VP releases book 'Reconciliation in Post-Godhra Gujarat'

New Delhi, Oct 24 (UNI) Vice President Mohammad Hamid Ansari released a book titled 'Reconciliation in Post-Godhra Gujarat: The Role of Civil Society' authored by eminent social scientist T K Oommen at a function here today.

Addressing on the occasion, Mr Ansari said the book was not altogether a theoretical book but was based on actual experiences.

He said when a calamity occurs, the options are relief, rehabilitation and reconciliation and expressed his concern that the process of reconciliation did not reach the affected people living in the various camps there.

Mr Ansari opined that communal violence was often a deliberate product of human design seemingly provoked by national or religious passions and there was a need to impart lessons of reconciliation at the grassroots level and involve the participation of the civil society.

The book records the efforts done by the Gujarat Harmony Project (GHP) and the challenges faced by it in building inclusive communities.

It has analysed the dynamics of communal violence by situating the description of carnage in a historical context and providing a detailed socio-political profile of Gujarat.

It has attempted to contain communal violence by encouraging the ideas of secularism and unity in diversity. To achieve a durable inter-group harmony, lessons of reconciliation at the grassroot levels are needed.

Mr A R Antulay, the Union Minister for Minority Affairs, and Mr Dilip Padgaonkar, Member, National Commission for Minorities also addressed the gathering, in which a number of dignitaries were present.

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