That morning was just like any other, I was in my office checking my mails when I suddenly heard a sob from my next cubicle, It my my colleague. I locked my system and went to inquire . She kept repeating "What can I do? I am Tamilian".Is this the reason for her crying, I wondered. I was shocked to hear about her experience earlier on her way to office by office bus. A couple of people stopped the bus, beat the bus driver and took the vehicle keys. They then entered the bus and started shouting slogan in Kannada in support of Hogenakkal Dam. They cursed the Tamilians and asked all Tamilians in the bus to get down and leave the state. Nobody has any guts to reply to them. They kept abusing Tamilians. After around 10 minutes suddenly some policeman appeared from nowhere and instead of arresting the goons he asked the employees to collect money to pay as ransom to the goons and get rid of them. All the guys in the bus who were eduated IT Professionals agreed without any retaliation and collected Rs. 200 and saved their lives.
This incidence made me question the state of my country. What happened to India? What happened to the pledge that we were repeating every day starting from the first day at school? All Indians are my brother and sister. Did we lose the brotherhood? Instead of fighting against causes like terrorism, we are fighting over water and state boundaries. Earlier it was Hindu-Muslim problem and now it is cross state fights. Who is responsible? Our religion? Our 'sanskar' or our love for state?
I cannot forget my visit to Beijing recently which has left a lasting impression on me. I was walking to the hotel one evening when I saw a group of senior citizens dancing on some music in an open public place. I stopped by to watch them. When I was about to leave, one old lady from the group came up to me, wished me “Ni Hao” (Hello) and holding my hands she offered me to join them in the dance. I tried a few steps with them. Two people from different countries, culture and language communicated through the language of dance. It was an amazing experience. I danced for an hour with the group. I could only meet them twice before I left for India. We had a blast without even knowing each other’s name. This experience made me think of the war between India and China in 1962. If I could get bonded with the Chinese without even talking to them, then how could we fight a war? How could we be enemies? Aren't we human beings first? If there is nothing wrong with the people when people does not want to fight then why Tibet is burning? What are we fighting for? And why? And for whom?
Another incident happened to me few years back when I was traveling to Nagpur from Mumbai Though it was winter time, Mumbai was as usual, a bit warm so I didn't carry any winter wear for my journey. I tried to sleep at night but could not because of sudden drop in the temperature. Finally I slept around 4-4:30AM. Thanks to my alarm, I got up when the train was approaching Nagpur station and to my surprise I found myself wrapped in blanket. I folded it neatly and climbed down to my seat from the upper birth. One person in his 50s asked me, “Beti Tabiyat to thik hain na?” (How is your health child, Hope you are fine). I wasn’t sure why he was asking about my health. I realized when he pointed me to the blanket I was holding.
He told me that when he got up for his Namaj and found me shivering in the night, he spread one of the extra blankets he had on me. I felt a little embarrassed since I was trying to ignore that guy, and then thanked him. Did he help me because he thought I was a Muslim? Did he think about my religion? Or did he just help a girl who was uncomfortable?. I think it was compassion for other human beings.
I want to know when boundaries do not stop two people from being friends and if religion does not teach you to fight with each other, then why are we fighting? Is India really progressing? Does economic growth, GDP growth, rupee appreciation make India complete? Don't we want to concentrate on the major issues that burn the GDP and making it weak?
We must fight against racism within ourselves and only then will India become powerful. Every human being must protect the freedom of other human being.
Let us pledge once again, “All Indians are my brothers and sisters”.
This incidence made me question the state of my country. What happened to India? What happened to the pledge that we were repeating every day starting from the first day at school? All Indians are my brother and sister. Did we lose the brotherhood? Instead of fighting against causes like terrorism, we are fighting over water and state boundaries. Earlier it was Hindu-Muslim problem and now it is cross state fights. Who is responsible? Our religion? Our 'sanskar' or our love for state?
I cannot forget my visit to Beijing recently which has left a lasting impression on me. I was walking to the hotel one evening when I saw a group of senior citizens dancing on some music in an open public place. I stopped by to watch them. When I was about to leave, one old lady from the group came up to me, wished me “Ni Hao” (Hello) and holding my hands she offered me to join them in the dance. I tried a few steps with them. Two people from different countries, culture and language communicated through the language of dance. It was an amazing experience. I danced for an hour with the group. I could only meet them twice before I left for India. We had a blast without even knowing each other’s name. This experience made me think of the war between India and China in 1962. If I could get bonded with the Chinese without even talking to them, then how could we fight a war? How could we be enemies? Aren't we human beings first? If there is nothing wrong with the people when people does not want to fight then why Tibet is burning? What are we fighting for? And why? And for whom?
