The Indian Muslim is confused, worried and angry

Imran, a ten year old, tells that his grandfather says all hindus are kafirs. But he enjoys watching ramayan and stealthily watches it in his hindu friends’ home.

Latif was in office the day police shot dead terrorists and caught some more in a flat in Jamia Nagar. And he is worried. Not because one of his ‘kaum’ has lost life. He is worried about his khala (aunt) who stays closeby.

Matin is angry. A colleague has just said that he rightfully belongs to Pakistan. Does he? His father, grandfather and many more generations before have stayed in India. Then how come he is from Pakistan or any other muslim country.

The Indian muslim is confused and worried and angry.

As soon as a bombing or a communal riot takes place, he is required to take sides.

As soon as the neighbouring Pakistan prepares for attack on India or attacks India, he is required to take sides.

As soon as someone from the community bombs some city, he is required to take sides.

He is required to take sides for all muslims all over the world.

Why is this standard not applicable to hindus?

Why is a Hindu in India not responsible for a Hindu in Nepal supporting ISI of pakistan?

Even hindus indulge in terrorist activities. But everytime such a thing happens from the majority community, soon a civilised group appears within hindus that condemns the activities.

In recent years, some civilised groups within the Islamic community too have come to condemn the ills, but they are very few or they are considered hoax.

Many say that the muslims mustn’t have been allowed in india at the time of partition.

Can India be freed of muslims. My answer is no. Pakistan, which is a muslim country, still houses hindus and people advocating other religions. Is it then possible for India to oust muslims being a secular country?

It is not the matter of allowing anyone to stay in a country. Isn’t India as much the home of muslims as hindus or sikhs or buddhists? It is. Had religion been as important to the lives of people, wouldn’t the muslims have left india at the time of partition. but they didn’t. they loved the country. they loved their land. they would not gamble all of this for a religion.

and they didn’t accept the bait given by pakistan. but time and forever, they are said to have a soft heart for pakistan. they stayed back in india because they genuinely wanted to stay in india.

islam has come to be associated with terrorism. but have we ever tried to understand why the mohammedans indulge in such activities. they have been traumatised. traumatised by the west. traumatised by people in power (nanavati commission gave a clean chit to the modi government. then who committed the rioting in gujarat?)

i do not think that the few people who say they represent the muslim community and are spreading terror to take revenge are right? some people with vested interests are using the non-representation of muslims to their advantage.

what if there was no islam? would the world have been any peaceful? many of us will believe that the world would be peaceful without islam and muslims. but this is not so? Moin Ansari, a noted scholar, says that the world would have been just as tumultous, muslims or not. read it here.

Dwindling respect for Mahatma Gandhi

while commuting everyday to noida from north delhi, there are a horde of temples that i pass enroute. as a devoted believer, i make it a point to show respect to these roadside gods and goddesses with folded hands. a slight deviation is when i pass rajghat, the samadhi of mahatma gandhi, the man who gave us our freedom from the british, and should have thus been equivalent to any god. not wanting to be an oddity, i decide to follow the general apathy of people towards mahatma gandhi (some people insist on not using the word mahatma). my respect for mahatma gandhi though is intact.

Bachelor of Arts: R.K. Narayan

It was during my third year in graduation from Delhi University that I got a chance to read Bachelor of Arts by R.K.Narayan. Was it because I was on the same stage of life as the protagonist that i liked reading the book – my first english book by an Indian author. And from that time onwards, it has become one of my favourites.

Bachelor of Arts is a story about a young guy named Chandran, who has just passed college and is preparing to go to London for higher studies. During this period, he comes across a girl named Malti. It is love at first sight. From day one, the hero develops a liking for this girl, but cannot get the guts to propose to her directly.

But he sure has guts to talk marriage to his parents. Being the eldest son, even his father (who is a staunch Hindu and believes that the girl’s side must take initiative) accedes to his wishes. But god has different plans. The marriage never happens. The stars don’t match the girl and the boy and Malti (the girl who Chandran dotes secretly) is married to another person.

The story doesn’t end here. The hero flees from home to become a sanyasi and gives up the worldly life. Grows beard, eats less, and lives like a sanyasi. But his mind is not calm, the number one prerequisite to become a sanyasi.

One day he thinks the futility of all these. Why has he left his parents, who catered to every desire of his for twenty years; only for a girl whom he had met just a month ago? As soon as the thinking dawns upon him, the desire to return home becomes strong in his mind.

And he returns. Although the return is painful, he slowly gets accustomed to life. He falls in love once again, proving false all those Bollywood generated myths that a person loves only once. This time with a girl who his parents have suggested for marriage.

I loved this book and until I gave this book to a friend would read it often. What about you all? Have you had a chance to go thru this book? If not, I will strongly recommend Bachelor of Arts by R.K. Narayan.

Delhi To Noida

“Where can i get a bus to Noida”, I asked this young gentleman on the corner of the road. Go towards the depot and you will know. The answer appeared vague that time, but i soon learnt what he meant. Naveda, Naveda – bus conductors were shouting at their highest pitch to draw in passengers to their buses in that typical western UP style. Barely had I disclosed my intention to go to Noida that i was literally forced into a bus. Route 347 runs from ISBT to Noida.

“What time will the bus start?”.

“8.15″, the staff answered.

“But it’s already 8.15.”

“That’s by your watch. In my watch, it’s still ten minutes to 8.15.”