

Diaspora’s Voice Patelspeak: ‘I believe what happened at Godhra and thereafter was equally bad. But I don’t buy the conspiracy theory about why and how Godhra happened. Whatever happened at the Godhra was the cause for the riots. I believe people were prevented from getting out of the train. “Hindus have imbibed secularism in their blood which is not the case with Muslims. A British Gujarati Hindu is a natural hard worker, ambitious, ready to go through the mill, essentially frugal, law-abiding and God fearing. A British Gujarati Muslim is similar but he is more religious’’ Aghaspeak: “Basically Gujaratis are not communal, Gujaratis are gullible. They have been brain washed and taken for a ride (by the VHP and right wing groups). They gave in money readily thinking it would be put for good religious purpose and charity in India. I know many Hindu friends here, who feel guilty and even regret doing that.’’ “Muslims here as a whole are not as media conscious, they don’t read here much and keep themselves to their families and mosques. But after Gujarati Riots 2002 there has been awakening, more so amongst younger generations which is more technology savvy.

9/11 argument: 

9/11 argument Justification for Muslim killings Muslims did not denounce Godhra deaths on first day. Muslims are prone to fanaticism, look at 9/11 Sense of insecurity, Pakistan neighbour, and then again 9/11 We need to stand up and assert ourselves, they need to be taught a lesson. Hindus cannot take a beating always.

9/11 Argument: 

9/11 Argument Tne Anti Muslim argument. The use of 9/11 argument in an unrelated context of Gujarat Riots remains one such case. : Begins in India Reaches overseas Positions further hardened international perspective added so more credible

THE CONNECTIONS-INDIAN GUJARATI MEDIA AND BRITISH DIASPORA. : 

THE CONNECTIONS-INDIAN GUJARATI MEDIA AND BRITISH DIASPORA. BRITISH GUJARATI MEDIA Designer biknis with offending images sold in Gujarat, Hindus furious-…Barely a month after they were taken off the shelves of London stores, designer underwear with motifs of Hindu gods have surfaced in India. Italian designer Roberto Cavalli’s latest collection featuring images resembling Lord Vishnu, Lord Ram and Lord Krishna are being sold on the streets of Godhra in Gujarat. – GG2. NET, 02.02.2004 Wrong Reasons, wrong decisions- The US administration’s decision to bar the honourable chief minister of Gujarat from visiting is though shocking not totally surprising. The world’s only superpower has offered some flimsy grounds for banning Mr Modi’s visit. Asian Voice, 26.03.2005

THE CONNECTIONS-INDIAN GUJARATI MEDIA AND BRITISH DIASPORA.: 

THE CONNECTIONS-INDIAN GUJARATI MEDIA AND BRITISH DIASPORA. INDIAN GUJARATI MEDIA The dead are not mere Ram Sevaks, they are the heirs of Rana Pratap, Guru Govind Singh. Sandesh, February 28, 2002. About 10 young girls were pulled out from the railway carriage by a group of religious fanatics. Sandesh, February 28, 2002. Hindus were burnt alive in Godhra and leaders of Bhavnagar did not even throw a stone in the name of Bandh. Sandesh-Bhavnagar edition, March 1, 2002. Hindus Beware: Haj Pilgrims Return with deadly plans to attack. Sandesh, March 6, 2002 Does Tandalja, situated on western outskirts of Baroda town belong to India or Pakistan? Must be decided. Gujarati Mitra, April 3, 2002.

THE CONNECTIONS-INDIAN GUJARATI MEDIA AND BRITISH DIASPORA.: 

THE CONNECTIONS-INDIAN GUJARATI MEDIA AND BRITISH DIASPORA. SURVEY FINDINGS Most of them access Gujarati media for news of Gujarat and India in particular. Most accessed websites of Indian Gujarati newspapers, very few preferred those of Indian English newspapers. 53.33 % believe British Gujarati newspapers are influenced heavily by Indian Gujarati newspapers. Most believe that Gujarati media-both British and Indian are balanced- only Muslims disagree. Muslims stopped subscribing Gujarat Samachar(UK) and accessing Sandesh website(India).

THE CONNECTIONS-INDIAN GUJARATI MEDIA AND BRITISH DIASPORA.: 

THE CONNECTIONS-INDIAN GUJARATI MEDIA AND BRITISH DIASPORA. SURVEY FINDINGS Websites and phone calls from relatives in India were the prime source of information about Gujarat Riots, followed from British and Indian media. 60% believe that Indian Gujarati newspapers reported Riots 2002 fairly. Muslims disagree and also some Gujarati Hindus. Most believe that it was wrong to deny Modi US visa. Muslims disagree, but categorically say they don’t like Bush government. 53.33% believe that NRIs have social and financial influence in Gujarat/India.

TRACING THE HARDLINER’S VOICE: 

TRACING THE HARDLINER’S VOICE Parsis the pioneers of Gujarati journalism. Pre Independence Gujarati Journalism- Litterateurs, Social Reformers but mostly upper middle caste. Gandhi’s influence Missing voices-Muslims, Dalits and Tribals. Gujarat Samachar and Sandesh- commercial takeovers. Ownership largely vested amongst the banias, Patels- i.e. upper castse with commercial bent of mind.

TRACING THE HARDLINER’S VOICE: 

TRACING THE HARDLINER’S VOICE After Independence: Pro Morarji Desai, anti –Indira Gandhi . Turbulent political history of Gujarat till eighties. 1969 Ahmedabad Riots: Anti Muslim coverage. An echo of 2002. Sandesh printing a special evening edition: women attacked. AIR reporting milk supply poisoned RSS meetings before the incidence, Muslims targetted specifically with the help of voters’ list.

TRACING THE HARDLINER’S VOICE: 

TRACING THE HARDLINER’S VOICE 1974- Navnirman Agitation: Caste Biases. Anti price rise and corruption agitation Farmers and traders’ against government controls. Students’ power with teachers and intellectuals to fore Political discontent. 1981-85:Anti Reservation stir: From Caste to communal conflict Anti Reservation- against Dalits. Political discontent. Against Dalits, against police, against Muslims, against Solanki Congress government. Anti Dalit riots turn into Anti Muslim riots

TRACING THE HARDLINER’S VOICE: 

TRACING THE HARDLINER’S VOICE Riots 2002: Culmination: Gujarati Media speak: “We are not anti-Muslims, just pro-Hindus.’’ Upper caste, elitist, commercial, conservative- and a political discomfort for Congress brand of secularism.

JUST NOT GUJARATI HINDU DIASPORA : 

JUST NOT GUJARATI HINDU DIASPORA Khalistanis… Kashmiris… Tamils… and the Gujarati( just not them exclusively, but Indian Hindu Diaspora) middle class, conservative, rootless in foreign land. India- their Mecca, their Jerusalem.

Thanks. : 

Thanks. Lord Bhikhu Parekh, Nirman Foundation Centre for the Study of Democracy, University of Westminster. The Indian Express C B Patel, Gujarat Samachar(UK). Shamshuddin Agha(Indian Muslim Federation).