Another incident happened to me few years back when I was traveling to Nagpur from Mumbai Though it was winter time, Mumbai was as usual, a bit warm so I didn't carry any winter wear for my journey. I tried to sleep at night but could not because of sudden drop in the temperature. Finally I slept around 4-4:30AM. Thanks to my alarm, I got up when the train was approaching Nagpur station and to my surprise I found myself wrapped in blanket. I folded it neatly and climbed down to my seat from the upper birth. One person in his 50s asked me, “Beti Tabiyat to thik hain na?” (How is your health child, Hope you are fine). I wasn’t sure why he was asking about my health. I realized when he pointed me to the blanket I was holding.
He told me that when he got up for his Namaj and found me shivering in the night, he spread one of the extra blankets he had on me. I felt a little embarrassed since I was trying to ignore that guy, and then thanked him. Did he help me because he thought I was a Muslim? Did he think about my religion? Or did he just help a girl who was uncomfortable?. I think it was compassion for other human beings.
I want to know when boundaries do not stop two people from being friends and if religion does not teach you to fight with each other, then why are we fighting? Is India really progressing? Does economic growth, GDP growth, rupee appreciation make India complete? Don't we want to concentrate on the major issues that burn the GDP and making it weak?
We must fight against racism within ourselves and only then will India become powerful. Every human being must protect the freedom of other human being.
Let us pledge once again, “All Indians are my brothers and sisters”.
6 comments:
I am glad Suv, you brought this to platter..fact is - it's always been there but we've been deferring that.. one nibble at a time! we don't want to spoil the party ... we don't want to come out of self imposed stupor and see that the chicken who skipped out of our platter has come home to roost!
This divide has always been there not of creed or of boundaries but its much more as it's where that cant be scoured easily - our minds. This is a dog eat dog world and insanity is the latest virtue. We are at ease as long as the house burning is not ours.. we've got a bit too far.. being carefree could be affordable but we've been freaks and didn't even care! Out of 54 present in a TCS bus only one Suvarna comes out and tries to discuss it, the others are bombed with too many problems in their lives and don't want to take this one - want to defer this one unless it comes to them...unless they think it has come to them! We fear to discuss such things in open now...we rather want entertainment..the news channels are an example they had to change course and proffer masaala (spice)when it could be thought.. who has time for such institutional/ highly impractical discussions these days.. we've transformed ourselves and we watch/savor someone else's plight.
In a savage world brothers and sisters fight too as the creative facility of mind when not directed towards constructive affairs, gives room to insanity. It hunts and it's the hunted!
I must confess your blog was a good read and I agree with most of the things that you wrote but I think we only tend to react to things only when someone close to us goes through an experience and often are not very proactive in handling such issues.
Your comments about your experience in china were refreshing but tell that to a Tibetan or an India soldier patrolling the borders. Generally, internationally, people tend to behave well when they meet a complete stranger. For instance, if you were to meet a Brit or an American in Bangalore the chances of us being friendly with them are high compared to someone local.
Similarly, your story about train experience was also a great example of how people care for each other. Think for a moment, when the elderly gentleman was putting blanket on you had you woken up what would be your reaction?
Not that you are a racist but the society in which we live, subconsciously we have created a picture of what is good and what is bad. This is corrupting the very nature of how we look at the person who is next to us.
Just to make my point if you were t meet a few people from different backgrounds or religion, you might have some opinion about them even before you meet them, this could very well change when you get to know the person.
The problem you mentioned is very grave and in the longer term could jeopardise our existence. But the bottom line is society is prejudiced. Of course we should do our bit to help and educate people to think and behave rationally.
Dear mythoughts,
Your few observations are correct. Especially about elderly gentleman in train. Yes my reaction would have been different. But here I wanted to make a point for all the citizens in India and so in the world. Don't fight with each other. Do not take advantage of the situation. Be a human being and treat the other human being with love.
Dear Suvarna,
A feeling we all feel brought out in a deceptively simple way! You write well.
Do keep sharing! :)
Cheers,
Sujit
This is a remarkable post. Your observations to transcend the borders of religious or nationalistic comfort zones are very worthwhile.
Hi i feel gwd with u when i cld see u more down to earth...also i read ur blog and quite surprised hw wld get those imaginations to depict things...hm amazing keep on track;;;; :) take care..
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