Here’s some semblance of sanity from India. After last week’s terrible events in which Hindu extremists forced Pakistani artists and cricketers to return to Pakistan, it is heartening to see a certain section of India’s artist community come out to condemn Shiv Sena’s act. These include director Anurag Basu, singer Swanand Kirkire, and actors Emraan Hashmi and Nimrat Kaur.

Leading the pack is respected movie-maker and lyricist Gulzar who gave a statement in which he said he’d never thought that in his country people would be asked about their religion before their names. Also, according to him, it has never happened in India before.

Indeed Gluzar sahib, it is a dangerous situation. The sooner the Indian state machinery realises the gravity of the issue, the better it is for the fabric of Indian society.

Published in Dawn, Sunday Magazine, November 1st, 2015

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