Chak De! Hindustan

In our Social Studies lessons, I was taught that India is the only secular state in the world. I still remember the term 'Sarvadharmasambhav' used in our Indian Constitution to describe the secular nature of our country. It means that all religions are equal or no religion is greater than the other. I was also also told by my teachers that it is a matter of great pride that we have taken birth in such an ideal nation. But since childhood, outside my text books, I never observed that secular environment around. There is a feeling of hatred everywhere. Earlier I observed Hindus hate Muslims but now Hindus even hate Christians. And I bet no one can deny it. Since Hindus are in majority, minorities are always at the receiving end. So where is this picturesque secular state?

I could have written this article long time back, for I have always maintained a soft corner for Muslims. I have always felt that they are treated unfairly at par with others in this nation. But then I never wrote because I knew that those who know me would take this piece of my mind in another stride and shall relate my strong feelings to the religion of my closest corners. And my true intentions will not get the required attention. Now the time is right to open up to the cause. What is happening in Kandhamal in Orissa reconfirms my belief that in 'hindustan' hindus get reservations and minorities get commissions. Strangely we have evidences in 'hindustan' that a Ram Mandir existed hundreds of years ago at a particular location of the Mosque, but we have no evidence of a nun raped by hindu activists and then burn to death just a month back! Hence we have all rights to destroy the Mosque which was definitely at a wrong place but unfortunately in the case of that nun, Jesus forgive her, she was at the wrong place. She was in 'hindustan'.

My reason for repeatedly calling our nation hindustan and not India or bharat, which is officially the hindi name of our beloved nation is that this nation has time and again proved that it is only a place for hindus to dwell(hinduon ka stan). One proof of it lies in the recent mis happenings taking place under broad day light in Orissa and Karnataka and the central government yet again sitting like a lame saint. Second proof is my personal khota sikka that has always helped me winning discussions on the topics alike. It is a well known fact that demolition of Babari Mazjid was an act of Hindu activists and Bombay Serial Blasts was the consequent reply of Muslims. But still less than 1% charge sheeted in the case have been convicted for the demolition, whereas more than 90% have been punished for the Bombay Serial Blasts. And not to forget the Godhra riots, all thanks to Mr. Nanavati and his commission, many of the culprits are running the nation today.

I question those people who are against this theory of conversion-What is the fault with this whole idea of conversion? If Hinduism has no aspirations to expand itself beyond its conventional position, that doesn't mean other religion should follow the same rule. Moreover I see conversion as a ray of hope in the darkness. For those who are being converted they enjoy benefits that our $200 billion dollar economy is also not providing them. The Christian missionaries provide these under prieveiledge with food and shelter beyond providing them with basic education, clothes and a better living. So what is wrong with the idea of conversions? If we can ban the Muslim fundamentalist group SIMI, why banning the Bajrang Dal or Vishwa Hindu Parishad, a hot topic of great discussion? Oops!!! I forgot I am sitting and asking this question in 'hindustan'.