I won't be surprised if something of that sort has happened. But trust me over the years the concept is changing. People started to look more than just religion. I would say being a Brahmin i have most of my good friends are from muslim where i love to join them in Bakrid (i love chicken as well). I am sure the same thing won't be accepted by my family but i am ok with it. I know it doesn't matter for me at all. I always wanted people should live together without making there own community. That way both the religion will get a chance to interact more and the psedo boundries will be minimised. In the era where economy plays an important role i doubt people hardly pays a damn to religion.
I deeply appologise for the incident that happend with you on behalf of Hindu community, and request you to start the expedition once again. take the initiative of having a proximity rather than staying in a cocoon far away from other religion. Others will follow for sure.
I can imagine your situation and I feel sorry for the same. Yes, you are right, I think it takes a huge change to accept Muslims in the mainstream. Albeit, commoners can accept and adore Muslim celibrities, they seem to be harsh when it comes to realities.
I have something to share with you on this. I am part of a very popular voluntary organisation. For some reasons, it is regarded as pro-Hindu from many Muslims. I was trying to advocate one of the foundation's programs by standing in a nearby park and distributing flyers to the passersby, who were predominantly early morning walkers. I made no distinction between a Hindu and a Muslim. I am sure that the organisation I represent doesnt make any distinction either.
I saw a middle aged Mulsim man with flowing beard walking in the park. He had noticed the banner of the organisation and had seen me distributing flyers to people in front of him.When he approached me, he thought it wasnt meant for him and began walking forward with a grin on his face,ignoring my existence.I reached out to him and gave him the hand-out and explained the program of my organisation. He was pleased. He shook my hands and felt pleased for being accepted.
What you mentioned is true the other way around too. A hindu is not welcome in a muslim colony.
What I want to know is what was your aim in posting that column. Yes I know that there is scope for improvement.India is not going to improve by you just posting a column with such a scary title.
There is an appropriate medium and way to air your opinion. I sympathise with the treatment metted out to you and find the behaviour of these so called "Hindus" disgusting, but that said, you should also feel sensitised towards the fact that this "revealation" so to say shall just spark off a mud slinging duel in which we would just try to get one up over the other with the holier than thou attitude that most of us sport and more skeletons shall appear from the closet....I dont think you would want to see yourself as someone who widened the already existing chasm between not only Hindus and Muslims...but other castes as well....not now..not ever! I am sure that with the one negative response that you got, there shall be umpteen positive responses too that may have come your way. I shall look forward to hearing from you about that time when you were actually given the go ahead to move into a so called "Hindu" society. On being rejected from one society you wrote an article with this said title....has it ever crossed your mind that India is on paper a Hindu country as well....would that deter you from not living amongst Hindus??
I just want to tell this friend that whatever forced him to find a house in a hindu locality was not a genuine one. Before blaming other people and fusing about being born as a muslim in a hindu country, try to spread good messages which will bind people of the country inspite of burning flames in their hearts again and again. the story is same on both the sides, even hindus in the hindu country suffer because of the other religion, and all the roits which have occured in the country till date are fully politicised, which should be clearly understood by everyone.
This column exposes the ground reality, yet we cannot delink or demarcate the boundaries. I am a Christian, while shifting our house, I called a number from the Rentals Column, the house owner happens to be a Hindu and also a Major in the Army. Upon enquring all details, he came to know that I was a Christian. He curtly declined to letout his house to a Christian. He was reluctant to talk on that any further but just said NO to Christians. Though this incident is 10 years old it's still fresh in my mind. How can someone do justice to the country when he is prejudiced.
It does not mean that Hindus are against Christians or I distanced myself from Hindus. Infact they are my best and dear friends & well wishers too, more than many of the Christians I know. Now I live in a Muslim locality, where the house owner is a Muslim, living in peace all these years without any hassels.
Wish and Pray that we Indians live like Indians atleast in India, rather than as Hindus, Muslims or Christians.
I must add to my previous comment that discrimination must be opposed and fought against at every level. The incident described in the article should get some NGOs or Human Right activists thinking. We need to start a process that leads to better understanding of different cultures that exist in India.
Another thing that will certainly help is people from different background living together (this has started with a lot of young people from different background living in same locality in new developments in Gurgaon, Blore, HBad etc).
Excellent article. I truly simpathize with your feelings. It is sad that we call ourselves a secular society and even after nearly 60 years of freedom we have these issues.
We have long way to go.
But the very fact that you were allowed to pen down your thoughts, itself shows that in India we have at least that freedom of expression which is not permitted at our neighbouring societies.
