Jogeshwari Gandhi Chawl March 1993

Cinematographer: Surbhi Sharma, Nasreen Mohammad, Anil Ingale

Duration: 00:50:45; Aspect Ratio: 1.333:1; Hue: 217.117; Saturation: 0.317; Lightness: 0.378; Volume: 0.097; Cuts per Minute: 1.379

A meeting with Jogeshwari Gandhi Chawl's Residents who lost their home and near ones when their house were set on fire
Venues:

Residence - Jogeshwari Gandhi Chawl

Interview - Tanaji chawk, YUVA Kendra, Sanjay Gandhi Nagar, Mumbai

On 6th December 1992, Babri Masjid was demolished and entire country was marred by Communal Riots. In Mumbai, Jogeshwari (East) faced many communal activities daily. On 7th January many houses were set on ablaze in Gandhi Chawl (mistakenly reported as Radha bhai till today) and six were dead reportedly. The impact of this news fuelled the incendiary situation and a brutal phase of state-sponsored rioting followed in its wake. YUVA's media unit films amidst heavy police bandobast. This video comprises of the interview of people who had lost their houses and family members and offers some clarification on the many rumours. They also talk about the lack of support from Government. They were so scared to stay in the same area, hence moved from the place. YUVA supported them by purchasing the land and gave them some finance and funds to live their life ahead. YUVA took over the rooms and formed Sadbhavna Sadan (Centre for Communal Harmony and peace) to foster love and brotherhood among Hindus and Muslims.

A meeting with Jogeshwari Gandhi Chawl's Residents
March-1993

A man is walking near the house. Few men are also standing and are perplexed to see the ruins of a house. People are inspecting the remains of burnt houses in chaotic environment.

Camera pans to the left and shows the opposite house. A woman with few kids is standing and looking at the chaos. A bewildered Police man is also present near the ruins of house.

People are looking and inspecting at the burned house. Ruins of house - bricks and other materials are lying down and are scattered everywhere. People are trying to walk and move through that remains.

Signs of God are seen in almost every burnt home. People are confused and scared. Everything of these houses is in ruins. Residents of this home are homeless and helpless now. Roof has been blown up. Utensils, cot and almost everything of the house are damaged along with the house. Occupants of the house have lost everything along with the house. Wall has been shattered. Lot of commotion is occurring among people.

Footages of the remains of the burnt house as well as the condition of the house are seen. The traumatic experience shocked the occupants and neighbourhood. Wide angle shot of the house is an evidence to understand the gravity of the issue.

PPF
Radhabai Chawl

One has to enter the Gandhi Chawl through this entrance. Children are standing near the entrance. Policemen are there to control the situation in order to avoid any possible violent act. Entire colony and various emotions of people are been captured in the camera.

Mohan Chawan, YUVA activist ask Gandhi Chawl people about the incident. People reveal and unfold the heinous crime which they had to undergo on 7th January. Light sheds on the incident as they speak and discuss about it. It comes to the light that the houses were set on fire around midnight.
Rajam Ram , Ganga Rame Bane, Sulajna Gangaram Bane, Meenakshi Eknathnarkar, Kamla Shivram Batle Vandan Shivaji Thodke are few who got burnt. A woman says how the majorities of them were staying in a single room and hid inside it.
They also shed light on the fact that the incident and the losses which they had to endure were not by accident and someone was planting the idea to harass and torture them. Attackers told them to stay inside the house and to not come outside.
They also say that their neighbours, who are Muslims, are in a good relation with them. This happened during communal riots in Bombay. Both of them had assured each other that if anything happens to them as a result of riot, they will help each other. Still the houses were set on fire.

A man interrupts that Muslim neighbourhood were co-operating them but he believes that some people among them were already aware of the plan as they were always taking care of them and were also concerned about them. He adds that he doesn’t mean that these people have committed the crime.
Again the woman continues how a man was burnt alive while he was sleeping. She is a witness as she saw people were trying to extinguish the fire from inside their home that was spreading fast from verandah to the house.
They also clarify about certain sensationalized news which was appeared in the newspaper.

They discuss about how politicians from LK Advani to local Corporators just assure them of the safety which they don’t fulfill in real life. They discuss the need to help each other during difficult times rather than exploiting people.
A man speaks about the money that was allotted to their rehabilitation by government. But they didn’t get single penny from seven lakhs Rupees. He demands an inquiry into this.

When Mohan asks about the status of the future, they say all the MHADA schemes and other schemes that government is promising them. They don’t have faith in it but they believe in YUVA. Their belief in YUVA is due to their experience with them.
They opine that they have not seen the people present during the horrific night but at the same time cannot even vouch that they are innocent and were not behind the crime.

They say how two Muslims have helped them to extinguish water. They provided water to Hindus even during communal riots.

They also talk about their lifestyle before the dreadful night. They say they have never faced any problem before it or during riots. But some people add that though they have never endured any discrimination to a large extent but some people used to create a problem when they buy newspaper or they do their daily chores.

They narrate their personal suffering and the loss of their near and dear ones. They also reveal how hooligans came and scared them with their tactics.

They give their opinion about the wrong information provided by news channel to public – Gandhi chawl was replaced by Radhabhai chawl. They believe that it was a purposeful attack. They also allege that government just assure in their talks but not in their actions. A husband who has lost his wife speaks about his helplessness. They clarify many rumours regarding Meenakshi’s death.

Pad.ma requires JavaScript.