Before universal kinship becomes a relic of the past

I was feeling jittery this Holi, as the fortnight prior had brought news of communal clashes in two states. Is Holi, a festival of love and universal kinship, fast becoming a relic?

I remember the 1980s, when I used to work in Varanasi and Allahabad (now Prayagraj). Those were my formative years as a journalist, and I used to attend meetings organized by the district administration at police stations ahead of Holi. These aman committee meetings (peace committee meetings) used to be attended by senior district officers, priests, sadhus, heads of mutts, muftis and maulvis, besides distinguished gentlemen of the city.

They would deliberate for hours and invariably conclude on celebrating Holi together. Officials at these meetings would also deliver stern warnings, though sugar-coated, that anyone who tried to act smart would pay a heavy price.

For the police, Holi was a strenuous time, especially if it fell on Fridays. It was when communal tensions could be sparked off easily, and some cities in North India were notorious for annual rioting in the festival season. During the riots, radical elements from both communities would pressure people to economically boycott the other community. But within days, such bitterness would vanish and people would regain their composure.

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But today, is there a concerted effort to break this resilience?

A study by the Centre for Study of Society and Secularism (CSSS) shows that 2024 saw 59 communal clashes compared with 32 in 2023—an 84% spike in a year. And most clashes occurred during religious festivals.

The CSSS report further says four riots broke out during the Ram Lalla consecration ceremony in Ayodhya, seven during idol immersion on Saraswati puja, four during Ganesh utsav and two on Bakrid.

A dangerous trend is taking shape today where religious processions are turning into a show of power. As the world descends into communal frenzy, India could have set a high bar of public conduct with its age-old traditions. But the opposite of that is happening.

A few days ago, a police officer’s apparent statement that Friday comes 52 times in a year while Holi came for just a day and those who had an issue with colours could stay at home had gone viral. It’s possible that a deliberate attempt was made to distort the statement, but the police is duty-bound to maintain order during such celebrations so that those observing roza, or offering namaz can do it without fear or discomfort.

Meanwhile, another shocking social media post emerged: A photo of a roadside kiosk with an appeal to buy things from those who can celebrate eid with the money they earn. The message was clear. Was the person making an appeal unaware of the fact that it was an unconstitutional act? The Constitution prohibits the active and open othering of any community. Another aspect that disturbed me was that one needs permission from the government departments to put up such kiosks. Was permission sought for the kiosk in question? If yes, who granted it permission? Has action against the guilty been initiated?

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A foreword that appeared in Dainik Hindustan on 12 March 1950 merits mention here. It says: “This year our biggest festival of joy and fervour, Holi, arrived at a time when throughout the country the bloody tales of torture and unimaginable violence against the minorities of East Bengal were echoing loudly. In such a charged atmosphere, incident-free Holi celebrations are something for which we should thank the people and the leaders alike. It’s a relief that despite constant provocation from Pakistan, our countrymen are exercising immense patience and celebrations of Holi, where no big incident took place, is a testament to their fortitude."

It’s clear we didn’t stray from the path even after being singed by the towering infernos of Partition. People with a constructive outlook can draw solace as right now it’s critically needed.

Another factor begs our attention. Our relations with the Islamic nations are improving every day. Permission to build Hindu temples is being regularly granted. Last year, Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the first temple in the UAE. However, while lots of efforts are being invested to bring about cultural convergence globally, within the country tendencies to create cultural dissensions are gaining ground. Together we need to deal with this monster as we did in the aftermath of Partition.

Shashi Shekhar is editor-in-chief, Hindustan. Views are personal.

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