Gujarat Exposure: A personal experience with a Gujarati

The following incident was narrated to me by one of my friends, Kabeer Chaurasia who is currently living in Dehradun and commutes to work by trains regularly to Mumbai. He is truly a smart, intellectual and genuine person who supports the truth and feels free to oppose the wrong-doers.

The incident was brought to me by him when he had a personal experience with a Gujarati native, or a Gujarati Muslim to be precise in a train journey from New Delhi to Mumbai via Gujarat.

Now, the reason for sharing that ‘small incident’ here is quite understandable by the headline itself. With the term ‘Gujrat Exposure’, I mean to depict the real condition of minorities in the ruling period of Narendra Modi, Gujarat’s present Chief Minister.

It is a renowned fact that Narendra Modi is blamed for the 2002 Gujarat riots and the division of Hindu-Muslim brotherhood. But another fact states that the chief minister sahib is an expert on turning facts into fiction (and vice-versa).

Moving back to the headline let’s initiate with the incident that will bring to your knowledge the fear, terror and half-blooded demeanor that minorities are facing in Gujarat.

Narrated by Kabeer Chaurasia (name changed)

A year ago, I was travelling from New Delhi to Mumbai. As the train had some stoppages in Gujarat, there were a number of Gujaratis in the train. My ticket was not confirmed and I had to share the seat with another passenger. The guy looked smart and we had chats for about half-an-hour about the stuff like Bollywood, Hollywood and Sports. Boredom made me to decide to walk to the door of the compartment. That’s what we Indians do! We’ll fight for a single seat in a crowded train and stand by the door when we have a reserved one. Ha ha!

Anyway, another guy came to me at the door and started the conversation. He looked quite friendly and frank with strangers. He was a well-dressed guy travelling from the capital to Mumbai only. We exchanged some words. Finally we had another person who wore a skull cap (Muslim cap) approaching the door. We carried on with our conversations and the Muslim guy stood silent. He was from Gujarat only, the Delhiite inquired of him.

The Delhiite guy made some twist when he started to talk about Narendra Modi and his enormous achievements in making Gujarat a developed state (from his point of view). I had been aware of his fictious developments and the hatred feelings of Muslims about him. The Delhiite went on praising Narendra Modi. I had no interest in involving myself in such a topic or to argue with him. I was taken by surprise when the Muslim guy broke his silence and murmured, ‘Yeah! Baba (Narendra Modi) had done too much for Gujarat’

This made me think again that if a Muslim from Gujarat is able to praise Narendra Modi, then I am too sure that I am wrong somewhere. He must be a genuine leader then. The Muslim Guy repeated the same sentence a couple of times. In a few minutes, the Delhiite went back to his compartment as he had to occupy his seat.

Amazed at the Gujarati guy, I asked him if Narendra Modi is truly a good person both for the development of the state and Muslims.

The person looked a bit pale.

I wanted to know the answer at any cost. The guy started to speak. He shocked me with what he told. I was forced to feel pity for him. And rather, I was more disappointed on our people’s choice. Whatever he told me is here.

“Listen brother, the one who was praising Modi just now really knows TOO MUCH about him and Gujarat! But he is mistaken somewhere. What he is not aware of is that it’s not the reality that he knows. He knows what he has heard and not what he has seen!”

His face turned upset. I asked, “What does it mean?”

He added, “The truth is much different from what you’re told. I must admit, whatever you’re told just think of the opposite if it, and that’s what happens in Gujarat actually. We are not allowed to speak against him (Narendra Modi), neither at our homes nor in public. I don’t know that guy but if he was to be a Gujarati, I had chances of Police at my house the next day if I spoke against him (Narendra Modi). I can say this to you because your expressions indicated your views about Baba and Gujarat, you too are not very happy. And we’re not afraid of anybody, mind this! We have the dare to stand against any tyrant but we can’t fight the administration and police. Isn’t it?”

With a pale face he added the last of his lines, “Brother, I must admit Muslims of Gujarat are the most fearing Muslims I've ever seen, that too, from their own government.”

I had nothing to answer him. I was speechless, blank! I could just think. With a low humming sound I patted his shoulder and took my berth. I was in a doubt! A big DOUBT! Rather a question to the almighty GOD; Why always the tyrants find easier victory and the truth has to face hurdles, tortures, injustice, pain and tyrants and their life-taking tyranny in it’s way to victory. Not just the victory but the selfless victory. The victory for others! 
With hundreds of questions in my mind and nobody to answer them, I went to sleep. Hoping that someone is still awake who is compromising his sleep, comforts, luxurious life and entertainment for our better future. Shouldn't we help him?

"Shouldn't we help him?" The guy has slept now with a hope that somebody would answer him but the truth is that only you and your heart knows the answer to this. Ask yourself whom to support? Whom to vote?

BELIEVE ME, YOU ALREADY KNOW THE ANSWER. The genuine answer!

Don’t follow anybody blindly. Give your brain the chance to choose in between two! I won’t stick to the headline in these last words. You already know more than me. I just narrated an incident and now it’s you who’ll decide where to go? The path of Truth or the path of Lie!

P.S: I never wrote this article for a particular community. Rather, it’s for every citizen of our country. Whoever suppress a minority is a tyrant. It doesn't matter whoever he is; a Muslim or a Hindu! And I know I am genuine person, my vote is genuine and my choice is genuine!

Thank You!

Do VOTE!