The lack of trust in the media is almost a fad here. 'TV-wallah and chhappawallah (television and print reporters)' are common expressions of abuse. Those who talk about the violence -- let alone question it -- are openly ridiculed at tea and paan stalls.
The commonly heard 'grievance' in Ahmedabad is that the media, particularly the English media and news channels, are 'defaming' Gujaratis as a people.
Chief Minister Modi has successfully sold this thinking to his people.
Suprisingly, even Congress leaders argue, "The more you talk about Godhra and the riots of 2002, the more you are helping the Bharatiya Janata Party and Modi."
Local Congress leaders suffer from an acute form of inferiority complex vis-a-vis Modi.
"Don't talk about HM, it gives Modi mileage," said Jagrupsingh Rajput, a Congress leader from Ahmedabad, and a former deputy mayor of the city.
In the last five years, no mass-based and popular community organisation has bothered to rationally debate the violence and the bloodshed.
Gujarati Jains, who are a micro-minority in Gujarat but who have greatly influenced its socio-cultural landscape, have also been silent.
You cannot ignore this fact, because in Gujarat, mercantile, cultural and religious organisations are robust, powerful, effective, cash-rich and relevant.
Whatever little debate has happened has been conducted by special interest groups or by a few organisations working with the minority community.
There is no platform where you can access a variety of views in the public domain. People do want to see Parzania, people are aware of the futility of violence and people who have voted for Modi and the Bharatiya Janata Party do have a 'mixed' opinion of the developing situation. But in the classrooms, academic institutions and in the vernacular media, there is a self-imposed blackout.
Image: In the vernacular media in Gujarat, there is a self-imposed blackout
Also see:
Complete Coverage: The Gujarat riots
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