Intoxicated by possibility

The Secular Republic of India

Riding in a Toyota Landcruiser, on a hot July afternoon in the barren deserts of Saudi Arabia (known as The Empty Quarter), with no human civilization in sight for at least 50km, a taxi driver tells me, the lone passenger of the car, in broken English - “You Hindu? Become Muslim. Muslims are the best.”

Two months later, riding in a taxi in the city of Al Khobar in Saudi Arabia, when a discussion about religion slightly went out of hand with a Pakistani taxi driver, I say - “After all, all religions are the same in principle”, I’m told by him - “What?! No way! Islam is superior”

A week later, in a discussion over dinner, an Indian Muslim friend takes offence to me telling a Saudi friend that - “To me, all Gods are the same. There is just one God, and we call him by different names”. He tells me - “No! Allah is different. He is the only God”

A month ago, a Saudi policeman tells an Indian Hindu friend of mine - “You’re Hindu? Hindus are 100% useless”

Today, a Pakistani taxi driver in the Saudi Arabian capital of Riyadh tells me - “You look like a nice guy to me. It’s a pity that you are a Hindu. You’ll suffer in your life because of that. People will tell you Islam is rubbish, praying 5 times a day is rubbish - don’t listen to them. Islam is the way of life. The only way you’ll go to Heaven. If not you, Atleast make sure your children are Muslims.” When I say “Insha’allah” (God willing) when I was asked if I’ll get my visa today - he says “Don’t say that! You don’t know what it means. Moreover, how will God even help you. You are not a Muslim”

I swear each incident is true. Verbatim.

What have I learnt from these experiences? When I grew up in India, I never realized the true meaning of communal harmony. Today, I realize the beauty of being a Secular Republic. Today with pride, I thump my chest as I say - “I am am Indian. I live in a secular country, where all religions are equal, and I’m proud of it”

Don’t you?

PS. The fact that our caste system, Hindu-Muslim clashes, Christian missionary issues ruin my pride is another story. ‘My’ India is secular, and I want people to keep it that way.