I’ve not posted for quite some time now, and I am sorry about that. I was traveling, and then I fell ill, and then I was traveling again.
On my way, I noticed a few things, which I thought I might share.
Travel
South India is very sensitive about it’s languages and culture. They feel that the North Indian (Hindi) culture is trying to eat up their culture and language. Sometimes these justifiable concerns are used wonderfully by southern chauvinists. Because of them, we’ve had a riot when a famous Kannada actor (Rajkumar) died (of age). Mob went out and pelted stone at windows, shops and glasses. Because of these same chavinists, all buses in Karnataka have their destination written only in Kannada. A real pain in the neck for who don’t read Kannada, some of them are Kannada themselves (they study in English).
It was, therefore, very surprising when I noticed that there was not a single announcement made in Kannada at the Bangalore airport. All announcements were made in Hindi and in English. That’s the other extreme. It felt as if the urban rich India was challenging the common Kannada people- `we don’t give a damn’. I didn’t like the absence of Kannda, just as don’t like the absence of English on Karnataka buses.
Untouchability
Shattered Me (Picture by Splat Worldwide)
Then I was at Kolkata.
I feel happy that I am from a state which does not practice cast system much. West Bengal has little record of female foeticide- the sex ratio is fairly normal here. Communalism is less than most parts of India, but on the rise at the moment.
I have also felt disgusted that India, in general, practices all of these, and is not taking it seriously to undo them.
I have always heard about untouchability. Little did I expect that I will see it being practiced in Kolkata, a poor place of high morals, a place I thought has risen far above these.
At the flat where I was putting up, there lives a lady, opposite to my place. She’s not a bengali, to be fair to the the Bengalis. She was standing at the gate, buying some fruits from a street vendor. She threw a plastic bag towards the man (She stood a metre away from him). The Nepali darwan held the bag as the poor man poured fruits into the bag for the woman who wouldn’t touch her.
I could stand there anymore. I left. Arguing with her would have been futile, for a number of reasons. The best thing I could have done, I realized later, was to find a pretext to shake hands with the man in front of her. I hope I will remember the lesson next time I encounter a similar situation.
manas
Indeed there is much confussion in this world as to who Muslims are, if we look at historical examples of Muslims like in Andalusia, Spain. Then we would have a clearer understanding of how Muslims (The Moors) contributed to society. This contribution was not only from Muslims but also from Christians, Jews and others. Which created a brilliant society driven on moral uprightness, integrity and truth.
Extremism lies in all camps and is the absolute opposite of these positive sentiments. These principles are what made Andalusia a society of progressive thought and endeavour, and it is when these sentiments are ignored is born extremism. Extremism is our greatest threat today, whether it is in any camp. One of the ways we can be free from extreme thought is to travel and learn about history and experience what was experienced so that understanding can grow if you look at the article http://www.stepintimetours.com/Resources/index.html we can see how the positive nurturing of differences in thought, language and culture in society can enhance society and create clarity. You can also leave a response at http://www.muslimspain.blogspot.com/