SADBHAWNA MELAWA

 

 

It was a historic moment in the history of the city when over 85000 persons converged at Shivaji Park on Saturday, 15^th November, 2008, in response to the Sadbhawna Melawa organized by the Bombay Catholic Sabha in collaboration with 42 other Organisations and NGOs.  People of all castes and creeds came out in large numbers. protest against communal and religious violence, bomb and mob terrorism and pledge to work towards communal harmony and peace. It was a dream come true for many and the beginning of a movement for re-claiming the protection of the fundamental rights of every Indian. The rainbow of all faiths, castes, creeds, organizations and common citizens was a sign of hope in the horizon midst the dark clouds that hover around us by the culture of divisive politics that is the order of the day. "We are Indians first, Mumbaikars later" and "Hindu, Muslim, Sikh and Christians are all brothers" were some of the messages that conveyed these hopes to all.

 

The afternoon commenced with the Sabha Anthem which proclaimed “we have a destiny with fate, we will clinch the triumph of love over hate” and rightly set the mood for the proceedings.  The Cannosian sisters led by Sr. Jessie led the gathering into a Prayer Invocation in Hindi and Bishop Bosco Penha led the crowd in the opening prayer invoking the Almighty’s guidance and help in this struggle to transform society from hate to love, from division to unity, from violence to peace. He then read out the message of our beloved Cardinal Oswald Gracias that said among other things, “ …..the need of the hour today is Harmony, fellowship and unity. India is a great country and there should not be room for terrorism, violence and hatred. God will be with us if we only love our neighbor…." 

In his opening address Mr. Dolphy D’Souza President of the Bombay Catholc Sabha said''We are pained and anguished at the divisive politics played in the name of religion, regionalism, fundamentalism parochialism, communalism and terrorism,''  He said that the community is anguished because of the attacks on Christians in Orissa, Karnataka, and other parts of the country. He called for an end to violence against humanity and condemned bomb and mob terrorism of recent months. ''We cannot keep saying we are victims of such campaigns. We need to be victors to overcome such attempts we are Indians first''  he stressed. He appealed to people of all faiths to take a stand against the “conversion” bogey that is being frequently resorted to and called for the enforcement of the rule of law against all those who create and ferment trouble and resort to violence and attacks on minorities and poor.   After the violence against Christians in Orissa and Karnataka, we were in a state of mourning.  But soon we realized that it is not going to solve the purpose.  To make our voice strong against any type of violence we brought together these followers of peace.  He expressed gratitude for the tremendous support the Sabha received from the 42 supporting NGOs.

Padma Shri Dr Mehmud-ur Rehman- Chairman J& K Finance Commission and Former Vice Chancellor of the AMU expressed his happiness for the people who gathered in very large numbers to raise their voices against communalism and terrorism. He said that "I can see the original image and colour of Mumbai today on this ground.” He further said , “ Today all over the world discrimination is defeated. We saw this clearly in the recent elections of America. Who beats whom is not important. But the important question is why such things are happening in our India today? We can see that an Indian has not hurt his fellow Indian in the past history. Today love is taken out from the heart of Indians. We forget the path of Non-violence shown by Mahatma Gandhi. A person had told Mahatma Gandhi that it is dangerous to be kind but one has to be kind."  No religion gives a message of hate he said. 

Mr. Surjan Singh Ahuja, Vice President of Punjab Association in his address said "Win peoples heart by love not by violence. Why is there violence against religion. Religion of being Human  is one. My heart is crying and painfully questions why our government is not doing anything.  Human being has one caste –humanity.

Buddist Monk Ven Bante Ayupal said "I preach peace. I preach harmony. If anyone say he  belongs to a particular community he will not respect the person of other religion but if anyone says he is a human being he will respect each and every person." He also called upon the gathering  to form a federation of  all religions and unitedly  fight against all discrimination and violence, which are inhuman acts.”    It is natural to feel the pain when your community is attacked but the real devotee of a religion feels the similar pain for each and every community.

