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In Modi's Gujarat, Muslims Struggle to be respected by Hindus

Icewolf

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In Modi's Gujarat, Muslims Struggle to be respected by Hindus


Twenty-five-year-old Nida Yamin had just moved from Delhi to Ahmedabad, Gujarat to work at the prestigious Indian Institute of Management (IIM) as a research associate. Her grandmother was married at a young age and her mother was never allowed to pursue a career. This was the first time any woman in her family had worked or lived on their own before marriage.
"I feel like I took this step for them," Nida says.
At IIM, she met another research associate, a Hindu girl from the eastern state of Bihar named Shwetambera, and the two found a two-bedroom apartment near the Vastrapur Lake in Ahmedabad. When Nida negotiated the rent, the apartment owner found her voice so sweet that she gave her a discount.
"She actually advertised for 11,500 rupees ($210). But then she said it is 11,000 now ($201) because she liked my voice."
Nida and Shwetambera filled out the deposit forms and sent them to the apartment owner in Hyderabad. They were all ready to move in. A few hours later Nida received a call.
The owner's) tone had completely changed. She asked me about the veg/non-veg thing but we had already discussed that and I agreed not to eat non-veg in the apartment or to cook non-veg. But then she said, 'What is your caste?' I was a bit taken back. I was like caste regarding what? I don't think so anyone has asked my caste in Delhi. I said I am a Muslim. That is when she said 'I wont be able to give you the flat because building people will make a problem.'
Nida could not understand how the owner's voice could change so quickly.
I said at that time (when you gave me the flat) did you recognize from my voice that I am a Muslim or a Hindu from my voice? She was like I don't have a problem but if your father or brother come then people in the society will know that I have rented to a Muslim. And I was like aunty how can you differentiate between a Muslim and a Hindu? You cannot. Like I live in a Jain colony.
Nida tried to reason with the apartment owner in Ahmedabad but she would not budge.
She passed the phone to her brother and he was telling me Ahmedabad is such a kind of a city. He said we don't have a problem. He said your community has created so many problems and I was like what community are you talking about? I have been living in a Jain colony and I have never had a problem.
Nida had always heard about housing discrimination in India but she had never experienced it. She was born and raised in Delhi to Muslim parents from Uttar Pradesh and attended the Jamia Hamdard University. Her father always dreamed of living in the upscale, predominantly Jain housing complex called Green Park and six years ago they moved in.
In Delhi no can be bothered. Nobody wants to talk to you, even if you want to talk to them. I have seen every religion stay in Green Park. There is no discrimination.
I consider India as my own. And I don't think so I need to say this. It's... it's... it's... I don't think there is any mistake I have done as a Muslim? I don't know how to express but I felt really sad at that moment. And I felt why did I even approach her.
It was the support of her roommate Shwetambera that gave Nida the courage to tell her story to her IIM professors. She worried that Shwetambera would abandon her and ask Nida to find an apartment on her own.
"But she stood by me. She said they cannot do this and this is what gave me the strength."
One of her professors told a local reporter and The Ahmedabad Mirror ran Nida's story -- and her picture -- on the front page. Life suddenly became even trickier for her and she became an unwilling spokesperson for the plight of Gujarat's Muslims.
In 2002, the Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi was accused of failing to protect Muslims during the riots. Ashutosh Varshney, one of the world's foremost experts on Hindu Muslim conflict, called the 2002 riots "India's first pogrom."
This week Modi won re-election in Gujarat as projected and he is now poised to make a move to become India's next prime minister. But Nida has little desire to speak about these issues. Her passion is helping rural Muslim women in Bihar.
When I met Nida at Ahmedabad's upscale Alpha One shopping mall last week, she wore a purple salwar khameez and had a large diamond studded nose ring. After I was denied housing in Vastrapur because I am a Muslim, I found accommodation in Juhapura on the outskirts of Ahmedabad, one of the largest ghettos of Muslims in India. Many friends in Juhapura suggested we help find Nida a place in a Muslim locality. But the idea had little appeal to her.
"No, I will not go to Juhapura just because it is a Muslim area. I do not feel that because I am a Muslim I will feel safer in a Muslim area. I am a Muslim by heart, not by accommodation."
She and Shwetambera now live in a Hindu locality but she has asked me not to reveal the area. What surprises her, she says, is how many people in Ahmedabad have praised her for speaking up. Why would they not speak out, she wonders.
You have to speak about it. There is no bad thing about being a Muslim, a Sikh, a Hindu, a Christian. India is a mixture of every culture. Shwetambera and I have the same education. We have the same position. We are equal. You have to respect me also.
After I returned from the interview, she texted me later that night.
"I have been reading online. My story is too small in front of that injustice that happened to people here in the Gujarat riots. I can't stop thinking about it."
Zahir Janmohamed is a freelance writer living in and writing about Juhapura, the Muslim ghetto of Ahmedabad in India. He previously served as the advocacy director for Amnesty International and senior foreign policy aide in the U.S. Congress.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/mobileweb/zahir-janmohamed/hindu-muslim-gujarat_b_2346505.html
 
