I am as secular as the come in a Sena Heartland. Hence, for any pre-IPL cricket fan brought up on the Inzamam-Waqar staple lines of "Inshallah the boys played well!!", it was expected (even if out of place) to hear Kamran Akmal and Sohail Tanvir mouth the standard invocations.
What was an ear-sore was Yusuf Pathan too lauding Allah for everything that went Jaipur's way for the past 5 weeks!! In all honestly, I believe that Yusuf (& bro, Irfan) are lauded and loved by every Indian as much as Yuvraj & Dhoni, in a complete nationalistic passion. I ask anyone who reminds me of the brothers' religion to shut up (it felt pretty much the same for Azhar as well), so I would really like it if they themselves don't remind others of what religion they belong to!
Personal freedom is completely granted, but in view of their home-state and the fact that Jaipur was blasted just a few weeks ago -- it kinda creeped me out!
As an aside, this was really good to hear!
Reality Check 101
11 years ago
18 comments:
Sorry, but I was disappointed by this post. As long as the choice of one's religion does not infringe upon other people's religion, I believe every person has complete right to his belief.
It was disappointing to have this point of view from view, rather than the fact this affirms the unity of a squad consisting of at least 3 distinct religions.
I agree with Sushant here. How does it matter to you if they say something, which, for them is just a phrase expressing their belief in God?
One must also look at their tradition...it seems like it's almost natural and obvious for them to thank Allah first and then accept any rewards/praises...since this is done out of tradition, you can't expect them to stop it...what's wrong if they thank Allah?! They're not asking you to thank him too! If he believes it's because of Allah that the team does well, so be it. You should also be "against" leaders of secular countries wearing crosses or Islamic robes or three white stripes across their forehead...
Won't deny the fact it comes across as too noticeable but the choice of expression does not make them any less secular...On the contrary, it wud be unfair on your part to expect them to thank Bhagwan, Ishwar or the Almighty God...If you love Shahrukh, you would have noticed his more than usual usage of the word Inshallah which IMHO sounds very chic...
Not only this view is biased but it even comes across to me as hippocratic as you have never missed an occasion to holler Jai Shivaji (its not that we mind it)...but then, regionalism is different from religionism?
Same thing occurred to me in the post match presentation of the final. Pakistani cricketers are some how more keen on flaunting their religion, but this should not linked to nationality. I don't think Yusuf's lauding "Allah" has anything to do with nationalistic passion (keep aside the religion).
A player with long beard looks more discomforting to us than a player with turban or any person showing his "janeyoo". It's our mentality that is to be blamed.
Well it high time I file my reply :P. Manali / Rohtang was good; btw!
The post is / never was about freedom of speech or religion. It was about (though, I think I wasn't detailed on that front) was the behavior of Yusuf and like & what it conveys to the greater section of the society. On this front, it seems that I lose 0-5 among those who read my post & cared to reply. So clearly my arguments wouldn't hold in such populace. However, I have a *gut* feeling that it isn't a sentiment shared by the larger section.
I am perfectly ok with everyone exercising their legal rights to the hilt; though I would think it is better that they would understand what their actions/speech convey. [Lets leave out those who play to an audience (politicians / filmstars et al.)]
Under ideal conditions, its all good. But minority's relationship with the majority is far from so in our land. What the majority of the majority hears is what their leaders indoctrinate. [The rest of the majority comments on blogs :P.] A phrase expressing their belief in God is heard as phrase expressing belief in their God, & the entire country knows this. The reason why it is ok to hear Akmal or Sohail Tanvir say so but not the Pathans is precisely this - Akmal, Tanvir are / will never as heavily scrutinized in India & their words are passed off as routine. Whether Yusuf is secular in his thoughts certainly can't be inferred from his words but I think, it will be easily arrived at by the oft illogical masses. In my opinion, when a person with a beard (not that Pathans have any) looks more out of place, than one with a turban or "janeyoo" (as one of you agrees does), why make it even more obvious by linking it directly to your performance in a secular activity (viz: post-match presentation).
