Book on hate attack victims to hit stands in August

New Delhi : Travelogues, reportage and testimonials of a group that undertook a "Karwan-e-Mohabbat" (Caravan of Love), have found space in a "searing but compassionate account of how hate violence is tearing apart communities, destroying families and, in the end, threatening the idea of India itself".

The book "Reconciliation: Karwan-e-Mohabbat's Journey of Solidarity through a Wounded India" (Westland Publications/ Rs 399/ 192 pages) has been edited by human rights worker Harsh Mander, filmmaker-writer Natasha Badhwar and activist-author John Dayal.

In an attempt to seek out and support families whose loved ones had become victims of hate attacks in various parts of India, the group led by Harsh Mander travelled across eight states and met them.

Mander has previously authored "Looking Away: Inequality Prejudice and Indifference in New India", and "Fatal Accidents of Birth: Stories of Suffering, Oppression and Resistance".

"Reconciliation" consists of concerned citizens, writers, journalists, photographers, students, lawyers, and is a combined account of their "part travelogues, part reportage and part testimonials".

"Wherever they travelled, the Karwan encountered grief and bewilderment," Westland, a part of Amazon, said in a statement, adding that many families sought solace in this outreach of citizens standing with them in solidarity and helping them to seek justice.

"But there were also several people, across the political and social spectrum, who opposed the Karwan and its mission to highlight the oppression and violence faced by minority communities, especially Muslim," it said.

Calling the journey "a call to conscience", the publisher said the Caravan of Love was one of shared suffering, atonement and love.

The book will release on August 16.