THE DAY dawned on Saturday, 17th September 2011 as usual in Ahmedabad, the commercial capital of Gujarat. An activity of great importance, however, was to take place in the Convention Centre of the University of Gujarat. Many men, women and adolescents dressed in their ethnic wear pronounced loud and clear why they had assembled post-Sunday breakfast. Hindus with Tilak prominent on their foreheads, Muslims with their white perforated skull caps, Sikhs in their saffron turbans and long flowing untrimmed beards and Christians distinct with long crosses hanging on their chests were seated in multiple rows in the hall. Their religious priests were more prominent with their lifestyle and distinctive seating arrangements.

 

Sadbhavana Upvaas or a fast for communal harmony – these words buzzed in the hall time and again. Modi’s name was mentioned by one and all with great expectations. Lo and behold! There he was, Narendra Bhai Modi, Chief Minister of Gujarat. Dressed in an off-white Kurta and Pyjama with a BJP coloured Uttariya and exuding confidence, he went to the Dharm Gurus, bowed before them in reverence and received their blessings.

 

After all he was going to launch a gigantic project of bringing peace, prosperity and fraternity among all residents of Gujarat by going on a three-day fast right there. A great believer in the efficacy of UPVAS or fast as a great healer of wounds – physical, mental and spiritual – he chose to go on Sadbhavana fast himself. While answering myriad questions shot at him by the inquisitive Press, he serenely said, “It was need of the hour.”The ever chatting reporters went speechless and maintained perfect silence thereafter. Those who came to scoff, remained back to pray. An exemplary it was and rightly so, won the sincere admiration of one and all, including families that had lost their loved ones in the Godhra train burning and the communal riots that followed after in the year 2002.

 

Modi had explained to the large audience that had assembled in the Convention Centre of the Gujarat University that the Sadbhavana Vrat or Fast for Harmony was genuine. The feelings were real and the emotions genuine. There was a longing among all sections of the society to let bye- gones be bye-gones and all Gujaratis must look forward to give a secure, peaceful and prosperous future to the new generation. A fast is undertaken to cleanse the mind, heart and soul so that grave mistakes of the past are not repeated.

 

The Muslim community, especially their veiled women, went onto the stage to meet Modi and express their solidarity with him and pray for the success of this unique programme of fasting for a cause. Of course, they all knew that all major religions prescribed “fasting” as a means of cleansing one’s self of all the muck that accumulates over a period of time. The Muslim community that observes fast from dawn to dusk very well realised the importance of keeping fasts like they observed Roza during the fasting month of Ramadhan. After this simile, there was no requirement to explain anyone why I did not pursue my complaint lodged with a judge. It was the philosophy of “Resignation to the Will of God” that motivates many men and women to call a complaint off and live in peace. The Hindus, the majority community in the stat also had no plans to cry over the spilt milk. Past is past and one must look to making the future secure and peaceful.

 

The Sadbhavana Vrat improved the atmosphere of Gujarat one hundred percent. Moreover, the future plans of the Chief Minister to tour the entire state and reassure the common man did wonders. The Sadbhavana yatra and the Vrat or fasting was a solemn oath to treat all citizens equally and defend them with the might of the State. A visit to the  Dwarka Dheesh  temple by the Chief Minister and offering  prayers there convinced the common man that the Chief Minister was beseeching Lord Krishna to save the good people from the ugly and evil people so that ultimately peace prevails.