COMMUNAL HATRED WILL LEAD TO GRAVE HEALTH CRISIS VIOLENCE CAUSES SERIOUS MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES

Harmony in the society is an essential prerequisite for development. Despite this knowledge
there have been incidents of violence based on religion and ethnicity in different parts of the
world. These are perpetrated because the parties feel solidarity for their respective group and
label the other groups as inimical to them. Such acts are meticulously planned and executed
through the groups of people motivated to carry out the task. Therefore, in many cases those who
indulge in violence have no feeling of remorse for causing injury, even killing others, including
women and children. The incidents of violence are cause of several physical and mental health
problems and impact all aspects of life including emotional and social relationships.
Mankind has developed through collective and collaborative efforts of thousands of years.
Conscientious struggle was waged relentlessly by the people with great sacrifices to bring
change against all forces who were impeding such progress. India’s struggle for freedom from
the colonial rule drew motivation from such ideas and therefore tried to assimilate all sections
and groups in the fight against the British colonial rule. However, there were groups who became
part of the British game of divide and rule through communal divisions in the society.
The post independent India adopted a constitution which carried forward the ethos of the
freedom fighters and put forth secularism, that is respect for all the religions, and equal rights to
all the citizens irrespective of religious, ethnic, caste or gender discrimination, as its ideal. The
constitution is also inspired from our ancient culture of “Vasudaiva Kutumbakam”. Thus the idea
of India was not limited to wellbeing of people living in the geographical boundaries of India but
for the welfare of all the people around the globe. Violence in any form was rejected and
harmony, love and cohesiveness were projected by the framers of the constitution.

Violence based on communal lines was propped up during the British colonial rule to create a
mind-set of hatred towards others and weaken the freedom movement. Violence that occurred
during the partition in 1947 led to the killing of nearly 20 lakh Hindus, Muslims and Sikhs giving
a clear message that no one is spared when violent incidents of this type take place. It is the
innocent, particularly the women, children and the elderly who suffer the most.
Whereas injury is visible fallout of the violence, the mental health issues are even worse. Losing
kith and kin leaves a long term impact, more so on the children who are likely to develop Post
Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). They develop a feeling of helplessness and disgust, undergo
depression, lose charm in studies and even develop aggressive violent behaviour. Loss of parents
leaves the children devoid of love and affection which is most important for the development of
the normal behaviour. Such situation also leads to acute financial problems, affecting nutrition
and health. Many a times the victims have to live in the make shift arrangements/refugee camps
where there is no privacy, no schooling for the children, no proper hygiene or sanitation This
becomes cause of several health problems.
Violence prevention is therefore a public health issue and requires lot of hard work of educating
the people about the danger of communal violence. Creation of jobs with proper remunerations
can reduce the chances of people getting involved in such incidents. Biased and false propaganda
is used to poison the minds, to distract attention from real issues like health and education and
also to hide failures of the ruling dispensations.
State bears a big responsibility to prevent and control such happenings. But when the state is
partisan and overtly or covertly supports the perpetrators of violence, the situation is difficult to
control.
Recent happenings in the country of spreading of communal hatred by some organisations
against the minorities particularly the Muslims and Christians can have serious outcome on the
harmony and integrity of the country. It is a sorry state of affairs that the accused are not booked
as per the rule of law, rather in many cases they have been promoted for indulging in such
venomous utterings. Anurag Thakur, a Minister of State in the Central Government who openly
called for killing ‘goli maaro saalon ko’ was promoted to the rank of full Cabinet Minister. The
events in Haridwar, Raipur, Ambala, Gurugram and other places where open calls have been
given to kill and vandalism at churches and attacks on Christian schools are a pointer for the

worse to come if the society does not wakeup. These will cause collateral damage in the form of
internal disturbance as well as external ramifications. We witnessed this after anti Sikh riots in
1984.
The majority community should realize that this mind-set does not remain limited; it takes
monstrous turn. These groups would indulge in violence against anyone who questions on any
issue. Peace loving people cannot sit at home and just feel disturbed; they have to speak out and
talk of real issues facing the society to counter such bigots even if it risks their lives. Otherwise
these people who appear fringe elements today will grow and overpower. Their narrative has to
be countered effectively.