The great joke that is Indian Media - Part VI
A leading cine-artiste makes the claim that being a Muslim, she has had difficulty finding a home in Mumbai.
A screen writer says that he too faced the same “problem”. The reporter adds…
Top film stars, household names for you and me, as well as TV actors and models almost all have had it tough because of their religion.
…but fails to mention even one of these “household names”…apparently, ”none of them were willing to say it aloud” !!
And in all of this, she sees “a pattern of Muslim artistes simply not finding a place to stay in Mumbai.” (sic)
From what I remember of my English, a “pattern” needs to have regularly repeated occurences…I see none here…or has the meaning of “pattern” changed in the last two decades?
Oddly not one word about…”certain Parsi societies that do not allow non-Parsis” or “…societies (in Bandra) that do not allow non-Christians“…and of course no mention of most of us being unable to buy land in Kashmir - or of Shabana and Javed’s flats in Juhu. [ link ]
Related Posts:
“The great joke that is Indian Media” series: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4 and Part 5.
Dear Shantanu,
I am an avid reader of your blog and am looking forward with keen interest to your proposed seminar in Delhi (That u mentioned in the last post). Having said that, I don’t quite agree with the tenor of this post of yours. Having lived in Mumbai, I can tell u that it indeed is a chronic problem for Muslims to find residence in most upmarket places in Mumbai (for that matter, even Delhi. My broker told me that if a muslim approaches me for a residence in CR Park, GK etc I straightway say no) other examples of muslims facing problems would be Imran Hashmi, Sophie Choudhary (there are others - don’t recall at this moment)etc. They are very rudely refused - several friends of mine have had bitter experience in this regard. You might have a problem abt the act that media only highlights the Muslims facing such problems, but I have read media reports abt Non-vegetarians, single women etc etc having similar problems also - so its not only the plight of Muslims that is highlighted by media.
Dear Shantanu, out of my deep respect for your views and efforts, I thought its my duty to remind you that you must not become the monster ur fighting against. I am sorry if that sounded presumptuous. But I strongly believe that criticism should be fair and objective
Comment by Sudipta Bhattacharjee | September 2, 2008
Sudipta: Thank you for your comment…and for keeping me on my toes…
I have not heard of any such situations first-hand…but I’m willing to believe that what you have mentioned is true…
If that is really the case, then some introspection (amongst ourselves) is called for - and I will be the first to admit that…Perhaps this is not a joke, after all?
In any case, I agree with you that criticism must be fair and objective…
Separately, I am looking forward to your comments on the “Fixing the system” post - which had mention of the seminar…
What do you think of the idea?
Thanks,
Comment by B Shantanu | September 2, 2008
Leave muslims… even Hindus have problems finding homes in Mumbai. As there are areas where non-veggie hindus are not allowed where veggie hindus leave.
Except for slums Mumbai is not having at all is having a homogenous mix. South Mumbai(Peddar road to COlaba is mainly Gujju’s South Harbour line Mumbai is mainly Muslims (CST to Byculla). Central Mumbai(Parel to Matunga) is All Marathi. There are some parsi colonies. only in slums like dharavi you get to see a homogenous mix.
Recently Maharashtra CM,V.Deshmukh was asked the same questions about he opposing Raj thackeray of sectarian politics and what is his govt doing on the caste based sectors formed in Mumbai.. CM..answered..we are trying our level best to have Homogenous mixtures in MHADA colonies. … again which is not true…
I would like to add my personal experience to this discussion. We are into poultry business which is dominant with Muslims. hence we have a lots of Muslim business collegues. When we were about to sell our flat in Thane we had a Muslim costumer to buy it. but when the building people who are all hindu came to know about it.. one of the building resident who had initially approached us was quoting ridulusly 5 years old price.. the same person quoted a 20% premium on what we were asking.. when they came to know we were about to sell it to a Muslim family.
Jai Hind Jai Maharashtra
Comment by Mahesh Patil | September 2, 2008
*** COMMENT COMBINED ***
Ok Guys! I have seen some places which has big sprawling bunglows and wide roads between the 2 raw of bunglows, which is hardly seen now a days),in one city, not in Maharastra though but in India somewhere. When once by unknown reason I passed that road I felt wow!. Mainly no Hindu passes from there because it is cosidered as frightful area. These all bunglows belongs to islamic community. Will they let me have one home in their street? No way! Or do I have that daring to live there? No way!
They all keep revolvers, swords and underworld contacts. They even kill goats and chickens in front of you, can any real Hindu who is vegeterian can take this? Who will like their children to grow up in such area? People please dont act like advocate here, see the reasons behind it. Not only one many… They need to integrates first with the culture of Hinduism that there will be no problem.
Second thing they have encroached near by Hindu’s community also by giving higher prices and now no Hindus dare to live there.
Nobody is interested to see the reason why are they not allowed in Hindus community?.
One more observation, we had only one muslim shops in Hindu business area, where I too had my shop. That man use to sound like he is the boss of the area, not to dare to meddle with him and always intimaditing behaviour though he was very good. But any one can get frightened the way he behaves. He always used strong words just to command the other owner of the shop. I think they are getting lessons to command through voice.
***
Now one more observation, not in India, their name has been spoiled in North america also. When my family bought first home every one in the neighbourhood wanted to know our religion by any pretext. They were not ready to accept the family from India, because here there is a trend that many from Pakistan always says that they are from India ( as pakistan has already spoiled their name after 11 sept) so now they fear and feel small to say that they are from Pakistan. If they spoil their reputation they are not spoiling the reputaion of pakistan they are spoiling Indian reputation in the community. Nice way to get away..with the identity.
Every time in the community where 90% are non asian, asked the family, they told that they are from India and the next question will be something which would make them feel as if they are not from India and lying. In most of the job places also the same things happens they say they are from India to their colleagues, actually they are not. Because who will take pain to find out the small truth at work places.
So it is them who needs to improve and get integrated with Hindu culture.
Atleast I am intimadated! I feel sorry for them but it is the time they should take lesson and get changed.
Comment by Indian | September 2, 2008
Dear Shantanu
I think we can’t get worked up about what a journalist or two reports. Most of them aren’t very well informed anyway, and so let them report whatever they see as the truth. What is of concern would be the implications of such things for public policy.
In my view this is a non-issue. Owners of homes should be free to rent their house to whomever they wish. No one has any right to get a house on rent. Of course, if this was ‘public housing’ then equality of opportunity would kick in and such discrimination could become a legal offence.
The fact that religion-based ghettos are developing in a few places is an unfortunate consequence of history, bad policing and numerous other causes. But this is not new - almost all towns in India have such ‘ghettos’ or segregated living spaces.
People are afraid of bad elements from ‘other’ groups, and so they use stereotyping as a shortcut. The long term solution to these social problems is to have consistent justice for all so that the fears amongst various groups eases.
Regards
Sanjeev
Comment by Sanjeev Sabhlok | September 3, 2008
What I cannot understand is the choice of the owner of a building. Shouldn’t the owners have right to choose their tenants? As for the seller, who are we to decide how, when or to whom he wants to sell his house or apartment? If the public sector housing does not adopt equal opportunities policy, we have every right to raise hue and cry; even go to the court. But in private sector? Be fair, people. Respect the right of the owner.
Comment by Gypsy | September 3, 2008
Dear Sir,
May be the thought of going to court because of the “Secularism” in India that makes a person not giving a place to high fliers.
May be they do not want to encounter a PUCL litigation.
May be they do not want to have a “Secularist” problem.
May be they do not like “Intellectuals”.
Regards,
vck
Comment by v.c.krishnan | September 12, 2008