Re-visiting batch of 1978
I remember my early years in the Medical
college where I studied. We had Hindus, Muslims, Christians, Atheists all under
the same roof. We knew where each one was in terms of their religion and faith.
But it never mattered. What mattered was, we were the batch of 1978. We are
still the batch of 1978. My roommate was a Hindu and a Marxist. Yes we had our
share of politics, but that was in line with the dominant political movements
of those times, but never in the name of religion. Some of us who were not happy
with the dominant political movements, remained apolitical and that was
respected by the politically active. Some of us were strong in their religious
faiths. I being one such example. But that never reduced our friendship or
relationships in any way. We respected each other’s faith and beliefs and
gave space for that.
I remember five of us deciding to go on a
tour. This tour took us to a Christian Mission Hospital in Tamil Nadu. All of
us enjoyed the hospitality and the opportunity to learn medicine there. I
enjoyed the bible teachings in the hospital along with the rest of the
opportunities. Later one of our Muslim friends spend a few months working
in one of those hospitals. Our visit took us to some temples, where our Hindu
friends took part in Puja’s and rest of us helped them in getting Puja
materials at a lower price from a Malllu merchant who was trying to make a fast
buck. At that time, I never thought about how diverse our group of 5 was. Now
reflecting, one was practising Hindu, one a Hindu and Marxist, One a Muslim,
One a catholic, and I a Protestant Christian.
Almost 40 years have passed; we still keep
in touch. Our batch of 1978, the relationships still remain strong. Some of us
who moved out of the state are not too actively engaged, but as part of a
social network group we all are active. When one observes the messages
people send in the social networking group, one realises that some who were
religiously neutral has become more religious. Some more atheistic. Some are
now activists. Most of them are in very influential positions, some as
principals of Medical colleges, many in state government services, some in very
prestigious positions in their fields. But these changes and or differences
does not seem to have affected our relationships. We still remain the batch of
1978.
Why did I write this – for me this is
India. Diverse faiths, backgrounds, cultures, positions but accepting each
other. Not only accepting but celebrating the differences and variety, whether
it is language, culture, religion or ethnicity or backgrounds. At the same
time, holding on to our own faiths and beliefs.
But as I read the newspapers, as I travel
to various parts of the country, I find this changing. There is intentional
division created by the various powers that be – to divide and rule, to divide
and conquer, to unite based on certain backgrounds and put down those who are
not part of these backgrounds.
How can we as people in influential
positions, use our areas of influence, to challenge each other to be “like the
batch of 1978” – true Indians…. Celebrating God given (or nature given as some
of us may put it) variety and differences in our midst.
This is freedom – to celebrate each other,
diverse as we are….as God’s unique creation….
How did this change happen? Freedom to
celebrate each other diverse as we are?
This did not happen overnight or naturally
nor is complete. It is an ongoing journey. But many played key roles in
this transition. (I, for most times was a silent observer!)
We started off as being forcibly put
together due to circumstances, as a batch of 1978. We had to live together come
what may for the next 5 years at least. And so we were forced to “tolerate each
other”. We formed our cliques and groups where we were more comfortable within
the batch itself. For that matter, there were multiple groups and group
allegiances. The dissection group was the first. That was outside our control.
The rest were within our control. The political groups out of political
leanings, the day scholars, the hostellers, the local paying guest groups, the
Young Turks (Pre degree group), the seniors (Achayans) etc. We even had an
apolitical group named as “Moofens” – not sure how this word originated! In the
initial months “Tolerance” was expected in the larger group, but “Acceptance”
was within these sub groups. As we lived and grew together, we started
enlarging our boundaries of “Acceptance”.
Let me clarify these terms a bit. Tolerance
is – out of compulsion of living together though internally we do not want to
like each other. There might even be “negative emotions” internally but we mask
it for the sake of living together. Let me do a personal confession here –
there were times I despised some of the behaviours of friends, holding on to a
“Holier than though attitude” in my heart! That was tolerance! But acceptance
is “Unconditional”. Whatever the other person might believe or do, I still
accept him or her who he or she is, because she and he also are created by God
in His image (or as others might want to see – chances of nature, but unique).
This took time for some of us, for people like me (to be specific). But there
was a time by which we were a group which accepted each other with all the
differences. By the time we left – we had taken steps towards this
unconditional acceptance. But then life separated us.
But that is where we had to build the next
level of friendship – by being a community. A community which is united by the
foundation of “unconditional acceptance”. But a community which has to be kept
together (even if distances separate us) by a common purpose. There were these
champions who wanted to build this ‘distant but together community’, by yearly
get-togethers, E group, Web page and finally the WhatsApp group for the purpose
of being a supportive caring community. And now we observe how we have started
to celebrate each other. Each other’s accomplishments, family and children’s
accomplishments and each other’s differences!
It is this transition; our nation has to
go through in this 71st year of independence. Diverse as we are, we
need these transitions if we need to move ahead. From Being a “Tolerant Nation”
to being an “Accepting Nation”. From being an “Accepting Nation” to a
“Community with a Common Purpose” a purpose of building our nation. And finally
becoming a Nation that celebrates the diversity and differences in our midst,
because we are part of one family….
How can I be facilitator of such a
movement and transition in our nation?
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