The demolition of the Babri Masjid on December 6 1992, which shook the entire country, sabotaged more than just a mosque. It accrued as one of the most destructive religious riot India had ever seen. Over 1000 people lost their lives. 1000 is just a number, thousands of people were assaulted, hundreds of women were raped. Their homes were set ablaze and their lives granulated. A few of them survived, but those who did, could they really lead their lives as before?
On January 24 1992, my uncle Zubair Khan, living in Rampur, a city in West Uttar Pradesh had left home since morning in hope of finding work. In the evening, on his way back home he stopped at a shop to buy kerosene for the lamps because back then, electricity was scarce in Rampur.
Uncle Zubair had no idea about the curfew that had been imposed two hours ago. When he reached the shop, he found that the kerosene shop and others around it were all shut. While he started looking around to ask someone about what happened there, a bunch of men with orange prayer threads on their wrists and red tikas on their forehead chanting “Jai Shri Ram” appeared in front of him.
My uncle was wearing a white kurta pyjama and a skull cap. In no time, these men barged into him and a few moments later, he was on the ground pleading for mercy. “Maine kuch nahi kiya (I haven’t done anything),” he screamed. One of them hit my uncle in his eye, then came the punches and kicks on his stomach and after a few moments he was lying unconscious on the deserted street. Chanting the same slogans, those men moved ahead because their work was still unfinished.
After a few hours, some neighbours informed my aunt that uncle Zubair was in the hospital and battling for his life. The next day they learnt that he was now partially visually impaired. Uncle Zubair was the sole breadwinner of the family and in this one incident they lost everything. Till this day, he is visually impaired in one eye and my aunt works as a primary school teacher in Rampur.
The only question I ask here is: what was his fault? And what was the fault of all those innocent Muslims and Hindus who had to suffer similar fates during these riots? Who should they blame? Sure, they survived, but what is left of them?
The result of the Hindu-Muslim riots were predictable. In the next Lok Sabha election, the BJP won more than 161 seats. Time and time again, the BJP has asked for votes on the basis of religion. However, these days, very conveniently, they are trying to change this narrative. But the past cannot be undone. Like Zubair Khan, there are many others whose stories are still waiting to be heard and if not now, then when?