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{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2020}}
{{Use Indian English|date=November 2013}}
{{Infobox civil conflict
| title = 1969 Gujarat riots
| partof = [[Religious violence in India]]
| image = India Gujarat locator map.svg
| caption = Location of Gujarat in India
| date = September–October 1969
| place = [[Gujarat]], [[India]]
| coordinates =
| causes =
| goals =
| methods = Killing, Arson, Looting
| status =
| result =
| side1 = [[Hindu]]s
| side2 = [[Muslim]]s
| side3 = Others / Unidentified
| casualties1 = 24 killed, <br/>482 injured
| casualties2 = 430 killed, <br/>592 injured
| casualties3 = 58 killed, <br/>10 injured
| casualties_label = Casualties based on the police complaints<ref name="JagmohanReport1971">{{cite book | author = Pingle Jagamohan Reddy | author2 = Nusserwanji K Vakil | author3 = Akbar S Sarela | name-list-style = amp | publisher = Commission of Inquiry on Communal Disturbances at Ahmedabad and at Various Places in the State of Gujarat on and after 18 September 1969, Home Department, Government of Gujarat | title=Report: Inquiry into the communal disturbances at Ahmedabad and other places in Gujarat on and after 18th September 1969 | year=1971 | page = 180 }}</ref>
| notes =
}}
{{Violence against Muslims in India}}
The '''1969 Gujarat riots''' refer to the communal violence between Hindus and Muslims during September–October 1969, in [[Gujarat]], [[India]]. The violence was Gujarat's first major riot that involved massacre, arson and looting on a large scale. It was the most deadly Hindu-Muslim violence since the [[partition of India]] in 1947, and remained so until the [[1989 Bhagalpur violence]].<ref name="Christophe2010">{{cite book | author= Christophe Jaffrelot | author-link= Christophe Jaffrelot | title=Religion, Caste, and Politics in India | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=XAO3i_gS61wC&pg=PA377 | accessdate=2013-02-06 | year=2010 | publisher=Primus Books | isbn=978-93-80607-04-7 | pages=377 }}</ref><ref name="LaurentChris2012">{{cite book|author1=Laurent Gayer|author2=Christophe Jaffrelot|title=Muslims in Indian Cities: Trajectories of Marginalisation|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Z7J8ITgtkosC&pg=PA53|year=2012|publisher=Columbia University Press|isbn=978-0-231-70308-6|pages=53–60}}</ref>

According to the official figures, 660 people were killed, 1074 people were injured and over 48,000 lost their property. Unofficial reports claim as high as 2000 deaths.<ref name="LaurentChris2012"/> The Muslim community suffered the majority of the losses.<ref>{{cite book |author=Megha Kumar |title=Communalism and Sexual Violence in India: The Politics of Gender, Ethnicity and Conflict |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=cEB6DQAAQBAJ&pg=PT77 |year=2016 |publisher=I.B.Tauris |isbn=978-1-78672-068-9 |page=77 }}</ref> Out of the 512 deaths reported in the police complaints, 430 were Muslims.<ref name="JagmohanReport1971"/> Property worth 42 million rupees was destroyed during the riots, with Muslims losing 32 million worth of property.<ref name="LaurentChris2012"/> A distinctive feature of the violence was the attack on Muslim [[chawl]]s by their [[Dalit]] Hindu neighbours who had maintained peaceful relations with them until this point.<ref name="LaurentChris2012"/>

The riots happened during the chief ministership of the [[Indian National Congress]] leader [[Hitendra Kanaiyalal Desai|Hitendra Desai]]. The Justice Reddy Commission set up by his government blamed the [[Hindu nationalism|Hindu nationalist]] organizations for the violence. Various writers trace the causes of the riots to a mix of socioeconomic and political factors. The violence started on 18 September 1969 after Muslims attacked some Hindu [[sadhus]] and a temple, after the cows herded by the sadhus caused injury to them. The Hindus later attacked a Muslim [[dargah]], and Muslim protesters also attacked the temple again, leading to a mass breakout of violence.<ref name="Pingle1999"/><ref name="Ornit2007"/> The riots started in [[Ahmedabad]], and then spread to other areas, notably [[Vadodara]], Mehsana, Nadiad, Anand and Gondal. By 26 September, the violence had been brought under control,<ref name="Richard1992">{{cite book | author=Richard Edmund Ward | title=India's Pro-Arab Policy: A Study in Continuity | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=5n359Tp2FRMC&pg=PA91|year=1992| publisher=Greenwood Publishing Group | isbn=978-0-275-94086-7 | page=91 }}</ref> however some more violent incidents happened during 18–28 October 1969.<ref name="Subrata2006">{{cite book | author=Subrata Kumar Mitra | title=The Puzzle of India's Governance: Culture, Context And Comparative Theory | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=UISx53bmZLcC&pg=PA140 | accessdate=2013-02-06 | year=2006 | publisher=Routledge | isbn=978-0-415-34861-4 | page=140 }}</ref>

