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Database on Communalism in Karnataka
Dear Friends,
This is an effort towards creating a comprehensive database on the
communal incidents that have rocked Karnataka. Since most of the information
contained here is drawn entirely from fact finding reports and related sources,
it is important that this analysis is supplemented with perspectives
(conceptual and historical) and analysis of causal factors that led to each
communal incident.
We have consciously tried to be descriptive in our analysis in order to build a basic narrative which avoids hasty generalizations and theorizations based on insufficient evidence. Hence it is important that you bring in this level of deeper analysis and additional inputs from personal knowledge.
To this end, we are sending
you the following documents detailing the history of communal riots in
Karnataka:
- Chronology of
various riots
- Brief
analysis of each riot, drawing an understanding of the riot in terms
of its causes, impacts and issues. The perspective for this analysis is
limited to the reports on hand and needs to be deepened.
What we hope you could do is:
a.)
Give us your
feedback on this information, filling in the gaps and making necessary
modifications. For instance, in the Chronology we have definitely missed out
several communal incidents which you may have information about, that could be
fed into the table. You may also be able to furnish us with many of the details
we may have missed with regard to the incidents that we have covered. Further
still, it is possible that our understanding/perspective may be defective and
needs further refinement.
b.)
It would be
wonderful if you could get in touch with other concerned people/groups in your
area who would also be able to offer additional information/understanding etc.
This could lead to the formation of a loose support group in your area which
would work towards finalizing this report and disseminating it. More generally,
such a group could monitor the communal situation in the area and think of
strategies of intervention in concert with similar groups elsewhere. We would
be glad to visit your area to explain how this project would be useful in
combating communalism.
c.)
It would be good if
similar groups are established in other areas which can network with each
other, share information, collectively work out strategies and respond to
crisis situations in different areas.
d.)
With each of
these groups contributing to the report, we hope that a comprehensive
documentation of communalism in Karnataka will emerge. The purpose of this kind
of documentation would be to make it available throughout Karnataka for
dissemination and work out strategies of intervention and response.
e.)
We would like to
build up this report into a resource base on communalism that would be freely
available. We also intend to put this up on a commonly-owned web site that
would put into immediate circulation news of communal developments across the
State. This could very well lead to the creation of a newsletter in English and
Kannada that could provide updates, analysis, reports, etc.
f.)
Parallel to this
process would be the holding of a series of public hearings in places which
have experienced communal riots. These hearings would be part of a campaign to
put pressure on the local/State administration on issues of prosecuting the
perpetrators, undertaking rehabilitation/compensation of the affected people
and future preventive measures. This campaign would also mobilize civil society.
Please let us know how you
can contribute to this effort.
Regards
Alternative Law Forum