Let’s
get this over and done with. India is no more a Hindu nation than it is a Hindi
speaking one. One of the nicest things we can say about this country is that
since ancient times it has provided a home for diverse people who have little
in common aside from the shared identity of being Indian. But what exactly does
that even mean?
The
more misguided among us would insist that the real Indian is a vegetarian,
devout Hindu, Cow and Cricket worshipper, Hindi speaker, and Bollywood lover.
Anybody who begs to differ of course is an anti – national terrorist who
deserves to be lynched or trolled with the most abusive language that can be
conjured from the diseased depths of a sick, extremely prejudiced mind.
Never
mind that an overwhelming majority loves animals fried or roasted, buys all
things made of leather at exorbitant prices, have been known to tuck in with
relish into a steaming hot plate of chilli beef or go to town on a triple
whopper. Some of us belong to other faiths or proudly declare ourselves to be
atheists or agnostics. You wouldn’t believe it, but there are too many of us
who prefer chess to cricket, don’t speak a word of Hindi, and haven’t yet
hopped onto the Bollywood bandwagon, thank you very much.
All those possessed with half a brain and a
shred of decency would admit that preferences need not be confused with
principles, that jingoistic nonsense cannot be tolerated let alone actively
endorsed and the ridiculous notions upheld by those who ought to know better
but don’t are beyond ludicrous. But how do we deal with those who cannot be
reasoned with and are deranged enough to stoop to murder over idiotic ideology?
It
behoves us to take a stand against those who would try to beat us into
submission and force their divisive beliefs on us, which goes without saying.
Yet, for the love of all things holy and unholy let us be Gandhian about it and
rise above violence in word or deed. There is too much of hatred induced
madness going around and it is tearing apart our motherland.
We
need to acknowledge that for better or worse we are all Indians, despite the
glaring differences between us. Without exception, we belong to a sprawling,
extended family that is scarily dysfunctional and as far removed as it is
possible to be from what Sooraj Barjatya would like to believe. And it is all
the more reason for us to put up with each other’s nonsense, make nice even
when it seems the hardest thing to do and find a way to live with each other.
Getting mad at those who don’t see eye to eye with us will never help. Ever.
Unless of course there is kissing and making up involved afterwards.
Being Indian is a beautiful thing, which a
lot of us take immense pride in. It is something worth doing everything in our
power to preserve even if that means killing only with kindness and standing
together, no matter what.
An edited version appeared in The New Indian Express
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