COMMUNALISM AND COMMUNAL VIOLENCE 39 19 This is sharply evident in the attitude towards Urdu in U P and Bihar. For a discussion see Brass {ibid). Recently the Bihar government recognized Urdu as the Second language leading to anti-Urdu agitations in Ranchi. 20 Naidu provides a useful discussion of the operation of communal calculus in pluralist societies like India and Malaysia, op cit, pp 63-65. 21 For a discussion of this aspect, see Pranab Bardhan, "The First Anniversary of the Janata Regime", Economic and Political Weekly, March 1978. 22 Sunit Chopra and N K Singh, "Anatomy of a Riot", Economic and Political Weekly, 19 August 1972, p 1171. 23 Ibid, p 1171. 24 A K Ray and S Chakiavarty, "Kanmganj Riots: A Political Study", Sampra-dayikta Virodh Committee, 1968, p 16. 25 For a discussion of the planned nature of riots, see A K Ray and S Chakra-varty. Report of Mcerut Riots, Patriot, 23 February 1968. The authors observe, "We have no hesitation inputting the blame squarely on local leaders of the majority communal forces for the riots. The entire episode bore the stamp of organizat on and advance planning executed with a ruthless disregard for human lives". Ahmedabad riots are another example. See, Ajit Bhattacharjee, "Report on Ahmedabad: A Sinister Evidence of Advance Planning", Hindustan Times, 5 October 1976. 26 Ghanshyam Shah, "Communal Riots in Gujarat", Economic and Political Weekly, January 1970. 27 B Madhok made a very provocative speech about Muslims before the Ahmedabad riots, see, Ghanshyam Shah, ibid. 28 Shah says, "The hunrl'ation of Muslims went further. After demolishing Muslim graves, local people erected small temples. In Ahmedabad, at one place, the shrine of the temple was named 'Huladiya Mahadev', i.e. "The God of Riots'. In Baroda, the traditional folk dance of Gujarat, the garba, was performed around a destroyed shrine by a huge congregation. In Ahmedabad, on the vvall of a ruined mosque was written, 'It is a request to all Hindus to pass their un ne here' ", p 188. 29 Times of India, 21 November 1978. 30 Patriot, 10 November 1978. Navma.i and other RSS men were shielded on the plea that arrests could only bs made after CID investigations were over. 31 Report c.ted in People's Democracy, 23 September 1979. 32 Indian Express, 13 April 1979. 33 "Jamshedpur Riots", People's Democracy, 23 September 1979. 34 These inquiry commission reports are cited in Naidu, op cit. See her chapter on Communal Violence, pp 91-123. 35 For instance, in Varanasi PAC systematically raided the houses of Muslims and looted whatever was there. The attack was concentrated in Muslim mohallas where weavers live. They produce Banarsi sarees. New Age, 17 December 1978. Of course reports about Aligarh are replete with police atrocities. One report c fed the reaction of the Divisional Commissioner of Agra who wanted to impose curfew to avoid stabbing and arson on 8 November. He was told "Chamaar Ke Bachhe to Musalman ko bachana chahta". 36 Report cited in People's Democracy, 24 December 1978. 37 In no major communal riot were the miscreants convicted and punished by the process of law. The guilty are let off on the plea that communal clashes are the result of excitement of the moment and insistence on punishing the offenders will aggravate tensions and perpetuate a climate of conflict. 38 Naidu, op cit, p 120.