Terrorising the Already Terrorised

Humra Quraishi

One news report after another brings along details of the communally surcharged situation in Uttar Pradesh. Bahraich and its Muslim population is in focus because of the blatant targeted attacks on Muslim homes and properties and the very threat to their survival. Mind you, Bahraich is not that one lone place in Uttar Pradesh where Muslims feel severely threatened. That fear coupled with apprehensions of the targeted attacks by the Hindutva lot, accelerating in these recent years.

I’m a Muslim from Uttar Pradesh and as a child I spent considerable time in Bahraich because my maternal grandfather was posted in Bahraich. And we would spend summer and winter breaks there. I remember the town. And now sit recalling all those I met there. Not sure whether they still around and their children and grandchildren left intact, as targeted violence against the Muslims has been so very blatant. Presumably, under the watchful eyes of the political rulers and the well-trained and well- equipped communal brigades unleashed all around.

Mind you, the Musalmaan of the day isn’t wary of his mohalla or basti or village people. But definitely worried of the Right Wing politicians who are vomiting communal poison and together with that more than provoking the naïve to hate and attack the ‘other’! There is a possibility of hundreds getting stuffed in the private senas that these political characters have raised, and then use them to unleash terror all around. Terrorising the already terrorised!

I wonder why the private senas are needed or required, when the police force is under their direct or indirect command. Also, who are the men recruited in those senas? Who trains them? And for what? Why no questions and queries come up on this very dangerous reality? Have any of the Hindutva politicians been questioned on maintaining their private brigades or senas or outfits?

It is a serious and grim situation. The Muslim community sits worrying about the very future. The only cushioning factor is that the secular and liberal Hindu has started speaking out, pointing out that if these targeted attacks on the Muslims and their homes and properties are not halted now and immediately, civil strife could erupt and spread out. The mantris -santris will sit safe residing in those secure sarkari bungalows but the common man on the streets and lanes and by-lanes will get affected by the offshoots that violence invariably drags along.

And though one has nil expectations from the Right-Wing politicians who are following the communal Agenda with full force and focus, but yes, one does expect unbiased utterances from the senior or retired civil servants. They ought to stand by the honest and secular officers who want to protect the targeted and disadvantaged, but perhaps political orders come in way! Do not overlook the reality that the administrative machinery and the police force are under the direct or indirect control of the rulers.

Isn’t it time that the concerned citizens of this country play a role to halt the blatant destruction of homes and with that of entire families? Once a home is bulldozed it’s akin to demolishing an entire family or a clan. Gone not just their dwelling but their very vital base for day to day survival. With bulldozed homes gone are the children’s school books and uniforms and clothes and the very kitchen… also hit the very wish to carry on, to take on challenges? Entire families and clans ruined!

Political rulers can be judged on the treatment meted to four significant groups or segments - women, children, jailed population, and the minority communities. Today’s rulers might claim this or that achievement in their shrilly synthetic speeches but cannot overlook the fact that the condition of women and children and the minorities is rather hopeless. Grim and worrying, if not alarming and shocking. Can’t say much of the jailed population as those imprisoned sit all too subdued behind those high walls. But if the un-imprisoned population is going through traumatic situations then one can well imagine the condition of all those who are officially imprisoned.

FAIZ AHMED FAIZ’s — BEIRUT
Came across this verse titled - Beirut - by Faiz Ahmed Faiz, in the volume titled –‘A Song For This Day - 52 poems of Faiz Ahmed Faiz’ (Sang-E-Meel Publications). Translated from Urdu to English by Shoaib Hashmi, accompanying images from the works of Faiz’s daughter Salima Hashmi, the verse stands out, along a diverse range, from prisons to prisoners to people and their plight.

This volume was published around December 2009, but holds out to this day. Today as Beirut and the other towns and cities of Lebanon are bombarded by the Israeli forces, there’s much focus and concern for Lebanon and its people. Ending this week’s column with Faiz Ahmed Faiz’s this verse ‘Beirut’ tucked in this volume:

‘Beirut’
Beirut the fairest maiden in the pageant of life,/
Beirut the wondrous replica of the Garden of Solomon/
The twinkling, dancing eyes of all the children/
Were shattered like so many bright mirrors/
And now all the shards are become like stars/
And their luster lights the sky of this city/
And the Cedar-land Lebanon is all light once more/
Beirut the fairest maiden in the pageant of life/
Beirut the wondrous replica of the Garden of Solomon/
And all the faces covered in blood/
And taken on the crimson hue of it/
And their bright colour/
Brightens all the streets of the town/
And the Land of Lebanon too shines bright/
Beirut the fairest maiden in the pageant of life/
Beirut the wondrous replica of the Garden of Solomon/
Each haunted home, each crumbling house/
Seems the equal of the palace of the Great Darius/
Each soldier the envy of Alexander/
Each maiden like Laila born again /
The city was there at the beginning of time/
The city will be there till the end of time/
Beirut the fairest maiden in the pageant of life/
Beirut the wondrous replica of the Garden of Solomon/’

Back to Home Page

Frontier
Vol 57, No. 21, Nov 17 - 23, 2024