From Tryst to Tendulkar: The History of Independent India

by Balaji Viswanathan

  Between October 30 and November 2nd, a whole group of karsevaks (volunteers) and sadhus (religious men) gathered on the controversial site. The state government of Uttar Pradesh under Mulayam Singh panicked and police shot dead as many as 100 people in the ensuing riots. There was a national wide press coverage and this action that got him the title of "Mullah Mulayam" which he later regretted.

  The events led to the irrevocable split between the VP Singh government and BJP. With nowhere to go, VP Singh resigned a week later on November 10. A lame duck government under the Janata leader Chandrasekar was propped up by Congress until the elections could elect a new government in 1991.

  Events Leading to the Demotion of the Mosque

  The BJP got further momentum and swept through the Uttar Pradesh (UP) elections, winning 221 of the 425 seats. BJP hardliner, Kalyan Singh, became the Chief Minister and he took a more kinder view of the karsevaks. He acquired 2.77 acres of the land around the Mosque and gave it on lease to the Ramjanmabhoomi trust.

  In May 1991, a new Congress government was elected in the center and this time the BJP was even stronger winning 120 seats (a 35-seat improvement from 1989). The Prime Minister had a slender majority and he could not afford to piss off any segment. He was also distracted by the economic crisis [covered in a later chapter] and spent little energy on defusing the growing tension in Uttar Pradesh.

  Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister, Kalyan Singh, argued for turning over the land around the Mosque to the Ramjanmabhoomi trust. He also refused to take action on the pouring karsevaks into the state. Hindus and Muslims held various rounds of talks throughout the year, mediated by the Home Minister.

  December 6, 1992 was set as the day for the volunteer action.

  Babri Demolition

  The volunteers/karsevaks had started grouping around the mosque since morning. However, the state government refused to use excessive force on the karsevaks. Soon one karsevak escaped the police rope and put up a saffron flag atop the mosque. Taking the signal, the mobs quickly got on to the mosque and started chipping away the decrepit structure. Slowly the mosque started coming down. At 2pm, the first of the domes collapsed and shortly after the rest of the mosque was down.

  There was a huge national shock following the demolition. Muslims lamented the loss of their mosque. Some local Hindus were angry that the structure they considered as a temple was destroyed. Many secular Hindus were stunned about where the nation was heading to.

  Aftermath

  Riots immediately sparked all over the nation. Muslim mobs in Mumbai hit the streets within hours of the demolition. Buses were torched and shops were burnt down. Hindu mobs hit back and a vicious cycle of violence crept all over the city. The next 40 days were the worst in the history of this cosmopolitan city until that time.

  By the time it was suppressed, over 575 Muslims and 275 Hindus - mostly innocent bystanders on both sides - were slain. When people thought things came back to normal, on March 12, 1993, the Mumbai underworld headed by Dawood Ibrahim hit the city with the most coordinated bomb terror attacks. To avenge the Muslim deaths, the targets was primarily Hindu-dominated areas. Over 350 people were dead in the bloodiest day of Mumbai history.

  Other cities like Surat, Kanpur, Bangalore, Jaipur, Delhi, Bhopal, and Calcutta were also equally hit. Both communities were in fear as the extremists in both sides were quite adept in the art of terror.

  The fear that followed the attacks pushed many more Hindus towards the BJP and in 1996 BJP emerged as the single largest party in the parliamentary elections.

  2002 Gujarat Riots

  For a few years following the dark periods of 1992-94, it appeared that things were heading back to normal. However, in February 27, 2002, the ghosts of Ayodhya would be brought back. A group of karsevaks were traveling from Ayodhya by Sabarmati express heading to Ahmedabad.

  As the train waited in the railway station of Godhra in eastern Gujarat, a group of miscreants allegedly threw petrol inside the train and set fire to one of the coaches - S6. The train quickly caught fire and led to the death of 59 people, including 29 women and 15 children. On February 11, 2011, the trial court finally delivered its judgement deciding that it was a conspiracy and sentenced 31 people.

