वसुधैव कुटुम्बकम्

                              Eid

It was bright early morning. I was almost ready for my bath. It was a special day for me. I turned on the shower and took bath for a quite long time. After coming out from the bathroom, my sight went on my favorite white ironed Kurta. I was so excited to wear that because I got only a few chances to wear it. It was the perfect day to wear it, it was a day of Eid!

I was happy. I went outside my apartment. Though I am pure vegetarian but I love sweets! So, I can go anywhere for food especially sweets and cakes. Eid is famous for Namaz, Biryani, and शीरखुरमा.  

Now, the place where I am working, have many ‘Muslim’ people.  So I was counting that how much ‘Savaiya ’  and ‘Shir-khurma’ I will eat today!! I was waiting for the elevator with the old aunt who lives on the same floor which I live. As soon as the elevator came, we entered into it. From the beginning, I was suspiciously suspected by her. Like I had committed any sin. Finally, she couldn’t resist herself.

“Are you ‘Muslim’?”  she asked me.

“NO” I retorted by cutting down her stare at me.

“Then, why white kurta?” she asked again.

I did not have an answer to her question. I just nodded. Went out from the elevator. In my mind, I was thinking, ‘let it be! she is old, old people do have some beliefs’

I was moving ahead to my office. Among, in office, I was the only few of one who wears kurta on that day. In my workspace, everyone was staring at me in a mysterious way.

On that day, at least 8-9 people confirmed that I am Hindu, baniya or not! Some of them made a fun of me, ‘First beard and then Kurta कोनसी ज़ोया के इश्क़ में पड़ गया हे रे ?’  Even my Muslim friends who know me thought that ‘He is shah, shah means Jain, Jains usually wears white clothes’ whole day I cannot concentrate on my work just because of that nonsense.  I was thinking and thinking the same thing again.

‘Why people judge each other on the basis of the clothes? Why only a few categories of people have a chance to wear specific clothes?  If I am Hindu, so I cannot celebrate Eid. What if I am not Christian then I cannot celebrate Christmas! Why people categorize everything on every stage of life.

This is not about clothes, people categorized each other on the basis of color! Saffron means Hindu! Green is the color of Muslim. White color for the Jain.  So, If I am Hindu then I cannot like green or cannot dislike saffron.   

Where ever we will go you will see the multiple categories, the Gujarati, the Marathi, the Punjabi. ‘He is Bhaiya from the Bihar’. “OH! North East Indian people go to China or make a momo for me!”.  Even the place where I lived in the hostels I saw that this is the fraternity of North Gujarati boys, this one is ‘Kathiyavadi group’.  

We categorized each other on basis of urban people and small-town people.  No one is going to accept the outsider, like a xenophobia in a local level. We categorized each other on the basis of what not- language, skin tone, state, religion, sex etc.

Why people are not understanding that these categories are just for your reference only. We are human first, aren’t we? We all have the same blood, we all are inhaling same polluted air, we all are drinking water only.  Why are we making divisions on everything? Why are we repeating the same mistake that our ancestors did? If you cannot accept वसुधैव कुटुम्बकम् then let it be at least do not disturb another people’s mindset who is accepting this! You and me both will die but at least I can say that I set a good example for my child. Better future for next generation. At least they will not fight with each other on the name of this!

Finally, the hectic day was over at the office. At the end of the day, I was sick of many questions and thoughts which I had in my mind! I was sitting on the bench outside of my office.

As per my nature whenever I will get little time I start talking with people. So, one Watchman uncle was sitting with me. It is our daily routine. I used to sit with him and talk with him till my cab would come.

Today I was sitting quietly and looking for my cab for a home drop. He can see the frustration on my face, he smiled at me.

"Office अच्छा नइ गया क्या, चल आजा शीरखुरमा खिलता हु " I was surprised. I was completely forgotten that. More than that me and that uncle daily spend 5-10 minutes maximum with each other. Without even judging me. Without knowing my name. He offered me something which is priceless.

It was the most delicious शीरखुरमा of my life. I was surprised How can he had शीरखुरमा in the first place.

I asked him “Are you Muslim?”

He smiled at me and continued to eat from his bowl.

I realized my mistake, even I smiled “Bloody, stereotype!”

Completed my bowl and went towards my cab.

                            

                                FIN