I am not sure what the criteris you have before a column is picked for loading onto rediff and that too on the main page.
This column seems to be showing only 1 side of the coin. Mr Syed, get your facts right. u r mentioning bombay riots, do u think only muslims were killed, were there no hindu casualties? if u r analysing the different localities, can u come out with figures of how many hindus stay in a muslim locality? do hindus feel safe in a muslim locality?
I am very much surprised by the editor putting this column on the main page..
First, I want to thanks you, Mr. Syed Firdaus Ashraf for writing these type matter publically. It will definitely help. I feel there are more than 30% Indians (Hindu, Muslim, Sikh, etc : all), who now also stick to those old mindset. They actually don't want to progress and some of them can't see progress of others (the ugliest). And this 30% portion is enemy of all, hindu, muslim, sikh; as a whole to all Indians. But we must come out of this. We are standing at 2006.
I agree with what the author has to say. This is true even for Catholic/Christian dominated areas. For e.g. in Bandra, Mumbai - there are some societies where there is an unwriten rule wherein only catholics are allowed to buy flats. "Chand Terraces" is one example.Mallika Arora Khan could only buy a flat there because of her catholic connections.
The point is that human nature is such that we as social beings like to be with the same type of people. Which is why sensitivities are hurt when, a vegetarian has to smell non-veg food or even subjected to viewing animal slaughter on some days.
I therefore think the matter has nothing to do with religion but it has to do with way of life.
The word "Mainstream" used by most saffron parties in india is to adopt the hindu taditions not the Indian traditions, unless and untill this kind thinking has been changed both communities cant narrow down there distance.