Mr. Viren Shah- Jt Secretary of Federation of Retail Traders Welfare Association said "I have lent my support to this forum and will do so in the future along with the traders as even we have faced violence recently on the Marathi signboard issue.  I condemn Mob violence. All types of violence. All citizen of Mumbai are peace loving but the political parties here are trying to disturb the peace. We are against such politicians.  They have stolen the cosmopolitan image of Mumbai."

Dr. G.K. Bhanji, Chairman - National Association of Fishermen, said "Shivaji Park today for the first time has witnessed a  gathering that is not for any political reason but for the people craving for peace. Koli people and Christians are the original inhabitants of Mumbai, but in the recent past everyone comes here and claims that Mumbai belongs to them. We still live in the "bunder" areas and our hearts are still like a large "Darya". But the people who come over here have occupied all sorts of places and live in towers and they preach hatred and non violence and say the place belongs to them. We can not tolerate this any more. We are 85 lakhs in numbers now and we are an awakened force. We will vote only the one who will serve our needs.  His vociferous and humourous speech had every person in the audience all ears as he not only expressed the sentiments of the Koli community but all affected persons.

 

The star attraction and keynote speaker was Teesta Setalvad of Citizens For Justice and Peace (CJP) and Editor of Communalism Combat, a Mumbai based civil rights activist, journalist and educationist.  She has also been the recipient of several local and international awards, notable among them being the Nuremberg International Rights Award in 2003 at Germany.  She said
"In this Shivaji park in front of the idol of Shivaji Maharaj, in whom we have so much hope, the King who ruled  without the discrimination of caste, creed and religion but  these grounds which bear his name has not seen as yet the fulfillment of  his ideology for so many years. I thank Bombay Catholic Sabha along with other forty two organisations because they have fulfilled our dream of twenty years.  Who uses this ground now? When I was in 10th there was a rally in this ground to raise voice against emergency. Since then this ground is only used to propagate hate on people. Today you have created a history in joining in large numbers to raise a voice against violence and hatred” She further stated that it was strange that  people like Pravin Togadia were given entry to Khandhamal but the people who went with the message of peace were not allowed stopped on the way. She said “The citizen of this country may be a Hindu, Dalit, Muslim, Christian, Jain, Sikh, whoever he or she is, is peace loving and doesn't want Bomb Blasts and doesn't want blood shed. But the politicians for the sake of votes try to reap only hatred, violence, riots. It is easy to gain vote by dividing our land with various grounds. These so called leaders live in luxury in the posh buildings with very tight security and employ poor people to carry out such riots.”
“Please remember that the strength is only in unity in diversity and not in division and separatism. Actual meaning of democracy is the freedom to ask why my child doesn't have the right of education, the freedom to ask why my neighbour is dying out of hunger?  and other such questions”  She said, “Friends, the dream of our great fathers has been shattered. Today democracy has been reduced to Mobocracy. There is no rule of law in our country. Rule of law means whoever is most powerful necessarily occupies his position with responsibility. If our leaders do not obey these laws then what kind of democracy is ours?”  “If the Christians and Muslims are here for so many years in this land and Hindu religion exists here for thousands of years, nobody has the right to say that I am more Indian and he is less Indian."  Condemning the communal violence happening the country she said it is weakening the democratic fibre of our country.  “Democracy is not just a cycle of elections or voting.  Violence against any minority has to be treated as violence against humanity.  This can only be done when the rule of law is enforced properly.

 

Bp Percival Fernandes, Auxiliary Bishop of Bombay, said that "Since independence our country has failed to control terrorism. To terrorise is to create and maintain extreme fear and distress in a person or a community. Terrorism is a feeling not only by an individual but also by mobs using bombs, bullets, swords, lathis. Terrorism has the root in the mind and is fed by the hate propaganda. This should be stopped before it is too late. We have already have terrorism of different types. All have same objective. This is to create and maintain extreme
stress and fear among people who are attacked.” He cited all the incidents of terrorism from  the Bombay blasts on March 12, 1993 till  recently when violence was carried out in Orissa, Karnataka, Madya Pradesh, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Chattisgarh and even in Delhi. All this to create and make extreme fear and distress among innocent people. Peace, my dear friends is not absence of war but harmony, Justice and love. Terrorism must be addressed. For this we need a government to act strongly in the line of justice and communal harmony. Threat to communal harmony is a greater problem faced by India today. All religions in the world propagate only love towards humanity. No religion encourages hatred or terrorism."

