Events of mass communal carnage have rocked the history of post-Independent India. These episodes have been characterised by impunity, targetting minorities and an almost state-sponsored operation. In their book, Splintered Justice: Living the Horror of Mass Communal Violence in Bhagalpur and Gujarat (2016), Warisha Farasat and Prita Jha investigate into two major communal massacres, of Bhagalpur in 1989 and Gujarat in 2002. Relying not just on official papers but also on in-depth testimonies of many survivors, they systematically chart the troubling failures of India’s criminal justice system to secure justice for survivors of hate violence.
In this interview with Kanika Katyal of the Indian Writers’ Forum, Warisha Farasat talks about the book came into existence, the challenges faced by women in their battle for justice, the Bilkis Bano judgement and more.
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The Holy Ganga Turned Red: Horrors of Mass Communal Violence in Independent India
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