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What we can do to be better at being Indians?
by SB on Apr 18, 2006 11:51 PM   Permalink

Hi Syed,

I think you have a good question: "Why do we call ourselves Indians ...
when we cannot stand our neighbours who belong to different religions and
cultures?"

Even in big cities, people tend to live in blocks, defined by religion or
sometimes caste. I have heard such stories from some Christian friends of
mine in Chennai.

Sometimes these boundaries are reinforced by such "physical" issues like
the smell of fish, or pork, or beef. I do know of instances of people
refusing to sell to Bengalis because they will cook non-veg and therefore
defile the house/ society.

There are also fears: Tamils staying in Bangalore, Sikhs in many cities in
the North for many years after 1984, Hindus and Muslims in many riot-torn
cities. Depending on the place, some fears are real, some are imagined.

But the ghettoisation is real enough. In most cities, you can learn from a
local which area is populated by whom. And the boundaries are not too
fluid.

I just wish you had had a different title, relating to the question at the
end, not just your personal choice.

Let us not pour our hatred and anger, let us not deny the truth, let us ask
"What we can do to be better at being Indians?"


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The above message is part of the Discussion Board:
Why I won't live among Hindus