The Child!

Before writing anything, I would like to thank Mr. Varun Gandhi for reminding me if this incident that i had forgotten in the mundane activities of life. His "famous" speech led me back to those dreadful time after the bomb blasts in mumbai in 2007. It was a small incident i want to share here!

it was a week after hundreds of people lost their lives in the mumbai local train bomb blasts. things were getting back to normal, people had resumed their work, lives and were slowly coming out of the terror caused by the blasts. i can't recall the exact day or date, its been a long time now. but what happened is still etched very clearly in my mind. i was standing near the gate in the first class compartment of a churchgate bound virar local in the morning at around 7:50. the compartment was not even half filled of what it is generally. things were not still good. some of the daily commuters had lost their friends or colleagues or family members, and the heaviness of their hearts could be felt in the small compartment. everything was silent, the silence which people long for in a normal - all good day! but not today. everyone was uneasy.

suddenly i noticed a muslim family sitting in the train. the old uncle, aunt and a small child , probably around 2-3 years old. he was crying aloud but they didn't do anything. they were afraid of all the eyes looking at them. the hatred which was never shown on the news channel during those days in fear of causing more troubles, was being felt by them (on them) and many others at that time. the fellow passengers who used to sing bhajans and play cards were all silently staring at the crying kid. their eyes were moving from him to the guardians (or probably grandparents). it wasn't a scene that was observed daily. a beautiful, innocent child crying and people just ignoring him!

the train haulted at andheri station and in came a haughty mister whom i had noticed quite a number of times in this local. he was an extreminst hindu and was known to pass strange, unnecessary and abusive comments on the muslims and be proud about it. when he entered, i had a strange feeling - an uneasiness, a fear that something bad is about to happen. and something did happen. but not what i had expected...

the mister went inside and stood near the opposite side of where the scared family of three was sitting. he heard the cries of the child and turned back. i was observing each and every second of this event and i swear, my heart was skipping beats. you must be thinking why! because the mister had entered shouting abuses on the muslim community and all the things the people inside he train were already feeling. i was afraid that his one comment or action might spark off a fire that could have burnt the whole train that day. the mister was in an aggressive mood. (i later came to know that he had lost his friend in the blasts and it was his first day to office after the horrible events). he turned back and saw the child crying - the child's eyes red with tears, his cheeks all swollen up and probably he was also hungry.

the mister stood staring at the child. everyone could feel that he was getting disturbed at the sound and that the volcano in his mind might just burst. but it was not to be. nobody knows why but he started whistling. whistling the complete song - "aa chal ke tujhey main leke chalun aek aise gagan ke tale. Jahan gham bhi na ho aansoon bhi na ho, bass pyar hi pyar pale". i was shocked. amazed. and i could not believe what was happening. it was in a minute or two the child stopped crying. he was looking at the mister (who was not looking at him). and everyone was looking at them.

the uneasiness had started to lift and the atmosphere was becoming light. dadar came. the grandparents got up and started to leave. it was here their eyes met the mister. it was at this time the mister really saw the child.

and it was here the child smiled!!! that innocent smile lit up the faces of all the fellow passengers. i could see they were just as happy as the child was. the mister smiled back. it all happened in two minutes and the child and the grandparents were lost in the crowd as the train started moving.

the child who could have been the victim of the hate that day had brought happiness in the small train compartment. by the time we reached churchgate, i am sure everyone had that innocent smile in his heart and i am also sure that their day was brightened with the sunshine of a smile. oh i forgot to add. the smile of a muslim child!

how can i believe you mr. varun gandhi, or for that matter any person who is trying to propagate hatred in our hearts. i agree that our innocence has been lost in the attacks that have happened in all these years. but there is still innocence in the smile of every child, and that innocence is what the world needs today. the mister was a hater like you mr. gandhi, but in front of a child, even he could not show his feelings. the feelings vanished with that smile.

the smile that was neither hindu, nor muslim, or any other religion. it was the proof that we all still are the same and that just because people like you and others for their political and other benefits try to bring in the divide among people. i just wish you would get a chance to see that kind of smile. and i hope it is soon.

adios.
regards,
Kunal Lodha