|
India in my
blood, my blood for India
Two times
Asian Snooker Champ and Asian Games gold medalist has an EID Message
 Allow
me to borrow the slogan Enough is Enough, which was so prominently
displayed at the peace movement at the Gateway of India on the 3rd
of December. My usage of this slogan is not directed towards the
politicians or the terrorist attacks or the intelligence failures,
for, enough has been written, or spoken about it in the media. I
want to exercise this slogan to do away with the anti-muslim tirade
which gathers momentum every-time such an event takes place.
I, as an Indian Muslim, take strong
objection to the country's shift in focus towards the Muslims,
whenever a terrorist decides to blatantly ridicule the security
arrangements of our country. Why should I as a Muslim, or any such
Muslim organization go on the defensive, by attacking and condemning
the terrorists a little more than the other religious communities?
We, as human beings first, and Indians second, curse, criticize and
condemn the terrorist activities as much as any other Indian. Why
then are most of the society interviews directed towards prominent
Muslims or Muslim institutions? Why are we singled out for those
special quotes?
Shahrukh Khan and all other reputed
Bollywood Muslims have to get together and separately voice their
disapproval over such attacks. Of course, everybody is disturbed why
then is our condemnation sought for, a little more passionately?
Muslim sportspersons too have to categorically make the right noises
in the media to pretend to belong to mainstream society. Why
pretend? We belong to the society which is proudly called India.
On the day of Eid, Muslims are
requested to sport a black band as a mark of protest. Sure we will,
but so should all Hindus, Christians, Sikhs etc. on that day, to
show solidarity with us Muslims, and making us believe that we are
no different from you and we need not do special things to belong to
India. I was born in Mumbai, my father was born in Mumbai, my
grandfather, his father, were all born in Mumbai, India. What more
can I do to prove that Indian and only Indian blood runs in my
veins.
I have strived all my life to do my bit
for the country and when because of my efforts the Indian flag is
raised high on the medal podium, how can I then tolerate the snide
murmurs behind my back labelling me a Pakistani? (I speak from
personal experience). All those so called Indian loyalist will do
well to note that I have worked towards doing something for our
country and carried an image of India to the world, quite like many
other Indian Muslim achievers. This unfortunately cannot be said of
that group of non-Muslims who have now united to indulge in their
favourite topical sport, that of Muslim bashing. Pakistan bashing I
am with you, but when you attack my existence in this country, your
own brother, then I object.
This is now enough! I demand to be
treated as an equal. When a terrorist attacks our system, claiming
to be an Islamic jehadi, I condemn him as much as you do, for my
Islam does not permit this kind of jehad where innocent lives are
taken. That terrorist does not belong to my religion and he should
be treated in isolation as one following a religion of terror, not
that all Muslims be branded as terrorists or associates.
Mind you a terrorists bullet may kill me once, but these unkind
jibes give me a thousand deaths.
- Yasin
Merchant
Ace
Snooker Specialist
Tuesday
09
December 2008
|
