When I started this blog, I had given myself a few guidelines. One was that I would try to refrain from putting up political or religious statuses/comments or posts here. The reason was pretty simple. I hardly engage in such discussions on social media or on Internet discussion boards. They have a tendency to turn vile (and wild), and things almost often take a turn for the worse. It was also because of what I am about to ‘write about’ in this post.
But today, I feel like I need to. I am painfully aware that neither me (nor anyone else) writing these thoughts out will make any difference to the world around us or how the world perceives everything else these days. However, I believe I have personally reached a point where I can no longer feign that I am not affected by all this.
I am not fiercely patriotic. Or fanatically religious. I don’t think I ever have been. However, for as long as I can remember, there was always one thing that would make me immensely proud – yes, almost goosebumps-inducingly-proud when I heard it – that our country was one that epitomised ‘Unity in diversity’. Or so I had been told.
But over the past decade or so (perhaps even longer), I have realised something. We remain divided because of our diversity. Somewhere along the way, we have become more divided about things that had united so many of us growing up in the pre-2000’s. Of course, tensions and issues existed then too. But it has alarmingly gotten worse over the last few years.
Much of my childhood was spent in a vastly multi-cultural-inter-faith-geographically-diverse company of people. Adults and kids, alike. I remember being excited about having friends from different states and countries, who spoke different languages. It ensured that I grew up curious about other cultures, not cautious. It also meant that I had an opportunity to pick up new languages, interact with people from different places and therefore open a treasure trove of experiences. To me, having these sort of friends meant that I had so many more festivals to celebrate than just the ones that were ‘predominantly’ for one state/country/religion. And that has somehow helped shape me into that religiously and politically tolerant person that I am proud to be today.
In fact, I vividly remember one Eid when we opened our doors at noon to find a huge container of freshly cooked Mutton biriyani on our front porch. I was initially taken aback, not because of the sudden appearance of food, but because adorning the top of that container was the gorgeously-stuffed head of a goat. On one hand, I was drooling over the delicious aroma of the meat-laden biriyani. On the other, I was totally in shock over the head. But my father just smiled. Our neighbours were from Sudan, and apparently, where they come from, it is considered to be one of the highest honours to be offered a stuffed goat’s head along with the biriyani. It signified respect. And that’s something you earn, not demand.
Having friends from other places speaking different languages, ensured I grew up curious about other cultures, not cautious.[/tweet_box]
And today, when I read discussions about people ghettoising territories on the basis of caste, creed, race, religion and a gazillion other factors, I find myself longing for simpler times; in many ways, technology is the culprit, as much as it is the solution. I fear for the generations to come, who may be inadvertently forced to make friends only from within their faith or geographic circle. I fear for the very things that make all of us human.
Let me be honest – I am not against people having their own faiths or even being immensely proud of their culture, religion or heritage. In fact, that’s what keeps the diversity intact. But what we seem to have forgotten is that along with that diversity comes the need for tolerance. Religious. Geographic. Political. And all other kinds.
I confess – Tolerance is not about showing the other cheek when someone slaps you.
Tolerance is about realising that we can all live together without the need to impose our faiths, beliefs, food or political affinities onto others.
It is about riding out together, this giant wave of suspicion that crosses our minds when we look at someone who is different to us.
It is about coming together to support a cause for the betterment of humanity, our kids, the future, our planet – the common bigger good.
It is also about learning to realise that segregation is never the solution to our problems. Standing by each other is.
I have my battles with my parents. On a number of things. From weight loss to achievements in life. But they have never let me be biased about any person or place, on the basis of religion, faith, beliefs, food or anything else. They have shown me what tolerance truly is. And for that, I will always be thankful to them.
I parent in the hope that I’ll be able to bring my son up the same way.
I Wrote Those - by Sid Balachandran 
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