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We have had many such threads. And we all agree that these things do happen. But then how will you feel if a hindu comes to ur locality and starts making pork.
There are many hindus and jains who don't even touch non veg.
si I m not supporting this but these things do happen.
 
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We have had many such threads. And we all agree that these things do happen. But then how will you feel if a hindu comes to ur locality and starts making pork.
There are many hindus and jains who don't even touch non veg.
si I m not supporting this but these things do happen.

Problem with this is that India is supposed to be a secular, democratic nation.

This eating of pork & beef should not constitute on who gets to live in certain areas of India and who doesn't.

If India doesn't stop this, it will be regarded as a banana republic.
 
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First IIM has their own hostels for students and it is compulsory for student. I dont know the case with research associate.
This show the credibility of this article.

Second during recent election BJP won 8/10 seats in muslim constituencies in Gujrat.
BJP wins 8/12 Muslim constituencies in Guj. A new narrative? - New Delhi | Frrole

Problem with this is that India is supposed to be a secular, democratic nation.

This eating of pork & beef should not constitute on who gets to live in certain areas of India and who doesn't.
If India doesn't stop this, it will be regarded as a banana republic.

This is not about secularism, democratic. It is about respected other sentiments.

It is like TTP decided not to attack Shia Moharram procession and Pak Govt thanks them
 
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Very unfortunate situation... indeed social equality is big issue that needs to be worked on in India....
 
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My uncle was in indian embassy for 4 years he said this happens in majority of india even in delhi.
 
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Problem with this is that India is supposed to be a secular, democratic nation.

This eating of pork & beef should not constitute on who gets to live in certain areas of India and who doesn't.

If India doesn't stop this, it will be regarded as a banana republic.

Is that joker's definition of secularism? Or worse yours?

Individual's decide who to rent their property. This has nothing to do with the state or secularism.

In Singapore my malay muslim landlord never rents his properties to chinese, only to muslims and indians (because indians generally do not eat pork). Does that mean the state of Singapore is discriminating against the chinese?

What a looney argument by the usual suspects. Jai pakistan indeed.

Any loser these days can add Modi's name to their blog entry and earn instant credibility in the eyes of the incredible.
 
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Gandevi is a good example as to why Muslims are veering towards Modi. Sixty per cent of Muslims voted for BJP candidate and former minister Mangubhai Patel here on the basis of the development. Just an year ago, the Muslim Ghanchiwad area in the town used to look like a slum in monsoon as pools of stinking water bred mosquitoes on its kuchha , muddy roads. Today, it has a cement road and the streets are spic and span and lined with streetlights. The four BJP Muslim councillors in the BJP-ruled Gandevi municipality have worked wonders with the help of local BJP leaders. Says a proud Afsabanu Mujavar, one of the BJP councillors: “Today Modi and Muslims have mutual respect for each other because of his attempts to bring development to the Muslims’ doorstep. Muslims want progress and justice not appeasement.”

Same is the feeling amongst a large number of Muslims in Palej town near Bharuch which is part of the Wagra constituency where Muslims constitute almost 50 per cent. Here the BJP’s Hindu candidate defeated the Congress’s Muslim candidate with the help of Muslim votes. In Palej town, nearly 35 per cent of local Muslims voted for the BJP on the slogan of development which is symbolised here by the revival of a closed governgiviment hospital in the form of community health centre at a cost of Rs 2.70 crore. The hospital is proving to be a boon to pregnant women. Every month about 30 deliveries take place in the town and now women in labour don’t need to travel 20 km to Bharuch for delivery.




Is that joker's definition of secularism?

What more can you expect from Pakistanis ?
 
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It happens every where in south asia. It is ok untill they start kill each others. Can you expect Sindhi and Mohajir to live side by side in karachi.
 
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summary of the story:
1. One a hole denied a girl accomodation in his house on the basis of religion. No one can punish him 4 being moron.
2.both friends r living in a hindu area. So its not end of wold yet.
3. Discrimination on basis of caste, religion,language and ethinicity is a reality all round the globe. It has nothng to with modi's gujrat.
 
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