  The news of the riots (magnified with multiple exaggerations) spread all over Gujarat, in no time. Religious leaders spread the frenzy and age old fears were brought up. The specter of partition (Gujarat as a border state suffered in the process) was brought to the front by leaders.

  Within 24 hours, the riots spread to the state capital of Ahmedabad and other major cities in the state. Within three days, the communal riots killed over 790 Muslims and 250 Hindus. The state government stood still as some of the government functionaries allegedly were part of the arson. Although the situation was brought to control in two days, fingers were pointed at the Chief Minister, Narendra Modi.

  Like in most riots in India, this is a disaster that could have been controlled better with a stronger determination. Many lives were lost needlessly. However, the Supreme Court-appointed Special Investigation Team (SIT) ruled out any criminal intention on the part of Mr. Modi.

  In September 2010, the High Court gave a controversial decision to divide contentious land in Ayodhya into three parts - one each for Hindus, Muslims, and Nirmohi Akhara [a sect of Hindus]. All the parties opposed the settlement and the Supreme Court is still handling the case [as of 2014].

  One of the most goriest chapters of Indian history seems to have ended for now. However, old wounds could open any time.

  Hindu - Sikh Troubles

  The second episode in this sad chapter of ancient troubles happened in the prosperous northern plains of Punjab.

  In 1995, my parents took to me to Punjab and Kashmir. We spent time visiting religious places as well as the border. I remember my dad giving a huge sigh of relief about the end of violence in that state. The 1980s were one of the brutal periods for the Sikhs, easily the worst since the violence of partition in 1947.

  I wondered how this peaceful and entrepreneurial land became trapped in the cycle of violence. To get there we need to see the controversial episode of Bluestar.

  Operation Bluestar was an Indian Army operation to flush out rebels/terrorists/freedom fighters from the Sikhism's holiest shrine in Amritsar. The June 1984 operation was among the most controversial events in modern Indian history.

  1. Khalistan Movement

  Like in many states in India, there were a group of extremists in Punjab who demanded a separate nation of Khalistan for the Sikhs. Given the lack of support among the majority, the idea was dormant until the late 1970s. During the 1950s and ‘60s, the government at the center completely reorganized India on linguistic lines to help release some pressure and curtail demands of independence.

  In 1966, a separate state for the Sikhs was formed (although close to half of the population are non-Sikhs). Since then, the Congressional party has been losing ground to the Sikh nationalist party of Akali Dal.

  2. Indian Emergency (1975-77)

  In 1975, India's Prime Minister Indira Gandhi declared a national emergency, severely curtailing democracy. In 1977, there was a massive wave against Indira Gandhi and her Congressional party. She was overthrown from most of India. In Punjab, her staunch enemies - Akali Dal - formed an alliance with the rebel Janata Dal to be a part of the ruling coalition in Delhi.

  Congress was furious and plotted a way to get back. In Punjab, Sanjay Gandhi (Indira's son) and Zail Singh (later the Indian President) went shopping for a Sikh religious leader who would undermine the religious authority of the Akali Dal. They found a disturbed and irrelevant religious leader, who would prove to be a curse on India.

  3. Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale

  Bhindranwale was a Sikh religious leader who advocated more orthodox rules. He was discovered by Sanjay Gandhi and Zail Singh and was brought to the center of the attention. In 1977, he was elected to the leadership of a prestigious Sikh religious school with the blessing o
f Congress.

  4. Trouble with Nirankaris and Hindus

  In the late 1970s, a series of clashes erupted among Sikhs, Nirankaris (a reformist sect of Sikhs), and Hindus. In 1978, a group of Sikh youth were killed. Justice was not meted out to them and the violators were transferred to the courts in the neighboring Hindu state of Haryana (where allegedly caste rules the most).

  The injustice rallied the Sikhs behind Bhindranwale. Call for retribution and revenge spread. The head of Nirankaris and Punjab's police DIG were both murdered. Bhindranwale started proving to be a Frankenstein.

