On this day, 23 years ago, one of the most gruesome and shocking massacres in independent Bharat’s history unfolded in Godhra, Gujarat. The Sabarmati Express, carrying Hindu Karsevaks (devotees of Bhagwan Ram) returning from Ayodhya, was set ablase by an Islamic mob, burning 59 innocent men, women, and children alive. What followed was a relentless media narrative that distorted the truth, branding the subsequent events as a “Muslim genocide” while downplaying the barbaric attack on Hindus.
The Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) paid homage to the Karsevaks, saluting their sacrifice and remembering the horrific incident that shook Bharat. In a post on X, “27 February 2002, on this day, 59 Lord Ram devotees going from Ayodhya to Gujarat were burnt alive by Islamic terrorists in Godhra, Gujarat. Millions of salutes to the martyred Shri Ram devotee Kar Sevaks!”, VHP said.
27 फ़रवरी 2002 आज ही के दिन अयोध्या धाम से गुजरात जा रहे 59 रामभक्तों को गुजरात के गोधरा में इस्लामिक आतंकियों द्वारा जिंदा जला दिया था।
बलिदानी श्रीराम भक्त कारसेवकों को कोटि कोटि नमन!
#GodhraMassacre pic.twitter.com/LPMDXh0aG9
— Vishva Hindu Parishad -VHP (@VHPDigital) February 27, 2025
On February 25, 2002, hundreds of pilgrims boarded the Sabarmati Express, heading from Ayodhya to Gujarat after participating in the Purnahuti Maha Yagna at Sri Ram Janmabhoomi. Two days later, on the morning of February 27, the train reached Godhra station at 7:43 AM. As it departed, someone pulled the emergency chain, bringing the train to a halt near Signal Falia, a known Muslim-dominated slum area infamous for its radical elements.
The train driver later confirmed that multiple chains had been pulled, forcing the train to stop at a location notorious for communal violence. Within moments, a well-organised mob of nearly 2,000 people, armed with stones, petrol, and incendiary substances, launched a ferocious attack on the train. Stones were hurled to prevent passengers from escaping, while petrol-soaked rags were used to set the S-6 coach on fire. The flames quickly engulfed the coach, trapping and burning 59 Hindu pilgrims alive, including 27 women and 10 children.
According to J Mahapatra, Assistant Director-General of Gujarat Police, the attackers had prepared petrol bombs well in advance, indicating that this was a premeditated act of terrorism rather than an impromptu clash. One Muslim man, who was found dead inside the coach, was suspected of being the arsonist who got caught in the flames while executing the attack.
Despite the horrifying nature of the attack, the mainstream media and Western narratives swiftly shifted the focus, painting Hindus as aggressors and Muslims as victims. Instead of exposing the perpetrators, the Godhra train burning was either whitewashed or downplayed. The global media deliberately ignored the massacre, choosing instead to frame the subsequent riots as a “Muslim genocide,” completely erasing the memory of the 59 Hindus who were burned alive.
Wikipedia, often cited as an objective source, echoed this skewed portrayal by labeling the incident as “ethnic cleansing,” “state terrorism,” and a “pogrom” against Muslims while failing to acknowledge the brutal massacre of Hindu pilgrims. Leftist intellectuals, Communist historians, and so-called human rights organisations went to great lengths to shift the narrative, ensuring that the Godhra attack was overshadowed by allegations against the then-Chief Minister of Gujarat, Narendra Modi.
Contrary to the media’s portrayal, the truth emerged through legal investigations. The Supreme Court-appointed Special Investigation Team (SIT) confirmed that the Godhra train burning was a premeditated act of violence by radical Islamic elements. The Gujarat High Court and later the Supreme Court upheld the findings, leading to the conviction of several perpetrators. The judiciary established beyond doubt that the attack was not spontaneous but an orchestrated act of terror designed to instill fear in the Hindu community.
Despite this, the global narrative remained unchanged. The riots that followed the massacre were condemned worldwide, but the massacre itself was conveniently brushed under the rug. The 790 Muslims and 254 Hindus who died in the riots were constantly highlighted, while the Hindu victims of Godhra were left unnamed and forgotten.
The selective outrage of leftist NGOs and human rights activists was evident. While cases like Bilkis Bano and the Best Bakery incident were relentlessly pursued, the brutal deaths of 10 children and 27 women in the burning coach received little to no attention. The hypocrisy of the so-called secularists was laid bare when they refused to even acknowledge the targeted killings of Hindu Karsevaks.
