Asian Social Forum held at Hyderabad during 2-7 January 2003 was a statement against forces of economic globalization. There were end number of seminars, workshops, discussions and of course cultural events that marked the unity of forces that are confront in the new phase of imperialism that calls itself globalization. The nexus between big multinational companies and financial institutions like World Bank and international monitoring fund is out to destroy and demolish the social economic bases of the developing nations. They work in tandem with imperialist forces like United States of America and other countries known as G-7. They have created institutions like World Trade Organization (WTO) which rule the market all over the world. The World Bank, the IMF and the WTO are playing a game with the whole globe but the rules of game are determined only by themselves.

The World Bank which came into existence after the World War II, is supposed to be an agency that provides loans and grants for development. But all its wings (the international bank for reconstruction development, the international finance corporation, international development association and multilateral investment guarantee agency) provide loans with such conditions that ultimately makes a nation their slaves. We have seen this process in most of the developing nations in form of structural adjustment programs that has demolished the economies of various nations. A country like India is a glaring example of this process. By implementing conditions put by World Bank, IMF and the WTO, we have not only ruined our economy but have also laid the basis of socio- political turmoil. The country, which at the time of independence promised to be Walfaristic State, has withdrawn from all kinds of people’s welfare programs. Health, education, employment, environment, food, shelter and all other related needs are no more the responsibility of the state. Public sector units, which were created at the time of independence, are being sold to private companies almost everyday. Before we signed the agreement with WTO the foreign company could own maximum of 49% of share in a company based in India. But today there is no such bar. All this has resulted in unprecedented economic crisis. Millions of workers are thrown out of jobs. Unemployment has reached sky high. Farmers are committing suicide. Students are forced to drop out of schools and colleges because they can not pay the cost of privatised education. Poor masses can not hope for longer life because health cost is beyond their reach. All this has contributed to all kinds of social insecurity. But the state has to show the countrymen that we are developing into a great nation. To do that we explode nuclear bombs. We talk of militarisation and war. We generate extreme kind of nationalism so that the people do not address the issues related to their social economic life. The September 11, terrorist attack on World Trade Center in America, followed by attack on Indian Parliament and over all increasing terrorist activities has provided legitimacy to the state to carry the nation towards their desired goals. The communal frenzy that we have been witnessing over the last two years thus can not be seen in isolation. It has direct links with the process of so-called globalisation, privatisation, patriarchy, nuclearisation, militarisation, nationalism and terrorism. This link is vital and can not be ignored.

The Asian Social Forum was the first event that underlined this link and hence was an extremely important event. Events related to issues mentioned above were held throughout the ASF. Communalism and related issues were taken up in various workshop, seminars and cultural events.

Following are the some of the programmes that were held during this week long event:

Title / organisers

Seminar: Religiosity, Identity and Global Struggles (CSDS, Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam)
Seminar: - Religiosity, Identity and Democracy II- Towards Liberation Theology (CSDS), Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam)
Seminar: Religiosity, Identity and Democracy II Islam, Muslims and Democracy (CSDS, Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam)

Religious fundamentalism in asia. This included:

• Fundamentalisms, state and Power

• Fundamentalisms and everyday life

• Creative citizens’ initiatives

Communalism, Dalit and Muslim Alliance
Democratic and Identity Anxieties of Muslims and Dalits

In the backdrop of Gujarat violence, the issue of communalism and religious identity has become an extremely important issue. During debates and discussions in these workshop and seminars, there was one thing that was common. We all have several identities. National identity, lingual identity, gender identity, regional identity, class identity etc. But why and how does the communal identity overshadow all our other identities even if we put our best efforts to resist it. Here it is also important to mention that more than ourselves, it is others who determine our identity in the society. The moment one spells his or her name, he or she is categorised in to a religious/ communal identity.

The role of state power in spreading fundamentalism and communal hatred was underlined in all most all the interactions. It is to be noted that in the context of South Asia in particular. The role of state become extremely crucial. Pakistan since its emergence it self based its polity on religious lines. It has always been Islamic state. It has always expressed it self socially and politically on majoritarian lines. Bangladesh after its independence from Pakistan looked like following democratic political system but in the recent past it has gone Pakistan way. India on the other hand had always been a pluralistic society. Mojoritarianism had no place either in political system or the social interactions. This is not to say that communalism did not exist in Indian society but political system never mix politics and religion. But the history of the last two decades tells us that religion has significant creeped into political system. The Bharatiya Janata Party rode to power with a meticulously planned movement around Ayodhya. The infamous Rath Yatra of Lal Krishna Advani was the beginning of using religion as a tool and means to snatch power. Godhra followed by whole Gujarat and Gujarat assembly election prove that the Indian political system is learning its lessons from its immediate neighbours. The whole Indian society is on the verse of being totally communalise and the Indian states has played its part in taking India to such a situation.

With ever-increasing hatred and violence on communal lines, the forces oppose to come religion have also taken a various initiatives to combat the communal and device forces. It is unfortunate that the political parties who were suppose to be doing their duties to fight communalism have remained mute spectators. This was evident particularly during Gujarat carnage. Apart from some lip service no political outfit really thought it appropriate to launch and all out effort in order to defeat the communal fascist forces. The vaccume left by these parties was somewhat filled by citizens initiatives. Throughout the country platforms of after platforms emerge to contain the tide of communalism. It should be emphasised that in the absence of citizens initiatives no relief work in Gujarat would have been possible. Almost all the relief and rehabilitation work was carried out by citizen initiatives in all parts of Gujarat.

It is question of reclaiming the democratic space that we have gradually lost to fascist forces collective efforts of this citizens initiatives is directed towards reclaiming the lost ground.

The Asian Social Forum was able to provide common platform to all those forces all over Asia to interact and learn from each other experiences. It also gave them opportunity to evolve a strategy, which could strengthen each other efforts in a co-ordinated manner.

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