This brings us to a more objective question: Is it advisable for minorities to highlight the differences they share with the majority or should they mix-in with the mainstream norms? In my opinion, while nothing is wrong with the former; the later should be followed.
@Sushant : I guess you always knew I was wired that way :-|
@Chandak : Well, I hadn't hollered Jai Shivaji in my 17 yrs. prior to IIT & doubt would do that an year from now. But its gave innumerable hostellites orgasmic pleasure to see me do that; so expect it intermittently for another year or so.
& If if makes you any feel safer, I can scream Jai Rana Pratap or Jai Jodha Bai or whatever once in a while as well.
U r quite right when you convey the reasons why you feel it should not be done - that the majority is not going to think as rationally and logically as many who replied , and yusuf and irfan should be more sensitive towards the view held by the masses, since they are national icons. However inspite of this, I still feel that it wasn't expected from someone like you, to so easily and irrationally connect such a simple invocation from the brothers, to something as sinister and a serious matter as the jaipur blasts.
I totally agree with u Shantanu.....it is bloody damn irritating 2 hear these muslim players always call upon their allah 4 every damn thing......y not get him only 2 play!!!
I also dont think dat ur wrong wen u connect such 'invocation' 2 da Jaipur blasts...v all kno which religion these terrorists belong 2 & wat their thought process is.......
@sanika : Well, in retrospect - I never wanted to mention the blasts in light - other than set the background tone. But this instance of loose comments being easily misunderstood vindicates what I was trying to say all this while.
@Vaibhav : Never intended the connection between the person & the blasts re. Baki all - is common knowledge. :P
Yaa it does give us a lot of pleasure seeing you holler Jai Shivaji.
And @ others
We shouldn't forget for Gangal to make his political career safe, there shouldn't be any place where he has praised those opposed by his party (or rather I should put it as "There shouldn't be any place left where he hasn't written something against those opposed by his party") All the best.
i quite agree with the point you have made here, althugh its not that big a deal if yusuf pathan thanks allah.
but i do think that public display of religion should banned. we are well past being religiously tolerant. it would be acting blind if we think all religions can exist in harmony in the world.
keep ur gods n prayers n taits n pagdis at home
@jeopardy_04:
I'm sorry to say this but it is exactly the people with views similar to those you have expressed who qualify as religiously intolerant!
i dunno how exactly u define religious intolerance ... to be frank i dont mind being one if my views make me one
i never said islam is bad or ne other religion is good ... my point is u can practise which ever religion u want inside the close doors of ur homes or ur places of worship ... no need to bring them out in the open ... i think the french have some laws similar to this n i support them completely
i think religions were introduced to bring social order in a civilised society but now we have laws, trained personnel n equipments to keep social order ... if u argue that religion is a path of achieving enlightenment, then i dont understand whats the need to bring it outside ur homes
@jeopardy_04: Please read the first two comments, one by me and the other by sanika.
@Anchit : The only thing that I have seen / learnt in the last 10 odd yrs. is that, religion is a over-riding identity to certain people. As a result they find it extremely hard to separate their personal(house / place of worship) from their professional (work place / colleagues). The rest of the country just has to live with it.
@Sushant : But in principle, I couldn't agree with him more. Its completely unnecessary (& often, ill-advised) to mix personal with the professional. Neither is anyone against their personal beliefs nor personal expression.
@ shantanu
I agree what I said is not gonna happen in India in the forseeable future but I feel thats the only we to achieve peace ... religious harmony is and will always be a dream
about "As long as the choice of one's religion does not infringe upon other people's religion"
I would hate if I work my ass off for my team and then yusuf/ram goes and thanks allah/bhagwan for the team's victory
I have had an experience when there 10 non-muslim players on the court and 2 non-muslin refrees officiating the game and the game was stopped because a prayer started in the nearby darga ... for that matter I dont agree with the game being stopped even if there are muslim players on the court ... they can stop playing if they want but why should I?
and I aint making this a religious issue ... I would be just as angry if the match was stopped coz of a ganesh aarti going on in a nearby temple
do u count this as infringement?
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