 

The evening was lightened by some cultural programmes to strengthen the patriotism towards our land and its culture. The items presented were “Me Mumbaikar”  song by the East Indian Ladies, a song and  Dance specially composed for the evening by Viren Shah and his group and a cultural satire staged by the renowned Shahir Sambhaji Bhagat..

 

The Melawa was brought to a close by the passing of a the following Resolution which was read out by Dolphy D'Souza and endorsed by the resounding voice of all those present

 

 

RESOLVED that this gathering of Citizens Groups, NGOs and Citizens condemns all types of terrorism and violence. 

We also condemn divisive politics. We are committed to peace and communal harmony for a strong India. We demand Enforcement of the Rule of Law and protection of our fundamental rights.

We are Indians first and last.

Dated: 15^th November 2008

Place : Shivaji Park, Mumbai                                       

The rally concluded with the singing of the National Anthem.

The entire programme was ably compered by Ms Rita D’Sa, Vice President of the Bombay Catholic Sabha and Mr. Sami Bubere, President, World Peace Council, India.

 

The gathering left with this thought that was made in the welcome address, “We want the movement to go further from here and want to create Sadbhawna Melawa Communities at the local level.” Coming together( Melawa) is just the beginning of a process of working together and striving towards the goal of “Sadbhawna”.   Looking back one can truly say that it was the mother of all rallies, minus politicians on stage, and one which emerged out of the sheer initiative of a totally frustrated group of citizens, confident of working towards a better tomorrow.

 

 

 

 

                                                                                                      Rita  D’Sa, Vice President, BCS

 

 

LIST OF PARTICIPATING ORGANISATIONS

 

 

1. THE BOMBAY CATHOLIC SABHA

 2. ABDUL HAMID BUBERE MEMORIAL

 3. AGNI

 4. AKHIL BHARATIYA O.B.C. PARISHAD

 5. ALL INDIA CATHOLIC UNION

 6. AMAN INSAF MANCH

 7. ARCHDIOCESAN COMMISSION FOR INTER-RELIGIOUS DIALOGUE

 8. ARCHDIOCESAN WOMEN’S COMMISSION

 9. AWAMI BHARAT

10. BAMCEF

11. BHARTIYA MAHILA FEDERATION

12. BHIM FOUNDATION

13. BOMBAY EAST INDIAN ASSOCIATION

14. DHARAVI BETH BACHAO SAMITI

15. DIMENSIONS

16. FEDERATION OF RETAIL TRADERS WELFARE ASSOCIATION

17. GARAJ

18. GULMOHAR AREA SOCIETIES WELFARE GROUP

19. INDIAN CATECHETICAL ASSOCIATION

20. JAAG – THANE

21. KALYAN DIOCESE

22. LOKSHASHAN ANDOLAN

23. MAHARASHTRA CHRISTI SAMAJ, MUMBAI

24. MAHARASHTRA KOLI SAMAJ

25. MAHARASHTRA SOCIETIES WELFARE ASSOCIATION

26. MAHITI ADHIKAR MANCH

27. MOVEMENT FOR PEACE AND JUSTICE (MPJ) MAHARASHTRA

28. NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF FISHERMEN

29. NIRBHAY JAN MANCH – VASAI

30. PRASHANT – GUJARAT

31. PUBLIC COMPLAINT CENTRE

32. ROOTS IN KASHMIR

33. SAHAR CITIZENS’ FORUM

34. SAHYOG CULTURAL SOCIETY

35. SAMYAK NIWAS HAKKA SANGH

36. SEVADHAM – THANE

37. SHANTIGHAR

38. SILVER INNING FOUNDATION

39. SNEHAVARDHINI – RAIGHAD

40. ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST CHURCH SAVE COMMITTEE

41. VOICE POPULI LIONS CLUB, BOMBAY

42. WORLD PEACE COUNCIL

43. YUVA BHARATI