Interviewed by Sayeed Rumi Mundabra, translated by Aardra Surendran
(Ashok Mochi and Qutubuddin Ansari, the two familiar faces of Gujarat riot 2002 recently shared stage in a function organized by left cultural organizations at Kannur, Kerala)
Remember Ashok Mochi? While the image of Qutubuddin Ansari pleading for help spread all over the world as the face of the victims during the Gujarat riots, we knew Ashok Mochi's image as representing the rioters. Ashok Mochi- with a spear in his hand and a saffron headband. A demonic image that Indian secularism witnessed with disgust and horror. It told the world who and what the riot was.