I was on internship at Well Stimulation Services, ONGC, Ahmedabad, and was excited about the internship because of ONGC and Ahmedabad. It was going to be my first time in Ahmedabad.
I reached Ahmedabad, and liked everything, like ONGC, Ahmedabad city, etc.
The weather was perfectly fine. Me and one of my college frnd, A Saxena, took a flat at Visat chawraha, adjacent to ONGC. The owner, 65 yrs aged, stayed with his wife. He was very nice and supportive. 2-3 days passed and everything was smooth, until he came to know that I am a Muslim.
From that very moment everything changed, he was no more nice to us. He started scolding us at everything like wasting water n all, talked nonsense and still we ignored. 2-3 days passed this way. Finally when he was done with all his nonsense and truth came out of his mouth, he called my friend Saxena and told him directly "dekh Saxena Tera dost Muslim hai.. Is colony me Muslims allowed nhin hain.. Colony waale jaan gye toh kya bolenge..".
These are some of his statements. My poor friend Saxena, from a good family background, being a little unaware of these communal hatreds and differences took him lightly and never told me. 2-3 more days passed when the owner couldn't resist his anger and called me finally at 1am night. He told me "dekh ---, Teri saari hoshiyari nikal jayegi. Over smart nhin ban.. Yeh Tera UP nhin hai.. Yeh gujrat hai Raat-o-raat gayab ho jayega pata bhi nhin chalega.. Samaan tak nhin wapas le ja payega Ghar.."And I was like "what the hell happened to him.. What's my fault?" but still seeing the conditions and taking care of his age I managed to ask him politely "I am a Muslim and it can't be changed.. What do you want me to do?".
Then he spoke his mind, which he should have said at the time of giving us the flat to avoid all these insults "leave the flat.. Muslims aren't allowed in this colony" then I remembered remarks of my father when I told him about my internship at ONGC, Ahmedabad which is "arey Ahmedabad me toh badi dikkaten hotin Muslims ko"..Then I realised how right he was.
I left the flat at that very moment. Stayed with my other college friends illegally. Searched for another flat/room but the same response "we don't give rooms/flats to Mohammedans".. Tired of all these.. I left Ahmedabad on my ninth day of internship.. Joined Institute of drilling technology, ONGC, Dehradun. Dehradun, a beautiful place with awesome people with awesome thinking.
Ryt now m in Dehradun, happy.
But when I look back I can't decide who's fault was that.. Mine? Coz I was born in a Muslim family.. Or the landlord's? I don't think so Coz he was a nice person until he knew my name.. I still wonder "WHO'S FAULT WAS THAT?"
P. S: Modiji is right in building "Statue of Unity" at Ahmedabad. Ahmedabad really needs unity.
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*Former chairman, Press Council of India. Courtesy: http://justicekatju.blogspot.in
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