Reconciliation in Post-Godhra Gujarat

To achieve a durable inter-group harmony, there is a need to impart lessons of reconciliation at the grass roots level and involve the participation of the civil society.

Professor Oommen has forcefully argues this point in his book reconciliation in Post-Godhra Gujarat: The Role of civil Society.

As Chair of the Gujarat Harmony Project, initiated by CARE India and comprising 12 partner NGOs, T.K.

Oommen was closely associated with the rehabilitation programme in post-Godhra Gujarat.

While there were numerous attempts to provide relief and rehabilitation in post-riot situations, none of them were specifically aimed at reconciliation.

In this regard, the GHP's role- with its focus on reconciliation along with re-building livelihood, as well as psychological healing and therapy among the victims of the 2002 Gujarat Carnage- can be viewed as an 'innovative intervention'.

This book records the efforts launched by the GHP and challenges faced by it in building inclusive communities.

In the process, Oommen has analyzed the dynamics of communal violence by situating the description of the carnage in a historical context and providing a detailed socio-political profile of Gujarat. Contents * List of Abbreviations * Preface * Acknowledgements Part I - An overview 1.

The social architecture of reconciliation in India: The perspective from above 2.

Contemporary Gujarat: A social -political profile 3.

Gujarat Carnage 2002: A descriptive account 4. Civil society intervention: the Gujarat Harmony project Part II- Case narratives 5.

Empowering women for reconciliation: Awag and Olakh 6.

Energizing youth for reconciliation-Centre for development 7.

Reconciliation through expansion of the frontiers of civil society: GSWT and XSSS 8.

Mobilizing the public for reconciliation KSSM 9. Reconciliation through secular values: Samerth and Snchetna 10.

Reconciliation through Equitable development: SAATH 11.

Training for reconciliation: Tribhuvandas Foundation and SAATH 12.

Psychosocial intervention for reconciliation: the role of NIMHANS 13.

Conclusion: lessons learnt and cautions required * References * Index.