Yesterday, in one of the national papers I happened to
read an article, factual news that disturbed me more than Trump’s ridiculous statements.
In a function held in the capital that has become a tradition for celebrating Lohri,
the renowned artist, cultural traveller as he calls himself Madan Gopal Singh
and his musicians, chaar yaar and Jasbir Jassi were performing. They sung their
songs enthralling the audience. But, to his dismay and utter sadness, a visibly
upset young woman spoke to them of inclusive singing, and that Lohri was a
Hindu festival and not Muslim, were they celebrating Eid.
This news reporting has left me upset, what kind of
scenario are we bringing our children to? When, did Lohri that was a festival
that concerns Dullah Bhatti, a Muslim rebel who rescued Hindu women and married
them off within their religion be divided according to religious color?
How can we as responsible citizens, humans start
dividing festivals that are so ingrained in our genes into Hindu, Muslim Sikh, Christian.
We never grew up with these lines that are threatening our country? How come
this aggressiveness has started rearing up its head?
The singer was aghast and upset, and saddened by the
behavior dished out. It is easier to say to carry on and forget one odd person.
India has a hidden strength that has for centuries
been able to keep it safe and strong and been the glue that binds a country
spilling in different colors and hues. How can the green of the pir be
different from the green of Guru Gobind Singh to the green of Krishna? The fact
that we worship God in his different forms and avatars is what makes us all
gel. The aarti in the Hindu temple, to the aarti of Nanak and the muezzin call
of the maulvi all sing in different words but the call to the higher self is
the same.
Being a Sufi is fashionable these days, but a Sufi is
one who ties knots and bonds with His creator losing his ego, id and merging
himself with Him.
Why have we started monopolizing God, as mine, mine? The
first step in any mantra, and lines of the SGGS is to lose the ego and to
become with in Him with a longing that is encompassing and embracing.
I wish I could meet this young woman who had the
audacity to say and condemn the singing and to color the function in communal
colors.
In fact, at the ground level, we need to realize the
threat is real, prevalent and there, otherwise how did this young woman have
this skewed idea? Also, the numbers are growing, and their presence is a threat
to the Indian/Punjabi (an interwoven composite culture). Punjab and its melting
point of all religions are all embracing, how did we reach this point? The fact
that I love the aarti on the Ghats, along with my Allah Mohammad Char yaar to
the chaupai makes me what ? Why does reciting the kalaam of Sultan Bahu hold
special meaning alongside my path ?Be human , don’t cloak yourself in the veils
of religion and cause strife.
Friends, be there to bail me out, when trouble strikes.
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