Where there is Faith
What are some very personal things you could know about someone? Sure you know their likes, dislikes, irritants, pleasure inducing circumstances etcetera. But this seems like surface information. What are some things that you know you have to wait; to get to know about?
An obvious choice would be — a person’s fears. Their hopes and dreams. This is not stuff you usually talk about with acquaintances. You wait for a deeper bond with a person before revealing yourself.
Another could be — inner traits. Stuff you don’t really share; or want to share with just anyone. What ticks you off but you pretend everything is okay? What really makes you happy but you are afraid to express it to everyone.
A third factor could be — your faith. The presence or absence of faith, the degree of faith, the reverence or disregard for other faiths : these are absolute secrets in every individual. As it should be! Faith is something very personal. It is meant to be experienced within. India is a secular nation, or so we say. Every person is free to practice whichever religion they want to or abstain from having faith altogether.
India is also maybe the only place where a passerby can witness a mosque, a church, a gurudwara and a temple on the same busy street. Faiths and sub faiths are all equally welcome and revered here. An interesting anecdote comes to mind, related to this faith in India.
Our country is a place of chaos. Overburdened with too many people. And too many problems. Crime rates are increasing. Women are harassed even in metro cities. Hunger, poverty, huge inequalities in wealth are the highlights of the underbelly of the biggest growing emerging economy (India). Foreign economists are often bullish on India, but they selectively ignore the seeping burdens on the economy.
In all this chaos don’t you wonder at how everything functions as it does? How are kids on the street happy in their circumstance? How is your everyday maid mostly cheerful? Why does your local provision store owner always smile at you whenever you go to make a small purchase? How does your next door neighbor manage to be so accommodating and helpful in your times of need?
There is a simple answer to all these questions. One word actually — FAITH! Faith is what brings people together in India. A method to the madness. Some calm in the constant chaos. Faith brings a sense of security to the poor and a feeling of gratefulness to the rich. A semblance and balance is required for people to accept each other, live through differences and adverse circumstances and not complain at where they are placed. The diversity and multiple faiths in India have at least done one good thing. :)
