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List
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Intervene in the public
opinion
In public places like bus stands, trains, offices, religious centres
or other gatherings, people generally discuss violence and
communalism. If everyone in the group belongs to the same community,
their opinions tend to go against the 'other' community. This is where
much of public opinion is formed and strengthened, as people share
information, news, rumours, and ideologies. If you are present in such
public conversations, and notice that an undue prejudice is being
strengthened against a particular community, you must intervene and
try to present your point of view. But assess the situation properly
before jumping in. To make your point convincingly you must have all
your facts clear and substantiated with references and documents. If
someone makes a discriminatory claim, ask him for reference or proofs.
During a conversation, if you feel that the things are going out of
hand and maybe violent, try to pacify the people. Do not get agitated
or raise your voice against the other person - don't put them off. If
you talk in a cool-headed and explanatory manner, you'll have a better
chance of being heard.
“Who began it all?”
A typical argument put forward in such conversations is that
"they are the ones who started it first", referring to the
provocation by the 'other' community. This then leads to allegations
and counter allegations, going all the way back to history. In such a
situation, we must emphasize that it is absolutely futile trying to
find out who started it first. It is a chicken-and-egg situation that
will never find an end. Tell the arguing people that most communal
violence is the result of years and years of hatred fed consciously or
subconsciously into our psyches. One may pinpoint an isolated case of
violence or provocation where somebody's mischief led to something
larger. But we cannot afford this unending chain of revenge any more -
somewhere we have to put an end to it. This is how one may try to
close the debate, or explain to the children. One must continue to
condemn all past acts of violence – carried out by whichever
community.
Maintain peace in your
mohalla
Whether in peaceful or violent times, some responsible people of a
particular locality or colony (representing all communities) must meet
and decide that they will not let any communal violence happen in
their area. They can form a mohalla vigilance committee to ensure
safety of all the residents. If they find some anti-social or violent
elements, or a reason for discord in their locality, it must be
mutually resolved. The mohalla vigilance committee should have the
important tools of communication such as telephone, mobile, Internet
connection, and media resources such as television, radio, and access
to newspapers and magazines, to remain abreast of the situation and to
communicate with the world outside, in case of an untoward event.
Citizens should also criticize the use of posters, banners and
pamphlets in their area. Besides dirtying the walls and roads, some
pamphlets or posters can carry provocative or potentially dangerous
messages. If you see anybody pasting or printing any objectionable
material, complain to the concerned authorities, and tell as many
people as possible, not to get swayed by the provocative messages. If
some important or essential message has to be passed on to the public,
fix up a certain area or wall in your locality for these.
Passing through “their”
mohalla
Our towns and villages are composed of various types of localities -
some inhabited by only one community, while some with a mixed
population, some old and extremely congested mohallas, while some
wide-open and modern colonies - each responding differently at the
time of communal violence or tension. The areas populated by only one
community may be safe and secure for that community during strife, but
can also become the haven for mobs planning or perpetrating violence.
Such areas can also prove to be a 'hell' for a single person of the
'other' community passing by or getting stuck there during a communal
tension. If you get stuck in such a situation, think of a 'safe'
friend or acquaintance living nearby who could give you shelter.
Otherwise, keep walking with caution, and get out of the place as soon
as possible. On the other hand, if you reside in such an area and
notice somebody of the 'other' community walking down or stuck during
communal tension, you could help the person in various ways. Give
him/her shelter inside your place, take him/her out of the locality
safely, or let him make a phone call from your house. If nothing, at
least be nice to him, do not look at him conspicuously, just go about
your own chores, and do not let others of your community trouble the
person. Even in peaceful times, a single person from a certain
community - especially a lady - passing by or standing in an alien
area, being given conspicuous looks by too many people, can make the
person extremely uncomfortable and even frightened.
Facing the “mob”
What do you do if you are confronted by people who are known to have
committed an act of violence or 'terrorism'? If they are agitated
against 'your' community, and want to harm you, the first thing would
be to somehow inform the police, or anybody who can help. If you don't
have that choice, then try to politely converse with them. If the
situation is really out of your control, the mob would do what they
have to do; otherwise ask them what are their problems, and is there
any way they can achieve their goals in a more peaceful way, or is
there anything of peaceful nature that you could do to reduce their
problems. Whatever way you can, try to persuade them to quit violence,
or at least direct their ire at those who are really responsible for
their problems, instead of you or other innocent people. Request them
especially not to harm children, women, the sick or old people,
animals, plants, religious places, schools, or hospitals, or for that
matter anything or anybody, as all religions are against that.
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