"India is my country"

"India is my country. All Indians are my brothers and sisters " Remember we saying this everyday in our schooldays? Of course you remember.

People belonging to various religions, castes, sub casts, socioeconomic strata live in India. Consequently our languages are also different. It's a country where all live with love and peace though sometimes we experience conflict resulting from this diversity.

My nationalism says that we should respect every religion, every caste in India. Not only I but I think most of us, we believe in this. But do we all follow this?

Recently I came across one person who was requested to greet by saying 'Namaste' or 'Namaskar' while taking one video for some official work. But he was not ready to say 'Namste' or 'Namaskar'. While being asked about this, he said "Sir didn't you look at the 'Religion' in my form? But the same person was ready to say 'Hello'. I found it strange. He was ready to greet in language of those people who ruled over us for long time but not ready to greet in language which belongs to religion the people belonging to which he has been living with since his birth. Such a strange reality? I could have at least understood if he would have asked the video taker to permit him to greet in his own language. But that also he didn't do. Isn't it showing that we are still not comfortable with the religions the people belonging to which we are staying together since so long?

We can see this more when it comes to intercast or interreligious marriages. Thank God, the situation is better nowadays but it's better only in metropolitan cities like Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai,  Kolkata etc. What about those relationships which are waiting to blossom in interior parts of India? Don't they have right to develop? I have closely seen cases where people have not permitted their kids to get married with person belonging to a different religion or different caste. What point they want to make? Is it a case that their kid is safe with that person only who belongs to their religion or caste?

People who have been a target of such discrimination frequently ask a question - Why do we have different different religions and casts? Why do they exist separately? I can try to understand their pain but I would say, it could be because the Creator wants to see how do we live with diversity, how do we respect each other while belonging to different different categories.

I always have felt that this diversity is our treasure. We should look at it as an asset. Every religion, every caste has some good dimensions. We should start highlighting these good points  rather than getting divided by criticising their flaws. I know, I am painting an ideal picture. But can't be it achieved? Of course it can be. But it needs efforts from all the people. Then only it can be painted beautifully.

- Dipti S. A. Shinde