My letter to BBC
Sub: Wednesday, 2 October, 2002, 13:37 GMT 14:37 UK
Religious clash erupts in Gujarat
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/2292829.stm
Dear Sir,
I am so glad that you are on top of news as it happens in India.
The news item mentions that the violence broke out during a song singing during Mahatma Gandhi birthday celebration.
The following paragraph in your report provides the clue:
"A police superintendent in the area, Anupam Gehlot, told AP news agency the clash followed an altercation that broke out during speeches and songs celebrating the birthday of Mahatma Gandhi."
One cannot pay due respect without singing his secular and peace provoking song . This most favorite song of Gandhiji included a line that means God is One, but He has different names like Allah (for Muslim) and Ishwar (for Hindus). Gandhji promoted this song to promote harmony among Hindus and Muslims. He worked very hard for this noble cause of religious harmony.
This song is very popular among Hindus in places of worship to accept Allah as God. However, the same song offends Muslims because Muslims cannot accept any other name but Allah, for the God.
By reading your report I can sense that this offensive singing of Gandhi's secular devotional song was THE REASON for Hindu Muslim clashes during Gandhi Birthday Celebration in Bhavnagar, Gujarat, India.
This is not the first time happening.
…… Dahyabhai Patel