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The strength of Indian institutions and growing involvment of NRIs of all faiths to make India a truly secular, democratic and pluralistic nation is a very encouraging trend. It augers well for peace, progress and security of India. The civil society in India and the NRIs in USA and Europe are showing increasing concern for the politically motivated sectarian violence and communal polarization in India. The are taking active role and doing the right thing to reduce mistrust and prejudice which contribute to communal discord.
Imtiazuddin
> >http://www.bayarea.com/mld/mercurynews/2003/10/04/news/local/6931694.htm > >Posted on Sat, Oct. 04, 2003 > >Indian groups to call for unity >STATEMENT TO SEEK SECULAR HOMELAND >By Matthai Chakko Kuruvila >Mercury News > >In a dramatic statement about the communal violence that has riven the >Indian subcontinent, Silicon Valley's most prominent Indo-American civic >institutions will release a joint statement today advocating a secular, >pluralistic definition of their native homeland. > >The unified stand is an unusual step for Silicon Valley Indo-Americans, who >often have been ideologically divided over the sectarian violence in India. > >``It really has been divisive,'' said Talat Hasan, a Muslim, who chairs the >India Community Center in Milpitas, which will host today's event. ``But >it's time to end that. . . . I would hope that this would really be a >uniting movement, rather than a divisive movement.'' > >Organizers hope the ``Promise of India'' event galvanizes Indo-Americans, as >well as the organizations they have created, while sending a message abroad. >By January, they plan to deliver the statement -- along with thousands of >signatures -- to the Indian government. > >The coalition, open to any religious or secular organizations, includes >charities, business networking groups and community organizations. By >signing the statement, the groups commit to seeking only business >partnerships or charitable work abroad that would help foster a secular, >pluralistic India. > >``This is sort of a culmination of a maturing process over the years,'' said >Kailash Joshi, a Hindu, who is vice chair of the global board of trustees >for Santa Clara-based TiE, The IndUS Entrepreneurs, a 10,000-member >organization that is arguably the most influential institution created by >Silicon Valley Indo-Americans. ``We have to come together here before that >can happen in India.'' > >In the past two years, tensions between Islamists and Hindu nationalists >have escalated into explosive violence. > >In Gujarat in April 2002, a Muslim mob set fire to a trainload of Hindu >activists, killing 58. Hindu mobs responded by killing more than 2,000 >Muslims and displacing tens of thousands. Human Rights Watch alleges that >the Hindu nationalist government colluded in the killings. This summer, >Muslims intent on revenge for the Gujarat massacre set off a series of bombs >in Mumbai, killing more than 50 and injuring more than 150, Mumbai police >said. > >Silicon Valley's Indo-Americans have responded to the violence with vigils, >fundraisers, talks, conferences and reports. But they have generally >coalesced into two camps: those who criticize the Hindu nationalists who >lead the coalition government in India, and Hindu nationalist supporters, >who criticize the rise of Islamists, particularly in Pakistan. > >But the ``Promise of India'' statement avoids explicit accusations about >either group. > >``We don't want to go into surgery of those incidents,'' said Joshi, >referring to the communal violence of the past few years. ``Let's look >ahead. Let's look at what can be if we have harmony.'' > >Organizers planned the event to coincide with Mahatma Gandhi's Oct. 2 >birthday, honoring the legacy of a man who played the defining role in the >1947 creation of a secular India, the world's largest democracy. But even >that point is controversial. Gandhi is loathed by some Hindu nationalists -- >who celebrate his assassin's birthday -- because they contend that Gandhi >ceded too much religious freedom to Muslims. > >``By getting organized here, we not only make our own communities here >better, but what we say also reflects and might change perceptions in >India,'' said Aniruddha Vaidya, spokesman for the Bay Area chapter of the >Association for India's Development, a charity that funds social-development >programs in India. ``The global community of Indians wants to come together >and say that we stand for these set of values. We stand for communal >harmony. We stand for India as a pluralistic, secular democracy that >respects the rights of people.'' > _____ > >Contact Matthai Chakko Kuruvila at [EMAIL PROTECTED] or (408) >920-2722. > >
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