It was one of those usual mornings for me, a
cup of tea and news shuffling on TV. One said about Dadri Masjid case, the
demolition of Babri mosque in Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh. I would rather call it
demolition of humanity that caused the death of at least 2000 people, and what
for, in the name of religion. These things are beyond my understanding.
Religions are to serve humanity, but sadly humanity is getting away serving
religions or some hidden political motive, I dare say!
Any way, my day started
with a provoking thought. Being in a government job and posted in a remote hill
area, I didn’t have many options for entertainment or any company to hang out with. I lead a monotonous
routine every day. Though I loved the company of interesting people, like one
of my subordinate staff in the office. He was about to retire in two years. He
would tell me stories about places he worked before, people he worked with, and
many other things. He looked much older for his age. He would say atrocities of life that he had
faced all through which made him looked older. He was short, stoop, fair
complexioned with a peculiar expression on his face all the time, which I
figured out, was a blend of curiousness, chronic sadness, absolute emptiness and
begging to come out mischievousness sometimes. Adding more to his much older look
was his attire, loose straight trousers, khakhi shirt, Nehru
jacket, aam aadmi cap, big round glasses and a laathi in hand,
that he used as a support while walking.
So, like every day, we were having some
random conversation. He would call me Saabji. I was addressed this way
or Sir sometimes in hills. I assumed people would have seen only male
officers before. Suddenly he mentioned what’s been in the news, Babri
masjid kaand, with an utter innocence; considering I am his senior he
asked, “Saabji, jo hinduon ne kiya masjid gira ke kya sahi kiya?” I was
intrigued by his question, as he was a hindu himself. I expected him to have
different opinion like others of his like. He was waiting for my answer. It
took me some time to recollect my thoughts on that and I replied, no, it was
wrong. They shouldn’t have done that. He agreed saying, “galat kiya saab
bahut galat kiya, agar maszid nahi todte toh waha kya banna chahiye ye mamla hi
khatam ho jata. kya fark padta hai masjid bane ya mandir”. How
simply he rooted the problem out. I told him people involved in such deeds do
not belong to any religion. Such incidents are always politically driven. He
nodded with the same peculiar expression which probably suggested his ignorance
related to politic nuances, not a bad thing I wondered!
There is one thing common
among common people, they believe in what they are made to see. But he was different!
Someday
you get to learn something extremely beautiful having a conversation with
probably not the best of mind but a pure heart. That day I returned home with a
firm belief on humanity. That hatred has still not completely taken over our
minds.
A memoir by Sudha Kripal
Categories:
Insight,
Memoir,
Opinion,
Short Story