  5. Accumulation of Arms

  In the period from 1978 to 1983, Bhindranwale created a strong armed militia within the compounds of the Golden temple. Being a sacred religious site, the Indian army and police could not interfere much. Machine guns, rocket launchers, and deadly weapons were accumulated under the militant leader.

  Also, Bhindranwale himself had direct communication channels with Indira Gandhi, leading the police and army to be very afraid of dealing with him.

  Even when the Indian soldiers were killed, the Indian army was very careful to pick up the bodies.

  Time Magazine reported on Nov 7, 1983:

  These days it more closely resembles a city of death. Inside the temple compound, fierce Sikh warriors wield submachine guns, guarding against encroachment by government security forces. Outside, the security men keep a nervous vigil, all too aware that the bodies of murdered comrades often turn up in the warren.

  6. Operation Bluestar

  By 1984, the proverbial shit had hit the fan. Things went out of control in Punjab as Bhindranwale locked himself up in the sacred site while the Akalis went on a rampage outside. Riots and strikes had brought one of the richest Indian states down on its knees.

  India’s “friendly” neighbor, Pakistan, started getting more involved and fomenting more trouble. The rebels even put out their own currency. There was a scary prospect of Punjab getting ripped from India.

  Indira Gandhi is known for her often bold and reckless actions. She would make her final major decision. Bhindranwale and his followers would be smoked out of the temple - dead or alive.

  The date of the action was chosen as June 3, 1984. Unfortunately, it happened to be a holy day for the Sikhs (martyrdom day of one of their 10 gurus). The day brought thousands of innocent pilgrims to the site. The army believed that the pilgrims would be used as human shields by the terrorists.

  The militants were made of ex-army men and thus were well trained. They were led by the disgraced ex-Major General Shabeg Singh. Thus, the opponents were no ordinary men.

  The army started to ask for a surrender through a public address system. The militants refused to give up. Without a response from the militants, the army entered the holy shrine with tanks and guns. In the next 24 hours, a brutal gun fight ensued.

  Bhindranwale's followers were armed to the teeth and were on a suicide mission. This increased the casualties and in all close to a 1,000 persons died - more than 136 were Indian army men. The leader, the disgraced Major general and the whole team were killed. A complete media blackout encircled the state of Punjab with curfews imposed.

  7. Aftermath

  The Bluestar is controversial for its human rights violations. According to Brahma Chellaney - the only reporter for a foreign magazine in Amritsar that time, there were dozens of Sikh militants who were tied behind their backs before being shot. In the years following the operation, many more thousands would perish in cities and the rural heartland.

  During the operation, a number of Sikh literature was destroyed and the temple itself bore the brunt of armed attacks. Later, the Indian government would repair the temple to its pre-1984 state.

  Innocent boys were allegedly rounded up all over the state with the ostensible reason of attacking terrorism. As a revenge, Prime Minister Indira Gandhi was assassinated four months later. One of the Generals who was in Bluestar - General Arun Shridhar Vaidya was assassinated in 1986, further hardening India's stance towards Khalistan supporters.

  Just like in the case of Hindu-Muslim violence, there was a vicious cycle if of Hindu-Sikh violence that engulfed the region in the 1980s. Few thousand Sikhs were mercilessly slaughtered in pogroms in October-November 1984. In December 1991, Sikh terrorists massacred a few hundred Hindus in Ludhiana by bombing three trains.

  Let's switch to India's third biggest trouble.

  * * *

  3. Trouble in Kashmir

  Until the late 1980s, the vale of Kashmir was among the most romantic places on earth, sought after by rich tourists from all over India and elsewhere. The state has a glorious tradition of living in harmony with multiple religions. However, in the late 1980s everything changed.

  Tens of thousands have perished in terrorism sponsored by Pakistan. Since January 1990, hundreds of thousands of Hindu Pandits have exited as refugees from the state have fled the state of Kashmir. The once overflowing pipe of tourists have slowed down to a trickle, bringing severe poverty and unemployment.

