As kid of the 70’s with Idealism at heart, grew up in
the most Secular atmosphere, away from the illness of communal divide. As NCC
Cadet I not only sang Hum Sab Bharatiya
Hain………Mandir Gurudware Bhi Hain Yahan, Aur Masjid Bhi Hai Yahan,
Girja Ka Hai Ghadiyal Kahin, Mullah ki Kahin Hai Azaan…….Rang Birange Deepak
Hain Hum……Jagmag Ek Hai but also believed
it and practiced it from my heart every day ever since…..!
My head hanged in
shame on 6th Dec 1992, as a young Idealist NCC Cadet who was just
about to go to Republic Day Camp in Delhi 1993, I carried the guilt of that dreadful
day most of my life.
Soul shook again
when I was Walking/Cycling 817 kms from Bengaluru to Bidar as part of Yatra For
Constitution and the debate on Citizenship Amendment Bill (CAB now CAA) was
making headlines. Here, I was doing Yatra for Constitution to mark 70 years since We
The People Of India adopted the Constitution and the anti-Constitution CAB
was getting tabled in Parliament, it was clear that the fight to save the Constitution
Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar gave us will be on the streets of India and not in Parliament
where the brutal majority bulldozed all opposition voices.
Ever since I came back
from Yatra for Constitution attending or organizing protests against
CAA/NRC, speaking my mind and explaining why CAA is anti-Constitution has
become only duty, even opposing Section 144 and being detained by Bengaluru
Police has been my moment of Civil Disobedience.
Today along with
my friends I sat with over 3lac of fellow Muslim Brothers and Sisters at Bengaluru
Khuddus Saheb Eidgah sloganeering Samvidhan Zindabad, Hindustan Zindabad
and singing Sare Jahan se Accha……over and over with a sea of Tri-color waving
in the ocean of humanity.
Emotions were
very visible, but the clarity with each of the speaker spoke no one could
ever dare to question any Muslim Indian to prove their Mohabbat
to their Hindustan. And the remote corner of my mind was asking me why is India
putting the Indian Muslims through the Patriotism test, because like Harsh
Mander said for Hindus being Indian was by Chance and for a Muslim being
Indian was by Choice.
One can never
forget that every Indian irrespective of Religion have given their Sweat & Blood
and fought for the Freedom of this Great Nation, each one have contributed immensely towards
Nation building. And, Ocean of humanity today peacefully fighting to save the Constitution
and to save the Idea of India was the proof of that.
As I walked out of
the Eidgah along with my friends the gentleness of the massive crowd was in
full display, some cheering and thanking us for being with them, some taking
pictures with us, some cheering as I spoke with media and everyone shouting
loudly asking to make way for women and helping us walk with pride along with them
was an assurance that the Heart of India will never change and Modi/Shah/RSS
brand of divisive politics will be defeated strongly.
With emotions
running high the massive crowds ensured that the Ambulance was given way. Cheering
for the Bengaluru Police, waving the Tri-color with great pride indeed made me
numb, and wondered what really Modi-Shah wanted to do to this Nation that is
about People and not just Land.
We The People Of
India have a long fight ahead to save our Constitution and we have to store all
the energy, stay united to keep the Gandhian Fight going, till we defeat the divisive forces
and restore the Idea of India our Founding Leaders fought for.
Jai Samvidhan , Jai Bhim
Kavitha Reddy