== Background ==

The Hindu-Muslim tension increased considerably in Gujarat during the 1960s. Between 1961 and 1971, there were 685 incidents of communal violence in the urban areas of Gujarat (plus, another 114 in the rural areas). Out of the 685 incidents, 578 incidents happened in 1969 alone.<ref name="AkshayWilfred1994">{{cite book | author1=Akshayakumar Ramanlal Desai | author2=Wilfred D'Costa | title=State and Repressive Culture: A Case Study of Gujarat | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Ubk4qXLI9AQC&pg=PA99|year=1994| publisher=Popular Prakashan | isbn=978-81-7154-702-9 | page=99 }}</ref>

Although Ahmedabad had been divided along the caste and religious lines, it was not a communally sensitive area until the 1960s. In the 1960s, the city's [[textile mill]]s attracted a large number of migrants from other parts of the state. During 1961–71, the city's population grew by nearly 38%, resulting in the rapid growth of [[slum]]s in the eastern part of the city. However, the mid-1960s onwards, a number of under-qualified mill workers in Ahmedabad became unemployed, as the jobs went to the small units of [[Surat]]. During the 1960s, seven large mills in Ahmedabad shut down, and around 17,000 workers lost their jobs.<ref name="Ornit2007">{{cite book | author=Ornit Shani | title=Communalism, Caste and Hindu Nationalism: The Violence in Gujarat | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ouAB7o63B9IC&pg=PA163|year=2007| publisher=Cambridge University Press | isbn=978-0-521-68369-2 | pages=161–164 }}</ref> The Hindus were over-represented among these workers, compared to the Muslims.<ref name="LaurentChris2012"/> The [[Dalit]] Hindu workers faced a greater sense of insecurity, as the local Muslim workers were said to be more skilled in the weaving. Several violent clashes involving the textile workers took place in the slums of the city, mainly between the Hindu Dalits and the Muslims.<ref name="Ornit2007"/>

The changing socioeconomic factors also impacted the political situation in the city. The [[Indian National Congress]] had been fragmenting, leading to tensions between its factions: the Congress eventually split into [[Indian National Congress (Organisation)|Congress (O)]] and [[Indian National Congress (I)|Congress (I)]] in 1969.<ref name="Ornit2007"/> At the same time, the Hindu nationalist organization [[Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh]] (RSS) had established local strongholds in the eastern parts of the city.<ref name="Gayer2012">{{cite book |author=Christophe Jaffrelot and Charlotte Thomas |chapter=Facing ghettoisation in 'riot-city' |editor=Laurent Gayer |title=Muslims in Indian Cities: Trajectories of Marginalisation |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qSnmSjPO6JsC&pg=PA53 |year=2012 |publisher=Hurst |isbn=978-1-84904-176-8 |page=53 }}</ref>

Several incidents led to increase in tensions between the two communities in Ahmedabad. During a three-day rally held in [[Maninagar]] during 27–28 December 1968, the RSS supremo [[M. S. Golwalkar]] pleaded for a [[Hindu Rashtra]] ("Hindu nation").<ref name="LaurentChris2012"/><ref name="Ornit2007"/> On the Muslim side, provocative speeches were made at the conference of [[Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind]] in June 1969.<ref name="Pingle1999">{{cite book | author=Pingle Jaganmohan Reddy | title=The Judiciary I Served | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=WnvoVvSIksgC&pg=PA191|year=1999| publisher=Orient Blackswan | isbn=978-81-250-1617-5 | pages=191–193}}</ref>

On the evening of 3 March 1969, a Hindu police officer moved a [[handcart]] that was obstructing traffic near the Kalupur Tower. A copy of [[Koran]] placed on the handcart fell on the ground, resulting in a demand for an apology by a small Muslim crowd standing nearby. The crowd soon grew bigger, and twelve policemen were injured in the subsequent violent protests. On 31 August, the Muslims of the city held a massive demonstration to protest the [[Denis Michael Rohan#Arson of Al-Aqsa|burning]] of the [[Al-Aqsa Mosque]] in Jerusalem. On 4 September, a Muslim sub-inspector, while dispersing a [[Ramlila]] festive crowd, hit a table. As a result, the Hindu text [[Ramayana]] and an [[Aarti]] ''thali'' (plate) fell down. The Hindus alleged that the police officer also kicked the sacred book.<ref name="Pingle1999"/> This incident led to protests by Hindus, and the formation of the Hindu Dharma Raksha Samiti by the RSS leaders.<ref name="Ornit2007"/> The Hindu Dharma Raksha Samiti ("Hindu Religion Protection Committee") organized protests in which anti-Muslim slogans were raised. The [[Bharatiya Jana Sangh]] leader [[Balraj Madhok]] visited the city and made fiery speeches on 14 and 15 September.<ref name="LaurentChris2012"/> Another incident included an alleged assault on some Muslim [[maulvi]]s, who were trying to construct a mosque in the [[Odhav]] village near Ahmedabad.<ref name="Pingle1999"/>