  Horror of 1987

  If there was a single worst year in the history of Independent India, there would be a big fight between 1984 (worst pogrom in modern Indian history) and 1987 (epic failures by the policy that disturbed the nation), both during the time of Rajiv Gandhi. Rajiv is often understated, but he would easily take the cake for the title of worst Prime Minister of India.

  In the same year he sent the Indian Army to its worst shame in Sri Lanka (Indian Peace Keeping Force would be covered later) and got embroiled in the Bofors scam (one of the most popular scams in modern India), he aligned with the National Conference in Jammu & Kashmir and allegedly rigged the assembly elections. That act changed the future of the state.

  After the takeover of the state in 1948, it didn't give too much worry for India, compared to a few other states. Although the insurgency problem was always there, things looked in control until the March of 1987.

  In that month, fresh elections were held and the elections brought a lot of youth in the process. Many insurgent groups participated in the elections too under the Muslim United Front. The elections of 1977 were quite popular and an even better turnout was expected.

  However, the crowds were disappointed by the final result. Congress and the National Conference were accused of massive rigging and they won the elections by a landslide. The insurgents who almost gave up the arms and the youth who believed in the electoral process felt betrayed.

  In the meanwhile, Pakistan's Inter Services Intelligence (ISI) had a change of strategy and felt that they had a opening in the state. It helped foment the trouble and create violent Mujahideen groups.

  One of the key first attacks was the kidnapping of Union Home Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed’s daughter. The government quickly caved in and gave up the militants in jail [the incidents inspired the award winning movie - Roja (1993)]. Partly as a result of the release, violence spiked in the following year.

  Exactly 10 years later, militants would hijack an Indian Airline flight from Kathmandu and take it to Afghanistan. Plenty of dangerous terrorists were exchanged for the passengers, and that again spiked the violence in the following two years.

  In 1995, foreign tourists were targeted and that pushed out tourism from the heavenly state. Between 1997 and 2000 five massive episodes of violence targeted the Kashmiri Pandits and Sikhs - in Sangrampora (1997), Wandhama, Prankote, Champanari (1998), Amarnath & Chittisingpura (2000), Raghunath temple, Jammu (2002), Nandimarg (2003) and Doda (2006). Many local attacks have also started due to Hindu-Muslim clashes elsewhere.

  The spate of continued attacks on the Pandits has pushed out as many as 700,000 people from the state. The humanitarian crisis among the Hindu Pandits has also hardened the Hindu stand on both the state and on fighting the insurgents. Thus, the state suffers from various controversial laws that the Army argues as necessary to maintain the order in the state and protect the minorities, while the political parties criticized the alleged excesses o
f military power.

  I'm glad that I'm finally able to end the saddest chapter of this book. For decades, Hindus, Muslims, and other communities have killed each other in spate of huge riots. It is time the state puts much more emphasis on riot management and disaster control to quickly manage such crisis of the future.

  * * *

  Chapter 5: Fighting for Water in Troubled Land

  December 1991

  Kilvelur, Tamil Nadu Things were tense around there as the whole region was gathered in a massive human chain protest. People stood holding each others arms in a chain that extended hundreds of kilometers long. They were protesting against the neighboring government of Karnataka to implement a tribunal recommendation.

  My parents and I were living in the river Kaveri delta region in southern India. It is among the most fertile lands in the country and supported the Chola civilization that built extraordinary works of art. Having been raised in various towns along the Kaveri river, I grew a special affection for the river. It was a central part of the culture in every way and epics were written with the river as the center.

  For both the states of Karnataka, from where the river originates, and Tamilnadu, where it runs for the most part, the river is critical. Until 1910, there was no major dispute between the two regions. However, in 1910 a major dam was planned by Sir. M.Visvesvaraya of the Mysore province. He planned to turn the village of Kannambadi into an engineering marvel - the Krishna Raja Sagar dam. In 1924, the Presidency of Madras and the state of Mysore agreed to an arrangement that was to last 50 years.