Who are we?
We are residents of the Boston Area concerned about the rising communalization of South Asian societies. We formed the Alliance for a Secular and Democratic South Asia in January 1993 in response to the communal violence unleashed throughout South Asia by the destruction of the Babri Masjid in Ayodhya, India in 1992.
The principles and beliefs that unite us include:
Condemnation of violence perpetrated against any group on the basis of religion, caste, language or gender.
Communal violence is fostered and manipulated by vested interests that profit from such divisive tactics.
Democracy is essential for secularism. Furthermore, Democracy can not be merely the ritual casting of votes but must entail equal access to all people to the resources of society regardless of economic or religious background.
Secularism is not a choice but a necessity for the diverse and deeply interlinked societies of South Asia.