== September violence ==

On 18 September 1969, a Muslim crowd had gathered in the Jamalpur area of Ahmedabad to celebrate the local [[Urs]] festival at the tomb of a [[Sufi]] saint (Bukhari Saheb's Chilla). When the [[sadhu]]s (Hindu holy men) of the nearby [[Jagannath Temple, Ahmedabad|Jagannath temple]] tried to bring their cows back to the temple compound through the crowded streets, some Muslim women were injured. The cows also allegedly damaged some carts on which the Muslims were selling goods.<ref name="Pingle1999"/> This led to violence in which some Muslim youths attacked and injured the sadhus, and damaged the temple windows.<ref name="Ornit2007"/> Sevadasji, the [[mahant]] (priest) of the Hindu temple, went on a [[hunger strike|protest fast]], which he gave up after a 15-member Muslim delegation led by A.M. Peerzada met him and apologized.<ref>{{cite book |author=Zenab Banu |title=Politics of Communalism |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=vwI-AAAAMAAJ |year=1989 |publisher=Popular |isbn=978-0-86132-183-4 |page=93 }}</ref>

However, subsequently, a ''[[dargah]]'' (tomb shrine) near the temple was damaged by some Hindus. A large number of Muslims protestors gathered in the area. On the afternoon of 19 September, a crowd of 2500-3000 Muslims attacked the temple again. Following this, the rumors spread and the violence escalated, resulting in several incidents of arson, murders and attacks on the places of worship around the area. The Muslims in the eastern areas of the city and its suburbs started fleeing their homes for safer areas. Several trains carrying them were stopped and attacked.<ref name="Ornit2007"/><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/archives/from-the-archives-september-26-1969-17-killed-as-mobs-attack-train/article29511076.ece|title=From the Archives (September 26, 1969): 17 killed as mobs attack train|date=2019-09-26|work=The Hindu|access-date=2019-10-13|language=en-IN|issn=0971-751X}}</ref> A [[curfew]] was imposed on the evening of 19 September, and on the next day, the army was called in to control the violence.

During 19–24 September 514 people were killed. This period also saw damage to 6,123 houses and shops, mainly by Hindus.<ref name="Ornit2007"/> In the afternoon of 20 September 1969, a young Muslim man, angry at the destruction of his property by Hindus, announced that he would take revenge. An angry Hindu mob beat him up and asked him to shout ''Jai Jagannath'' ("Hail [[Jagannath]]"). The Muslim man said that he would rather die. The crowd then sprinkled petrol on him and burnt him to death.<ref>{{cite book |author=Jean Jacques Waardenburg |title=Muslim Perceptions of Other Religions: A Historical Survey |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=cBBnDAAAQBAJ&pg=PA266 |date=19 August 1999 |publisher=Oxford University Press, USA |isbn=978-0-19-510472-1 |page=266 }}</ref> The municipal corporation by-election scheduled for 22 September was postponed. The first curfew relaxation on the next day resulted in 30 deaths within the first 3 hours.

According to the Justice Reddy Commission set up by the Congress Government to investigate the riots, the [[Hindu nationalism|Hindu nationalist]] organizations like [[Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh|RSS]], [[Hindu Mahasabha]] and [[Jan Sangh]] were involved in the riots.<ref name="Subrata2006"/>

