Religious and identify fault lines are very pronounced in our social and political discourse in recent years. We are seeing less of the great Indian tradition of unity in diversity This is now an idea that is either sneered at, or questioned as being something of a nonexistent myth. However, every now and then, we see a spark of that idea of India that is still beloved to so many of us. Recently a video of a traditionally dressed Muslim man singing the theme song of the Mahabharat serial went viral
Former Election Commissioner of India, Dr. S Y Quraishi tweeted this video of a conservative looking Muslim man singing the theme song of the Mahabharat serial from many years ago. It made us go – yes! This is the India we know and love!
Some call it a salad-bowl society, some call it Ganga-Jamuna Tehzeeb but it is quite simply and uniquely Indian. It happens only in India --- in a good way.
The man’s own attire shows him visibly as a Muslim, the woman with him in burqa indicates a very conservative mindset. Still, however, we have an impeccable rendition of shlokas that are unmistakably of another faith.
We celebrate each other’s festivals and we have a long tradition of respecting all other faiths. Our art, culture and music have also always reflected our mixed traditions with Muslim artistes creating some of the finest traditional bandishes as well as Bollywood's best-known bhajans.
Some of the tweeple liked the video but felt uncomfortable at the idea that minorities now feel pressured to do things like this just to appease the majority community.
Some of the tweeple pointed out that in recent times Muslims have felt pressured to pander to majority sentiments with performative acts such as these. However as this tweet points out, this is simply about choosing love over hatred.
This is just something that ‘feels good’ according to this reply. We Indians have a shared culture, and history and the same things make us feel nostalgic. Everyone used to gather around the TV in the days when the series first aired, regardless of their faith and religious identity.
We can live in harmony and peace if we are willing to get to know each other; to come out of ignorance and give up the fear and suspicion of the ‘other’. If we choose love over fear, this world would be a better place; India would be a united, secure and inclusive place for us all.
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