Error of Judgement:

Dec 02/2013: Kandhamal is a district where communal equations remain fragile. Memories of the 2008 riots are still fresh, though everything might appear normal on the surface. The wounds inflicted on the people’s psyche are yet to be healed, and those who were injured or lost close people in the flare-up might have got back to a normal life but the stress remains. Under the present circumstances, everyone knows that a spark can easily ignite a fire and a fresh round of conflagrations may occur there. A casual rumour could suffice to let out the worst, as has been seen in many macabre incidents across this nation.

With this in the backdrop, the recent visit by an emissary of the Pope to the district may seem improper, to say the least. That this visit should have been avoided, and more importantly, should not have been allowed by the government seems to be a valid opinion expressed by many who are aware of ground realities.

The purpose of Archbishop Salvatore Pennacchio’s visit, lasting a few days, to Kandhamal since Wednesday was, among his other engagements, to preside over a special function of the Raikia church that was established in the pre-Independence days. Considering the situation that exists there, many rightly saw the visit as an invitation to trouble since Raikia itself was a place considered volatile and where the, among few other places, trouble was intense. That there was no untoward incident during the  emissary's visit does not necessarily speak volumes about any great achievement by the district police administration. It could easily be attributed to  admirable restraint on the part of all sides  which helped avoid any ugly situation to develop.

The 2008 riots that killed nearly 40 people remain a blemish on this state which enjoys a record of communal harmony and peaceful co-existence of various communities. That the violence at that time was triggered by the economic disparities that prevail in the region may not be a very acceptable fact for many who wish to see other colors through the prism. The violence also had a direct bearing on the people’s livelihood there. However, issues like religious conversions that were raised by the media were not utterly off the mark. The murder of Swami Laxmananand Saraswati gave a communal twist to the riots. The Swami, alongwith a few others was gunned down  in cold blood. Trouble started when many were convinced that the killings took place primarily because the Swami was an ardent crusader against conversions taking place in large numbers in an economically backward area. The ensuing protests got many people killed on however many sides there might have been. Memories of the violence linger in the area, and allegations still fly around. In a situation of mutual suspicion and disharmony, it is but improper to allow fooling around with the delicate balance that so many months of calm prevailing there would naturally have brought in.

The visit to the area by a foreigner, especially a representative of the highest mortal adorning the most important post of the Catholic Church of the world is a serious matter. Many quarters had welcomed the government decision some time ago to ban visits by foreigners in the name of tourism or for other purposes to interior tribal areas. Tourists were found to have exploited tribals either by taking their semi-nude pictures, or by other actions which were of a suspicious and objectionable nature. The incident of Andaman tribals being photographed in the nude and then those photos being sold on the internet created a huge furore at the time. That triggered the state government to impose the ban on tourists going to tribal areas.No doubt tourism is a welcome scenario in any given situation. It brings people together, helps in the exchange of cultures, and develop better understanding not only between people but also strengthens the local life style as people realize that attracts tourists to come visit them. It is internationally acknowledged that tourists do not harm social customs, as many used to suspect in the past. Rather, it helps clearly define locals’ perceptions of social habits; it brings in economic growth and induces people to retain their customs.

In areas where social customs and rituals start losing their old hold over the people, it is often that tourism gives them a fresh fillip, a revival. Locals enjoy the importance their customs get, the exposure it gets to the wide world outside, and they become more proud about their culture and, in turn, try to uphold and live up to their traditions. This being the case, banning tourism in Koraput, Kandhamal or the Andamans is generally not a welcome step. Still, considering all aspects, a ban was resorted to by the government, and it was welcomed by all especially considering the delicate situation existing in places like Kandhamal. Once a ban was enforced, the government was duty-bound to observe it in letter and spirit. However, that has not happened in the case of Kandhamal.

When a ban is in effect, there is no justification in allowing a foreign national – Pope’s representative, in this case — to step into the area and give a morale boost to one of the warring communities. It was a grave error.

Let us be very clear that when rioting takes place no one can predict which community is a gainer or which the loser. It is common knowledge that violence never makes one a winner in the long term. Violence breeds violence,

and as Gandhi said, “An ‘eye for an eye’ would make the whole world blind.” Therefore, instigating one or the other group would never help in maintaining social equilibrium in any area that, in recent times, has seen the creation of bitterness of emotions.

The government should have been wiser in its judgment. An example is of how China handled a similar situation during Pope John Paul II’s Asia tour in 1999, when he also visited India. That was the time when the Vajpayee government bent over backward to extend hospitality to the Pope, even as he had provoked many here by making it clear that he was aiming at a higher degree of proselytization (religious conversions) in India. China rejected the request for visit on the flimsy ground Vatican recognized Taiwan, which China still sees as part of its territory.

In this situation there was no reason why India should not have banned the Pope representative’s visit to Kandhamal, which, to everyone’s knowledge, is still a disturbed area. Inaction by itself implies passive cooperation. By cooperating with the visit of this man, our government has committed a grave error of judgment.