ABSTRACT
Violent images from Kashmir filled television screens last week. So let’s look at the tally. Seven Naxal-affected states, disturbances in all seven north-eastern states and, of course, the ever-present strife in Kashmir—15 of India’s 28 states have violent internal conflicts at present. In addition, we also have religious/caste/regionalism-based violence in other parts of the country. If that’s not enough, add honour killings to that list. While no one strife dominates, we are probably living in one of the most violent times in independent India. This in 2010, when India is one of the fastest growing economies in the world, when we have a relatively stable government and we see more affluence around us than any other time. Three questions come to mind: What’s going on? Where will all this lead to? Most importantly, what can be done about it?
