How a city remembers

Twenty-five years ago, the Mumbai riots changed the narrative, a family bore witness. The episode left behind a justification of violence, and humiliation

Written by Sameena Dalwai | Updated: December 30, 2017 10:09 am

shiv sena, babri masjid demolition, mumbai riots, hindu muslim riots, bal thackeray, 1992 bombay riots, indian express

Twenty-five years ago, the Mumbai riots changed the narrative, a family bore witness. The episode left behind a justification of violence, and humiliation (Illustration: Subrata Dhar)

Written by Sameena Dalwai

Ours was a mixed household — Hindu mother, Muslim father. In the aftermath of the Babri Masjid demolition on December 6, 1992, my parents had to leave our home in Bandra East, situated on the LoC between Behrampada and the Shiv Sena-dominated chawls. Just across the highway was the Thackeray residence. We were not just a Muslim or mixed family, we were political activists. Shiv Sena rallies would stop in front of our building; the dhol would get louder while they would look up to the fifth floor where we lived.