Born and brought up in an urban environment, but with very strong agrarian roots, life had its means to confuse me. My rural connect introduced me to a little complicate but a very well entrenched caste system. As if that was not enough, there was the fact that the paternal and maternal sides were strong Arya Samajis and Sikhs respectively and I was studying in a school where the daily prayer was to “Our Father, who art in Heaven”. Rich and poor was way too simple compared to this quagmire.
Muslim or Christian would merely describe which holiday would be celebrated by whom and at which place. Jews is what we came to know when we first studied Shakespeare.
“Eh vi data Teri dataar” (This too O’Lord is your gift) a Sikh phrase moves me still, in happiness as much as in sadness. But am not a Sikh since I cut my hair.
I’ve found “Bismillah ur Rahman ur Rahim” (In the name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful) to be moving, musical and echoing humility but muslims would still call me a kafir since I may see God in lesser polluted mountains and rivers. Even if they did not categorise me kafir, I’d still be lost on who is the true follower of Prophet, the one who was killed at Karbala or those who killed him.
As were the Christians divided into Roman Catholics and Protestants, as I travelled down south much later, I was surprised to see that Shivites (followers of Lord Shiva) and Vaishnavites (followers of Lord Vishnu) riot quite often. Since I am fond of both the Gods, I do not belong to either.
My belief today resides in “koi Sikh koi Jat Maratha, koi Gurkha koi Madrasi..” as much as in Baba Bulle Shah’s couplet “Masjid dhaade mandir dhaade, Dhaade jo hai dhainda. Ik kise da dil na dhaavin, Rab dilan vichch rehnda”.
God was discovered by mankind a few ages ago. Religion, I believe, was invented. Nuclear energy was discovered, the bomb invented. In both the cases, I may like the discoveries but abhor the inventions.
Thank God I am an atheist.
Muslim or Christian would merely describe which holiday would be celebrated by whom and at which place. Jews is what we came to know when we first studied Shakespeare.
“Eh vi data Teri dataar” (This too O’Lord is your gift) a Sikh phrase moves me still, in happiness as much as in sadness. But am not a Sikh since I cut my hair.
I’ve found “Bismillah ur Rahman ur Rahim” (In the name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful) to be moving, musical and echoing humility but muslims would still call me a kafir since I may see God in lesser polluted mountains and rivers. Even if they did not categorise me kafir, I’d still be lost on who is the true follower of Prophet, the one who was killed at Karbala or those who killed him.
As were the Christians divided into Roman Catholics and Protestants, as I travelled down south much later, I was surprised to see that Shivites (followers of Lord Shiva) and Vaishnavites (followers of Lord Vishnu) riot quite often. Since I am fond of both the Gods, I do not belong to either.
My belief today resides in “koi Sikh koi Jat Maratha, koi Gurkha koi Madrasi..” as much as in Baba Bulle Shah’s couplet “Masjid dhaade mandir dhaade, Dhaade jo hai dhainda. Ik kise da dil na dhaavin, Rab dilan vichch rehnda”.
God was discovered by mankind a few ages ago. Religion, I believe, was invented. Nuclear energy was discovered, the bomb invented. In both the cases, I may like the discoveries but abhor the inventions.
Thank God I am an atheist.
And my humble submission to the politicians, who claim that they never forgot Lord Ram or never gave up the Temple issue, please let Lord Ram be, before he gives up on those who’ve been using His name.
Sat Sri Akal.
Om. Amen. Amin... They don’t sound too different.
Sat Sri Akal.
Om. Amen. Amin... They don’t sound too different.
