Living with a different thought - there are no differences!

‘Cultivate friendship which will conquer all hearts.
Look upon others as thyself.
Renounce war; forswear competition.
Give up aggression on others which is wrong.
Wide mother Earth, our Mother is here ready to give us all our desires.
We have the Lord, our Father, compassionate to all.
Ye peoples of the World! Restrain yourselves, Give, Be kind.
May all people be happy and prosperous’

Yes, on the UN Day in October 1966, the United Nations rose to the voice of M.Subbulakshmi, and these words of Parmacharya of Kanchi. This Sanskrit benediction (translated above) received a standing ovation by the people of the world, that seemed to go on and on, it reflected the Indian spirit of culture and the message of oneness of God, a prayer for peace…but the violence continues in words, in feelings and in actions.

Every day I get to read about violence and religious wars, be it Hyderabad blasts, the Godhara riots, the naxalites and the Maoists. The Middleast is struggling with Sectarian identities and here back home ‘the Northeast’ is contending with ethnicity. In our very backyards our ‘elected few’ debate the issue of existence of Ram and some debate the chronology of the Babri Masjid. We, the otherwise callous middleclass, take an off from work to enjoy the India – Pakistan one-day match, as if it was a war for existence; indeed history made it one when the blow of partition befell the unwavering religious loyalties.

Why does all this happen? Why does hatred smudge deep and far? I question myself. In school I wrote pages on how ‘India is a Secular, but will our children be able to write theories on mere idealism?

In the part of land that chose to embrace religious pluralism and teaches secularism, sixty years after independence, we hear of death of some Rizawan ur-Rehman in Kolkatta, who married Priyanka Todi hailing from a rich Hindu conservative family. We observe the differences of ‘with beard’ ‘without beard’ and categorize our very own friends, , during and post riots we would never let our bearded friends escape the security check posts, or even get them get off a plane on mere suspicion and get applauded for our very act. We are barred from entering a place of religious worship that carries a board at the gate ‘Entry only for P*****’. Is this what we call secularism?

This may not come in way of our political definition of secularism- ‘Government and religion separate’ but are these things justifiable in a religiously pluralistic country or even in the larger sense of the modern world?

Secularism goes beyond mere religion, it is acceptance and tolerance argue some, but the question I wish put forth is why acceptance and tolerance? Do I need to accept the siblings born to the same mother, mother India or the mother Earth? Do I need to be told to love them as I love and respect myself? Why do we speak of tolerance and hatred, and preach how our religions defend pluralism and acceptance? Is this religious prejudice or political neglect?

Today I have a truth to share, about myself. To all those who judge me by my name, I am a viashya-wani, hailing from Devgad, a Maharashtrian and more importantly, a Hindu. But the secret I would whisper in your ears is ‘I am a Non-practitioner’ and I want to shout at the top of my voice is that I believe only in one faith and a singular religion in this pluralist country- the religion I know – Humanity, the language I speak – Love, The Lord of All Lords has shown me the worth of being human. Now will you hang me to death or slaughter me? Well, for all those who are fighting religious wars, let me tell you this religion I chose does not even have recognition!

And we keep fighting which is the better and who should convert? Why does a respectably losing Pakistani Cricket captain have to thank only Muslims of the world?

We are fighting wars on religions but religions are fighting war betweens Gods and sects…the Roman Catholics and the Protestants, and the Shias and the Sunnis. It is all and just about ‘ego’ but the Almighty says when there is ego, ‘I’ go, and we are left fighting for everything but our faith.

The solution to all our questions is already with us and within us. The answer is ‘Love’. It is an absolute answer and as simple that we attribute no value to it. We have really looked down on the definitions of love, which happens to be the most complex emotion, though, the simplest solution.

A turning point of my life was my acquaintance and now an everlasting relationship with a voluntary, self-financed social group Anam Prem. The work here is based on the Fundamental Duties listed in Article 51(A), Part IV, of The Constitution of India, which by law stands non-enforceable.

In Diwali last year, Anam Prem organized ‘Vande Bhrartaram – Diwali & Eid’ at Maratha Mandir, a play was staged, the scene: there’s a blast, and people are rushing to help each other irrespective of their religions. At the end of the play, I saw an old man with a little child in his hand, (I do not want to disclose his religious identity here.) with tears in his eyes, he tried to walk away. I enquired what had happened. He just said, “A lot of times we have been wrong, and I apologize, today even my child could be in the victim’s shoes.” He was inconsolable, he left.

Our constitutional duties say, Article 51(A) e)…to renounce practices derogatory to the dignity of women.

f) to value and preserve the rich heritage of our composite culture.

And accordingly, Anam Prem celebrates Navratri, a festival when we all worship the Mother Goddess, but have forgotten to acknowledge the goddess of Service- Nurse. We visited almost all government hospitals in Mumbai during the nine days and met the nurses. They held us first when we were born and will serve us on our deathbed without discriminating us on any grounds.


‘Ya Devi sarvabhuteshu Sevarupen sansthita
Namastasye Namastasye Namastasye Namonamah.’

‘The goddess who has descended on earth for serving mankind, I bow down to her.’

These lines are recited in the prayers to the Mother Goddess during Navratri, however, we seldom do that in reality, and the worse is most of the times women are objectified! Is this the way we interpret religious texts?


It has become increasingly difficult to penetrate this thought of Love into people’s mind, barriers of faith have to interfere, and I understand why.

Just a year ago, we were searching for a Jain Mandir hall to celebrate Mahavir Jayanti and Mohammed Paigamber Jayanti. (these happened to fall on the same day for two consecutive years) These saint-men preached humanity, and we the followers of the respective religions have never accommodated the Hijara friends in our lives, who are as human as we. I approached nearly ten Jain temples to be turned down every time I said, it is for the hijaras, and there would be an inter-faith prayer meet for them.

‘No Muslims and no hijaras’ was the common answer. But I take pride in saying that for two years the programme took place at a Jain Upashray at Vile Parle, and just the last year, we even celebrated it at Eksar Durga, Borivali.

During the first two days of Diwali, we visit the 80 police stations in Mumbai, and the Traffic Chowkis share our Sweets with the policemen, on August Kranti Din we visit all the Bus Depots and speak with the drivers and conductors, these activities have received a loving response form people, it is reaching persons, beyond their faith.

Anam Prem has started its journey on this path of love, for us it is no more living with differences but living with a different thought – ‘there are no differences.’

But I wish to question every heart; do we not realize we are victimizing people in the name of religion? Ask all practitioners have all of them even read their holy books? There are religious experts boasting of great knowledge that leads to Advait and Moksha when they remain insensitive to their neighbour’s plight.

I would like to quote Kabir here, ‘Pothi Padha Padha Jagmoha
Pandit Bhaya Na Koi

Do Akshar Prem Ka,
Padhe So Pandit Hoi.’

And again, the memories of the UN day celebration in October 1966, which I did not witness in person but in imagination, come back to me, M.Subbulakshmi singing -

‘…To give up hate and fear…
The God in everyman
is an atom too
of measureless potential.
Let us learn to find it
And explode it into lasting peace
Here under this Uniting Roof.’