(Fake) Pride and (Illogical) Prejudice….

This thing was bound to come up.

Considering that I’m in the heartland of the erstwhile Maratha Empire, and for all the constant bickering about the pride and honour of this region as well as the country in general as a precursor to the CWG ( I wont judge if you came to know about this acronym only because of a scandal and not the actual thing)…

Yesterday was India’s Independence Day. A national holiday for all and hence some time off for yourself. It all began very normal and very routine. Me getting up late. Going out for breakfast and on the way, the same old Hindi songs about 'deshbhakti' whose CDs are probably worn out because they are used only twice a year.

As I was having my morning tea, a general habit of observing people led me to deduce this.

Why are we even celebrating I Day? What is so special this day? Does playing these old songs stuck somewhere in your basement (or in your attic if you will) make this day special? Make you realize the true value of independence? Are we a complete Nation yet?

Maharashtrians hate Biharis and UP walas. Delhiites ( a self proclaimed term by all people living in a 200 Km radius around the India gate) hating Biharis,  South Indians hating Delhiites. Bengalis hating Maharashtrians, MP walas hating everyone around them. The North-eastern people not cared about in general and hating everyone else.

Hindus hating Muslims, Muslims hating Christians, Hindus hating Christians, Parsis again not cared about by anyone and leading a sedate life of their own. Sardars made fun of wherever they go. Brahmins hating the Marathas, Marathas hating the Dalits, the Dalits turning to Christianity so that they don’t have to face these vagaries of a Caste Violence. Shias hating Sunnis. Catholics and SDAs hating Protestants.

This is not all. The very people who made us independent are now dependent on the government for a Rs. 500 pension scheme every month for which they have to shell out Rs. 100 as a bribe. In worst cases, even these amounts are not dispensed and the ‘Freedom Fighters’ die a death no better than a street dog’s.  No one knows them, no one cares. His medal and his ‘Freedom Fighter’ I-card is used by his family to buy cheap Rations and Bus passes for the City buses.

And we have politicians claim that the national pride is at stake if the CWG is not held in a manner befitting an event of such stature. Such is the paradox.

People who have had the fortune go on a foreign trip face similar treatment, this time for their nationality. The Australian case is not a one-off thing. It happens everywhere. And yet these people who come back to their homes facing all this ridicule do this to fellow Indians?   Being the first hand victims of racism, these people come back and inflict the same thing on the lesser mortals.

These musings brought a very lopsided grin on my face. And yet just as any other day, I put out my cigarette, paid the Chai wala and left. It was only when I came to my room, a thought occurred that I atleast should let go of the Fake Pride and Illogical Prejudices which I’ve had. And I will try from now on to be a human being first, an Indian next and a Hindu if time permits.

PS- Yes, I too have my prejudices. These, however are mostly directed on my own caste and my own religion. I will probably never completely be able to let go of these, but to try nevertheless is in human nature.