It seems that we are both saying the same thing, and find ourselves in the same position.
Incidentally, the devout Hindu offering Puja was not I; it was an abstraction. Not to seem to be taking a position, but the facts are that my father categorically insisted that Hindu rites not be observed after he died; my daughter and son-in-law also got married quite outside the usual, well-known routines (they devised something with the help of a friend).
As you pointed out, patriotism has nothing to do with religious belief, or with the extent of conformance to any particular religious belief, much though the mullahs and the priests try to make that a loyalty test. Their definitions are self-serving and wholly irrelevant.
It is ironic that just after your country climbed out of the ditch, we have fallen into it.
Actually I am working up two theories besides my other obsessions and hobbies one linked to your thread where I started contributing but then well you know what happened topic is "can India and Pakistan co-exist", second is probably gonna use for my another PhD something like "Racism and the beginning of discrimination"
People like me, my family and lot of others have paid a heavy price to get out of the cesspool Zia left for us, entire generation lost its peace of mind. The religion that was used to divide us somehow along our founding ideology became the rallying point. The last battle is yet to be fought but if you are following happenings in the mid-east lines are being drawn with or against Pakistan
.
Terrible things.
Going around encouraging vigilantes to attack Muslims who speak up on social media, putting his weight for a law that will effectively allow all Muslims to be stripped of citizenship, appointing and encouraging a state Chief Minister who has systematically persecuted a doctor who saved lives by contributing his personal funds, violated the constitution to deprive the only Muslim majority state of its existing rights and laws.....the list goes on and on.
Honestly, you are too good to be true.
You are among those who have read my signatures and know the meaning/reason behind them. Most of the time I ignore people whom I find unable to comprehend, spending time here on PDF is a luxury that I afford and I dont want to waste in useless arguments.
1) In fact, your nation's founder, Mr. Jinnah was a very nice progressive person. He wanted equal rights for the Hindus.
2) But you have the Blasphemy laws which are abhorrent to any liberal person in India.
3) Having said this, now that Pakistan is emerging out of the shadows of Zia-ul-Haq and religious fundamentalism, India is moving in the opposite direction. That is why some Indian politicians of Congress say that under BJP, India is becoming a Hindu version of Pakistan.
4) What they really mean is that under the Hindutvadi forces, we are becoming like a Zia-Ul-Haq's version of Pakistan.
5) It will be really funny if in another 20 years time, India becomes a Hindu country where all minorities are second-class citizens, and all the liberals are dead or exiled.
6) On the contrary, Pakistan becomes an officially secular country.
1) Yaar Never implied that. Trust me being progressive or religious Muslims doesn't mean we do not recognize and respect people of other religions or their deities. What you see normally is ignorant people saying crap about other religion, people who don't know how much religion Islam respects other religion such people would normally be idolizing Mehmood of Ghazni for me he was just another dacoit.
2) I have my view on that, some day I would let you,
@Joe Shearer and may be
@jamahir read my blog and my view but this is a no go area.
3) I concur fully. Like I mentioned to joe mullah will become irrelevant as a result of happenings in the mideast.
4) I know what it means and its a sad thing, same thing is happening in myanmar where the most peaceful of monks have become monsters.
5) Thats what I fear, or may be india will not exist in its present geographical form or may be Indians as a nation realize that fanaticism is a bottomless pit and there is no way up once you descend down.
6) It would be strange for you to comprehend that Islam by its original teachings is the most liberal of religions, it recognizes the right for existence of all humans and animals. Think of me as someone who has spend decades in studying religions (almost all major)