AN ODD INCIDENT IN GUJARAT

a. we have not been allowed to buy a property in any Hindu area we liked in a decade. Indeed, we cannot buy a property just across the road we are located at, even if the Hindu seller is willing to sell it. A property is lying vacant for 12 years just for this reason. Pl read a very comprehensive and animated discussion on TAHZEEB. Just search and read. Someone please reproduce the link here, if you find it.

b. About two years ago when on a Sunday a select team of our staff were working at office in connection with erection of a traffic circle [bearing a large artefact having 4 Question Marks, with the slogan in Gujarati and English reading Ask So That You May Learn], just on the cross-roads in front of our office, a labourer who just wouldn’t work, was asked to leave by our Manager – a Hindu lady.

In an hour this labourer barged into our office with three heavily built muscle men of the same outfit. As they were arguing arrogantly with the lady I intervened. As soon as they saw me, and heard my Urdu, the leader started throwing the worst four letter abuses I had lately ever heard. When I protested and threatened to call in the police he offered his phone with the phone number of the local PI on the screen. As I attempted to reason with him about my constitutional rights, he raised his hand and almost slapped me but for another staff member intervening.

Then even as I called the local BJP MLA this man snatched my phone and told him [apparently his boss] “This **** ka Miyan hamare aadmi ka paisa rokta hai” etc etc.

Remember these: Except me everyone else was Hindu. The labourer was thoroughly wrong, was a goon and did not work. The three men had nothing to do with the transaction. We have had no quarrel with them or known them before. We were engaged with a social work, and selflessly, and on a Sunday.

Later I took up the matter with the Zonal Police Officer, with local MP and with L K Advani, with little more than lip sympathy in return. But I persisted.

Weeks later the local MLA called to say [apparently on a nudging by Mr Advani] that he had instructed his workers not to harass me. After this we have had some respite. But it seems we have over-extended our protection!

This is despite the fact that I am not taken very kindly to by the Muslim clergy for my rationalist views, and that former RSS Chief and some in VHP hailed my work as a nationalist. This despite that many distinguished people including the Governor, KPS Gill, eminent writers, celebrities, senior bureaucrats etc visiting me at various times.

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Those who lecture us on tolerance, Modi’s sagacity, or question why I dislike what I dislike about Gujarat and about the right wing in general, or when I paint the Muslim dilemma.. will do well to penetrate my heart – and those of many a Muslim liberal nationalists like me. We are very very alone.