My earliest memory
My earliest memory
The days were around the end of '80s, or the beginning of '90s. I don't remember the exact year. There were cricket matches taking place in day-and-night format, in which I had found some interest. Of course
Those were the days when our fathers asked us to go to bed at 9 PM, and we obeyed without resistance. This happened one such night.
I woke up by the sound of crackers after a few hours of sleep. Crackers reminded me of the cricket match that was on.
"Hurrah, we have won!" I exclaimed.
"No, we lost", my father was awake, and came near my bed.
"Then why are they celebrating?"
"Because we lost against
I was confused. No matter against whom we lost, it was an Indian team that lost. How can people celebrate?
"See, the sound is coming from only one side of the town, from the area where Muslims live. They always celebrate when Indian team loses against
This particular night was not exceptional, it kept repeating itself, and they kept celebrating Indian team's loss to the Pakistani team. I didn't know the definitions of "patriotism" or "anti-nationalists"; but by that time I had invented my own definition: Any Indian, who celebrates the defeat of Indian national team, can't be Indian in real sense.
-x-x-x-x-x-x-
[Please note that in all my articles, I have not mixed fiction with reality. Each and every character or incident mentioned is real. I always believe in the statement: Truth is more interesting than fiction. ' Rahul]
I love to read your writings. Your childhood memoir has got some special attraction. You tried to comprehend the essence of patriotism from the childhood, and by now it must have taken a complete shape.
Anti-nationals, terrorists, racists etc. will remain forever and the intensity of it may further increase. These are developed due to poverty, unemployment, population explosion, religious teachings (i.e. Muslims), perverted minds etc. In the midst of all these, a peaceful Nation is afar and beyond the reach. To curb this, young & vibrant people like you should come forward (you are already on the job) and work against such malicious activities. India needs a person like you who will definitely serve the country in the interest of its people.
Keep me posted with all your future articles. I hope studies will not be a hindrance for your writings.
@ All : After seeing all the comments, we can easily notice that this is a common phenomena present all over India. If we look at the solution, we can’t force them to change. We can only expect that with education and more interaction among Hindus and Muslims; gradually we shall reach towards a common identity. One thing is clear: Hatred is no solution for hatred. I have many Muslim friends who are real Indians in all sense. But there are many who are not………..
KR…this sure is a the key that will open a Pandora’’s box…muslims in India…it is a complicated issue…I wonder why our muslim brethren feel the need to celebrate Pakistan’’s victory…am sure not all of them do so…are they not treated as equal citizens…don”t they have equal opportunities like the rest…I”ve never heard of anyone discriminated…then why…what makes them dig their claws in the ground…clench their teeth…and yell…yes I am a Muslim…maybe the answer lies in the way Indians born in the UK root for the Indian team playing against the home team on its shores…probably…
100%….i totally agree with you on this….even i had some muslim classmates who used to celebrate indian team losing against pakis….wud get sweets n distribute amongst each other….just to make us angry….its totally senseless…..but they wont know till their patriotism towards pakistan will fall flat on ground when pakistan govt wont accept them as pakis….they are bloody suckers…….and bloody anti social pests….we all shud ban pakis and ignore them as pests….
it is the sad reality that we have people in our own country who pose as seculars who support such incidents…
Yeah this is true, it happens sometimes, even I have been a witness to such stuff. The big question is - what is the solution?
Ya!! it happens in my city also… I too believe what you wrote in your last line… its nothing but you are ditching your mother…..!!!
@dhaivat : You are right when you say that India has always lost when its own people betrayed it, from the days of Prithvi Raj Chowhan. And it is true that no terrorists can carry out the attacks like what they have done in India, without trust and support from natives. But the expression of Jayalakshmi was more like a wish, after all, we don”t want to believe in the rotten truth in front of us, even I wish that these should be isolated cases. But they are not. Don”t be critical of Jayalakshmi or the people who disbelieve that. They are from amongst us. I wrote that that night kept repeating. Some take note at the first stance, and some take time. In the end, nothing but the truth remains.
Why certain people feel it that way…..just coz they are muslim, they dont count theirself India. I remember there was one boy in our group in college days….he use all privilalge being in minor community but he also celebrate Pakistan victory over India!! Strange….but true!!
What does Ms Jayalakshmi mean by calling these isolated incidents? Our mentality to ignore bitter reality has been largely responsible for the unhindered flourishing of the antinational elements. ”93 Bombay blasts and 2005 Train blasts too were isolated incidents in that they don”t happen daily. The big Q is, even if they were executed by the Pakistanis, would it have been possible to carry them out without active support from the traitors who live in this country, take advantage of all the freebies doled out by our spineless leaders and hate their own brethern, their fellow countrymen? It is far better to have a Pakistani- at least his loyalty is undisputable. It is the ”aastin ke saanp” who we all should be looking out for for they will stab us in the back, as their tendancy is. And shame to those like Ms. —– who condone their deeds by calling these incidents isolated ones. Jai Hind. If I am sounding jingoistic, let it be so.
I fully agree with yr last sentence. We must be proud to be an Indian.
Maybe these are just isolated incidents. True, it is hard to watch your country lose without feeling the pain.
really sad ,and unfortunately , reality in many parts of the country .