The spurt in incidents involving vandalism of shrines and places of worship has raised serious questions about the general law and order situation in the State. Take for instance the recent cases of crosses being vandalized in South Goa. Three of the crosses are located within a radius of just a couple of kilometers from each other. Incidentally, one of the three crosses, the famous Alma Khuris (Cross of the Souls) at Chandor has faced destruction for the second time in 15 days. The cross at Gudi was recently built by a family in memory of their son who had died at the same spot. And the cross at Paroda, at the foothill of the famous Parvat Mountain, has apparently borne the brunt for the first time.
It is important to note that all these crosses are in relatively isolated areas with no houses or people nearby. But the gall of those involved will have to be recognized for striking the same place multiple times without fear of the consequences if they were caught in the act.
What can we gather from these happenings? Are these incidents just random isolated cases of drunken miscreants? If one pays close attention to the political climate that is currently prevalent in the state in the country, it will be clear that these cases of vandalism are not just stray instances but some kind of a “surgical strike”, a focused, well-planned set of events meant to disrupt peace and create communal turbulence. This is no case of alcohol-driven mischief. It reeks of several incidents similar in nature elsewhere in the country.
We have to note that the areas of Gudi, Chandor, and Paroda, are places which have a varied demographic structure. There is a healthy mix of Hindus, Christians, and Muslims. Being located in the neighborhood of the Margao Industrial Estate in Nessai (Sao Jose de Areal) these areas also have a sizable population of migrant residents. With an assortment like this there is bound to be locking of horns from time to time. But these incidents of crucifix vandalism seem to be focused on only the Christian community. And it is very shocking that it has happened multiple times.
Let us perform a basic autopsy of this situation. Let us look at what seems to be obvious and plain. The general notion would be that with multiple attacks on Christian shrines, the attackers were possibly people not belonging to the Christian community; indications are towards the Hindu or the Muslim community. An obvious reaction to situations like these is communal conflict and possibly a rebellion. In extreme cases there could also be riots and violent clashes between members of the various communities, resulting in destruction of life and property and of peace. This is the obvious outcome of vandalism of this sort.
Now let us look at the situation from the perspective of the person or persons who initiate and ignite such kind of crimes. The communal clashes are exactly what they want. They want to make sure that brother turns on brother, and neighbour turns on neighbour. They want to make sure that they create a separation between communities so as to administer the classic tactic of divide-and-rule. They know that there is strength in numbers and if all the communities are united then it poses a problem for them to effectively exercise their dictatorship.
The dirty game of politics has no religion. And neither does it have any respect and consideration for any religion. Power is the God that politics venerates. Religions and humanity are readily and greedily sacrificed at the altar of politics. Power has a blinding effect and diminishes the significance of things like emotions, religion, faith, and trust.
So basically the person or group of persons who instigate communal vandalism like this has no regard for his own religion, let alone of others. Based on this theory, how can we be sure that the miscreants in any or all of the three incidents are not members of the Goan Christian community? I am not ruling out the possibility of some other community being responsible for this. All I am saying is that we cannot assume that all members of the Christian Community in those areas are innocent just by virtue of being Christian. Not everyone thinks alike and every community has radically-thinking individuals who are very easy to be bought off. People like this are fond of political unrest and thrive on creating ill feelings among people.
Being a Goan Catholic myself, I realize that I will be largely condemned by a lot of people for making a statement like this. It would appear as if I am making a negative comment about my own community, which I am not. I am only being fiercely real. No one is beyond suspicion. And rather than being a hypocrite I would bashfully and openly make my doubts and thoughts visible. Let me clarify again that I not saying that other communities might not responsible. All I am doing is not giving a clean chit to anybody.
Let us look at the situation objectively and practically. Let us for once consider these damaged crosses as plain brick and mortar structures. Let us take away the religious and the emotional component from the situation. What the miscreants are damaging is just the physical structure. By ignoring the vandalism and moving on with life as if nothing has happened, we will be successful in proving to these anti-social elements that they may be able to destroy the physical crosses and shrines, but they will not be able to break the strength in the faith that resides in our hearts and that they cannot turn us on each other. Let us quietly rebuild the physical structures together and if they manage to break it again then let us rebuild it again, no matter how many times they do it. As long as our faith is strong and our resolve is solid no miscreants can successfully do any damage.
But let us not resort to malice against each other just on the assumption that the person of the other faith is responsible for any damage. The objective of the wrong doers is to spread chaos as a result of which there may be an uprising that would bring with it all sorts of negative things like destruction of property, life and peace. And if we succumb to their tactics then we are so easily letting them win. Every time we even think wrong about the other person we are giving that amount of success to these demons.
So let us not get agitated, let us not react with violence. Let them try their best to break the unity and harmony that prevails between us.