== Aftermath ==

The [[Pingle Jaganmohan Reddy|Justice Jaganmohan Reddy]] Commission of Enquiry was set up by the Government of Gujarat's Home Department. It published a report in 1971, questioning the police's role in the riots. It found around six instances of Muslim religious places adjoining [[police line]]s or [[police stations]] being attacked or damaged. The police defended themselves claiming these police stations did not have adequate strength since the forces were busy quelling the riots at other places. However, the commission refused to entertain this argument, since there was no report of damage to a Hindu place of worship near any police station.<ref name="GeorgeRobert2004">{{cite book | author1=George Alan Tarr | author2=Robert Forrest Williams | author3=Joseph Marko | title=Federalism, Subnational Constitutions, and Minority Rights | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=RC2rmMMlUt8C&pg=PA205|year=2004| publisher=Greenwood Publishing Group | isbn=978-0-275-98024-5 | page=205 }}</ref> Overall, 37 mosques, 50 {{transl|gu|italic=no|dargahs}}, 6 {{transl|gu|italic=no|kabristans}} (Muslim graveyards) and 3 temples were destroyed.<ref>{{cite book |author=Steven Wilkinson |title=Religious Politics and Communal Violence |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1uZtAAAAMAAJ |year=2005 |publisher=Oxford University Press |isbn=978-0-19-567237-4 |page=181 }}</ref>

The journalist [[Ajit Bhattacharjea]] accused the police of not taking any "firm action for the first three days", and stated that "this was not a matter of slackness but policy". An unnamed senior Congress leader told him that their government was reluctant to use force because it was afraid of losing power to Jan Sangh in the next elections in case it did so.<ref name="Asghar2003">{{cite book | author=Asgharali Engineer | title=The Gujarat Carnage | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=f6BEiDPvg68C&pg=PA187|year=2003| publisher=Orient Blackswan | isbn=978-81-250-2496-5 | page=187 }}</ref>

The members of the [[Bharatiya Jana Sangh]] called the violence a revenge for the [[Direct Action Day|massacre]] of Hindus by the [[All-India Muslim League|Muslim League]] in 1946.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Chandar|first=Y Udaya|title=The srange compatriot for over a thousand years.|publisher=Notion Press|year=2020|isbn=|location=|pages=}}</ref> On 26 September, a Hindu organisation called Sangram Samiti claimed that the Congress-led government had been appeasing the Muslims, and had been encouraging the "abolition of Hindu religion under the name of [[secularism in India|secularism]]". The Hindu organizations claimed that after the alleged desecration of the Koran in March, the Hindu police officer had to apologize twice, while "it took days for taking any steps when the Hindus were similarly insulted" after the alleged desecration of the Ramayana in September.<ref name="Ornit2007"/>

According to the author and social activist Achyut Yagnik, the 1969 riots were a turning point in the Hindu-Muslim relations in Gujarat, and led to a drop in the tolerance levels, which was visible in the later riots of 1992-93 and [[2002 Gujarat riots|2002]].<ref name="Asghar2003"/> After the 1969 riots, the state saw increasing Muslim [[ghetto]]isation.<ref>{{cite news | url = http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2008-01-02/edit-page/27743181_1_hindu-muslim-hindutva-achyut-yagnik | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20131109101621/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2008-01-02/edit-page/27743181_1_hindu-muslim-hindutva-achyut-yagnik | url-status = dead | archive-date = 2013-11-09 | title = Why Gujarat Is Special | author = Praful Bidwai | date = 2008-01-02 | work = [[The Times of India]] | accessdate = 2013-02-06 }}</ref>

==See also==
* [[Religious violence in India]]
* [[1985 Gujarat riots]]
* [[2002 Gujarat riots]]
* [[2006 Vadodara riots|2006 Gujarat riots]]
* [[Naroda Patiya massacre]]

== References ==
{{reflist}}

{{Riots in India}}

{{coord missing|Gujarat}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Gujarat riots}}

{{#seo:
|keywords=History of Gujarat (1947–present), 1969 in India, 1969 riots, September 1969 events in Asia, October 1969 events in Asia, Riots and civil disorder in India, Religious riots, Religiously motivated violence in India, Mass murder in 1969, Attacks on religious buildings and structures in India, Persecution by Hindus, History of Ahmedabad, Anti-Muslim violence in India, Crime in Gujarat, 1960s murders in India, 1969 crimes in India, 1969 murders in Asia
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[[Category:History of Gujarat (1947–present)]]
[[Category:1969 in India]]
[[Category:1969 riots]]
[[Category:September 1969 events in Asia]]
[[Category:October 1969 events in Asia]]
[[Category:Riots and civil disorder in India]]
[[Category:Religious riots]]
[[Category:Religiously motivated violence in India]]
[[Category:Mass murder in 1969]]
[[Category:Attacks on religious buildings and structures in India]]
[[Category:Persecution by Hindus]]
[[Category:History of Ahmedabad]]
[[Category:Anti-Muslim violence in India]]
[[Category:Crime in Gujarat]]
[[Category:1960s murders in India]]
[[Category:1969 crimes in India]]
[[Category:1969 murders in Asia]]

1969 Gujarat riots - Revision history

MetaBOT at 14:35, 8 July 2023