‘BJP won comfortably here. Why do they need this?’
Jyoti Punwani
VHP leader Pravin Togadia’s diktat banning Muslims in Gujarat from participating in Navratri has shocked the community, says garba veteran and Godhra peace activist Dr Sujaat Vali.
The Gujarat tourism promo that has Amitabh Bachchan inviting the world to partake of Gujarat’s ‘khushboo’ by coming to Gujarat to dance the garba during Navratri, may not give much fragrance to the state’s Muslims.
Like many Gujarati Muslims, Dr Sujaat Vali, a well-known peace activist in Godhra whose hospital was saved by Hindus during the 2002 violence, is a regular garba dancer. He talks about what this directive means to him.
Did you expect this?
I was shocked. This has never happened, not even after 2002. In fact, the very next year, I was invited to be a judge for a garba competition. Last year, I was made to sit on stage for two hours. Every year, organisers of the two main garba events in Godhra -- both BJP men and my friends -- meet me, and I even sell passes for their events. I also go to Baroda for a couple of nights because the garba there is special.
My wife is very disturbed. She had been practising for two days under a professional. She had planned to invite her sister and brother-in-law, who by the way is a Hindu, from Pune. Now she doesn’t know what to do.
How come you dance the garba?
You may not be knowing, but two of the most popular garba singers in Gujarat are Usman Mir and Hasina Mir. As for me, I not only dance it, for the last 12 years I have been organising it on the lawns of my house the night before Navratri and on Sharad Purnima, five days after Navratri. This year, since my house is being renovated, my organisation Saptak has announced a garba night on September 23 at the Gymkhana Club. The cards have already been distributed. Saptak’s members comprise Hindus and Muslims.
I’ve been dancing for 25 years, ever since I was in college, because I love music and dance. For the last four years, I also sing garba songs, as does my wife. Most Garba artistes are my friends. In fact, every year, for two of the nine nights, I host a dinner for the troupe that comes from Baroda to Godhra during Navratri.
Have any of the organisers spoken to you after this diktat? Or your Hindu friends?
No one, that’s what saddens me.
Why do you feel this diktat was issued?
I fail to understand why. I’m also aghast to see that while groups in Baroda and Surat have stated that they do not accept this diktat, no one in Godhra has done so.
The only reason I can think of is that Pravin Togadia has a hold on this city. It’s difficult to digest this new development.
The BJP won the Lok Sabha seat from Godhra comfortably. Why do they need this kind of thing? Tomorrow will they say that Muslims can’t celebrate Diwali?
‘HE IS WELCOME’
KT Parekh, one of the two BJP members who hold the two main garba events in Godhra, said few Muslims attend; and if one or two of them do so, it would be difficult to identify them in a crowd of 50,000. He ruled out asking people to come with their ID cards. When asked specifically about his friend Dr Sujat Vali, Parekh said, “If he comes with his family, he is welcome.”
VHP leader Pravin Togadia’s diktat banning Muslims in Gujarat from participating in Navratri has shocked the community, says garba veteran and Godhra peace activist Dr Sujaat Vali.
The Gujarat tourism promo that has Amitabh Bachchan inviting the world to partake of Gujarat’s ‘khushboo’ by coming to Gujarat to dance the garba during Navratri, may not give much fragrance to the state’s Muslims.
Used to dancing or at least going to garbas, this time they have been clearly told they are not welcome. While VHP leader Pravin Togadia has issued this diktat for the state, a new body called Hindu Asmita Heet Rakshak Samiti has done so for Godhra.
Like many Gujarati Muslims, Dr Sujaat Vali, a well-known peace activist in Godhra whose hospital was saved by Hindus during the 2002 violence, is a regular garba dancer. He talks about what this directive means to him.
Did you expect this?
I was shocked. This has never happened, not even after 2002. In fact, the very next year, I was invited to be a judge for a garba competition. Last year, I was made to sit on stage for two hours. Every year, organisers of the two main garba events in Godhra -- both BJP men and my friends -- meet me, and I even sell passes for their events. I also go to Baroda for a couple of nights because the garba there is special.
My wife is very disturbed. She had been practising for two days under a professional. She had planned to invite her sister and brother-in-law, who by the way is a Hindu, from Pune. Now she doesn’t know what to do.
How come you dance the garba?
You may not be knowing, but two of the most popular garba singers in Gujarat are Usman Mir and Hasina Mir. As for me, I not only dance it, for the last 12 years I have been organising it on the lawns of my house the night before Navratri and on Sharad Purnima, five days after Navratri. This year, since my house is being renovated, my organisation Saptak has announced a garba night on September 23 at the Gymkhana Club. The cards have already been distributed. Saptak’s members comprise Hindus and Muslims.
I’ve been dancing for 25 years, ever since I was in college, because I love music and dance. For the last four years, I also sing garba songs, as does my wife. Most Garba artistes are my friends. In fact, every year, for two of the nine nights, I host a dinner for the troupe that comes from Baroda to Godhra during Navratri.
Have any of the organisers spoken to you after this diktat? Or your Hindu friends?
No one, that’s what saddens me.
Why do you feel this diktat was issued?
I fail to understand why. I’m also aghast to see that while groups in Baroda and Surat have stated that they do not accept this diktat, no one in Godhra has done so.
The only reason I can think of is that Pravin Togadia has a hold on this city. It’s difficult to digest this new development.
The BJP won the Lok Sabha seat from Godhra comfortably. Why do they need this kind of thing? Tomorrow will they say that Muslims can’t celebrate Diwali?
‘HE IS WELCOME’
KT Parekh, one of the two BJP members who hold the two main garba events in Godhra, said few Muslims attend; and if one or two of them do so, it would be difficult to identify them in a crowd of 50,000. He ruled out asking people to come with their ID cards. When asked specifically about his friend Dr Sujat Vali, Parekh said, “If he comes with his family, he is welcome.”
