An Atheist Indian born into a liberal Hindu family, born and bred in a liberal cosmopolitan by tolerant liberal understanding Hindu parents, surrounded by different races, castes and religions and friends with MOST of them. I received my education from Christian missionaries who didn’t try to force their version down my throat. My most fierce academic competitor at that little age was a Muslim boy who also happens to be the funniest, most relaxed and the easiest to get along guy I’ve had the good fortune of calling my friend.
That was, in favor of full disclosure, a concise backdrop of where the following stems from.
Dearest Hon’bl Prime Minister,
I eat beef ! (I will NEVER ask a Hindu to serve me beef) I also eat pork ! (I will NEVER ask a Muslim to serve me pork) I’ve also eaten an octopus, a snake, parts of a horse and also deer and I Loved All of It (although i like these “fauna” only when prepared in the way of continental cuisines). In short I’ve made sure that ONLY through my eating habits I get disqualified, and in today’s times even disavowed by almost all religions. It is, as a human first, and as an Indian, my prerogative, my birthright AND MY duty (till the time I might be put on a ventilator or am comatose) to decide what to put in MY body. Food has never been and should NEVER be a “state-controlled” propaganda machine. Period.
I’ve been an atheist for sometime now, not because of a sudden unfortunate happenstance which corroded my Faith. It was precise, scientific questioning of all facts, reasoning and logical explanation made available to me. I thoroughly respect other people’s faith in a higher power and a supreme being, whatever version one might be indoctrinated in OR choose to live by. Belief in a certain Religion or Customs or a belief system can NEVER guarantee the Merits of an Individual or a cohort of people. Inasmuch is our need to simplify and categorize everybody and everything so as to not tax our brains too much, the “ritual” of setting religious beliefs as parameters of Good and Evil No longer makes sense. In a short life span, I’ve experienced that the chasm that exists between the two ends of the spectrum of human virtues can never be fulfilled by just religion. It does make for a worthy guide but is never the piece which fits the puzzle. “State-controlled” Religion is a fallacy and a delusion utopia, one which can never be achieved. You ONLY need to look as far as our neighbors.
This post/open letter is the unholy child of two phenomenons which have cropped up recently in my own life and has made me to ponder. The first one, that is on a larger scale, is the recent ongoing issues of Beef Ban, Cow slaughtering,The unfortunate Dadri Murder over paranoid false suspicions and the second, much closer to home is an issue which creeps up every year during this time of Nav-Ratri in the society where my family now resides. The society where we reside now, is predominantly MUSLIM, as such for the past 6 odd years, the 12-15 Hindu families have never felt threatened by the 50 odd Muslim families whom we call neighbors. There exist some spectacular people from both faiths and some rather despicable ones as well from both faiths. Every year, the Muslim community raises issues over the Hindu faction bringing in the idol of Goddess Durga and conducting the rites and rituals of the festival. (this being said, I’d like to add that its just a mild mannered suggestion or an advice and NOT a intolerant diktat). I do NOT understand this phenomenon. I wish there was a way to assuage their doubts WITHOUT pandering to their rather nonsensical notions of what should and what should NOT be.
While this subtle resistance exists on the micro level and closer to home, the reverse trend had been manifesting itself on the larger platform and in a much harsher, stronger, superbly intolerant AND arrogant and a calamitous way. This does not bode well for the India of your and my dreams Mr. Prime Minister.
Our collective conscience is in desperate need of a course correction. We were meant to be the pivotal generation that changes the future of Our Country and the World, You’ve claimed the same on many a platform. But we’re being progressively silenced by these aggressive radical dolts and unfortunately so are You.
For all those decrying the sacredness of the cow, I throw a challenge YOUR way…Next time you’re out of your “well” and you see a YOUR Most Holy and Beloved Cow suffering from malnutrition and probably heat stroke, go adopt the damned animal. Next time, it takes you an hour instead of 10 minutes to reach your destination, go take the initiative to move the damn animal, picnicking bang in the middle of the road, to the side AND call an Animal shelter Home. Next time you choose to prostate, touch or sprinkle the animal’s sacred urine on your body, feed it a proper diet for a year instead of leaving it to munch on plastic bags and glass shards.
I must admit, that i am going to publish this with a tinge of fear and THAT is the state of affairs that has been whipped up in your country.
Maybe its a media run propaganda, maybe its ONLY a few selected pockets of our vast nation where this has been happening for centuries BUT only being highlighted to deride you Mr. Prime Minister. But It IS happening and putting the onus on the state government wasn’t something i’d come to expect from a man of strong words and action.
I implore the few on the fringes who do read this to not trivialize the challenges facing us and overshadow it through radicalism.The sole vice that you possess of being the loudest, DOES NOT bestow upon the likes of you and your actions righteousness.
grappling Realities 