{"id":3613,"date":"2013-10-17T09:12:58","date_gmt":"2013-10-17T03:42:58","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/patriotsforumindia.com\/?p=3613"},"modified":"2013-10-17T09:12:58","modified_gmt":"2013-10-17T03:42:58","slug":"%e0%a4%95%e0%a4%bf%e0%a4%b0%e0%a4%be%e0%a4%af%e0%a5%87-%e0%a4%95%e0%a4%be-%e0%a4%85%e0%a4%9a%e0%a5%8d%e0%a4%9b%e0%a4%be-%e0%a4%98%e0%a4%b0-%e0%a4%ae%e0%a5%81%e0%a4%b8%e0%a5%8d%e0%a4%b2%e0%a4%bf","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/patriotsforumindia.com\/?p=3613","title":{"rendered":"\u0915\u093f\u0930\u093e\u092f\u0947 \u0915\u093e \u0905\u091a\u094d\u091b\u093e \u0918\u0930 – \u092e\u0941\u0938\u094d\u0932\u093f\u092e \u0935\u094d\u092f\u0925\u093e"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u0907\u092e\u0930\u093e\u0928 \u0939\u093e\u0936\u094d\u092e\u0940 \u0938\u0947 \u0932\u0947\u0915\u0930 \u0938\u0932\u092e\u093e\u0928 \u0916\u093e\u0928 \u0924\u0915 \u0905\u0927\u093f\u0915\u093e\u0901\u0936 \u092e\u0941\u0938\u0932\u093e\u092e\u093e\u0928\u094b\u0902 \u0915\u0940 \u092f\u0939 \u0936\u093f\u0915\u093e\u092f\u0924 \u0939\u0948 \u0915\u0940 \u0909\u0928\u094d\u0939\u0947\u0902\u00a0\u0905\u091a\u094d\u091b\u0940 \u0915\u094b\u0932\u094b\u0928\u0940 \u092e\u0948\u0902 \u0918\u0930 \u0915\u093f\u0930\u093e\u092f\u0947 \u092a\u0930 \u0928\u0939\u0940\u0902 \u0926\u0947\u0924\u0947. \u092e\u0947\u0930\u0947 \u090f\u0915 \u0939\u093f\u0928\u094d\u0926\u0942 \u0930\u093e\u091c\u0928\u092f\u093f\u0915 \u0926\u094b\u0938\u094d\u0924 \u0915\u0940 \u092f\u0939\u0940 \u0936\u093f\u0915\u093e\u092f\u0924 \u092b\u094d\u0930\u093e\u0902\u0938 \u092e\u0948\u0902 \u0925\u0940 \u0915\u094d\u092f\u094b\u0902\u0915\u093f \u0939\u092e\u093e\u0930\u0940 \u0939\u093f\u0902\u0917 \u091c\u0940\u0930\u0947 \u0935\u094d \u0932\u0939\u0938\u0941\u0928 \u0915\u0947 \u091b\u094b\u0902\u0915 \u0915\u0940 \u0917\u0902\u0927 \u0938\u093e\u0930\u0940 \u00a0\u092c\u093f\u0932\u094d\u0921\u093f\u0902\u0917 \u0915\u0947 \u091b\u0915\u0947 \u091b\u0941\u0921\u093e \u0926\u0947\u0924\u0940 \u0925\u0940 .\u00a0\u0907\u0938 \u0938\u092e\u0938\u094d\u092f\u093e \u0915\u093e \u0938\u092e\u093e\u0927\u093e\u0928 \u0915\u093e\u0928\u0942\u0928 \u0928\u0939\u0940\u0902 \u0939\u0948 . \u092e\u0941\u0938\u094d\u0932\u093f\u092e \u091c\u0940\u0935\u0928 \u0936\u0948\u0932\u0940 \u0939\u093f\u0928\u094d\u0926\u0942 \u091c\u0940\u0935\u0928 \u0936\u0948\u0932\u0940 \u0938\u0947 \u0915\u093e\u092b\u0940 \u092d\u093f\u0928\u094d\u0928 \u0939\u094b\u0924\u0940 \u0939\u0948 . \u092e\u0927\u094d\u092f\u092e \u0935\u0930\u094d\u0917 \u0924\u094b \u090f\u0915 \u091c\u0948\u0938\u093e \u0939\u0940 \u0939\u094b\u0924\u093e \u0939\u0948 . \u0938\u092c \u0935\u094d\u0939\u0940 \u0916\u093e\u0928\u093e \u0935\u0939\u0940 \u0938\u0940\u0930\u093f\u092f\u0932 \u0935\u094d \u0935\u0939\u0940 \u092a\u093f\u0915\u094d\u091a\u0930 \u0926\u0947\u0916\u0924\u0947 \u0939\u0948\u0902 . \u092c\u091a\u094d\u091a\u0947 \u0905\u092c\u0915\u0947 \u092a\u093f\u095b\u093e \u0916\u093e\u0924\u0947 \u0939\u0948\u0902 .\u092a\u0930\u0928\u094d\u0924\u0941 \u090f\u0915 \u0938\u093e\u0927\u093e\u0930\u0923 \u0939\u093f\u0928\u094d\u0926\u0942 \u092e\u0941\u0938\u0932\u092e\u093e\u0928 \u0938\u0947 \u0921\u0930\u0924\u093e \u0939\u0948 .\u0909\u0928\u0915\u0940 \u0909\u092e\u094d\u092e\u093e\u0939 \u0915\u093f\u0938\u0940 \u091d\u0917\u0921\u0947 \u0915\u094b \u0939\u093f\u0928\u094d\u0926\u0942 \u092e\u0941\u0938\u094d\u0932\u093f\u092e \u091d\u0917\u0921\u0947 \u092e\u0948\u0902 \u092c\u0926\u0932 \u0926\u0947\u0924\u0940 \u0939\u0948 . \u092e\u0941\u091c\u094d\u095b\u092b\u0930\u094d\u0928\u0917\u0930 \u0915\u0940 \u0918\u091f\u0928\u093e \u0915\u094b \u0939\u0940 \u0932\u0902 . \u091c\u093f\u0938 \u0926\u0947\u0936 \u092e\u0948\u0902 \u0969\u0968\u0966\u0966\u0966 \u092c\u0932\u093e\u0924\u094d\u0915\u093e\u0930 \u0939\u094b\u0924\u0947 \u0939\u094b\u0902 , \u091c\u093f\u0938 \u0926\u0936 \u0915\u0940 \u0930\u093e\u091c\u0927\u093e\u0928\u0940 \u0926\u093f\u0932\u094d\u0932\u0940 \u092e\u0948\u0902 \u0932\u095c\u0915\u093f\u092f\u094b\u0902 \u0915\u094b \u091b\u0947\u095c\u0928\u093e \u0932\u095c\u0915\u0947 \u090f\u0915 \u0917\u094c\u0930\u0935 \u0915\u0940 \u092c\u093e\u0924 \u092e\u093e\u0928\u0924\u0947 \u0939\u094b\u0902 , \u0909\u0938 \u0926\u0947\u0936 \u092e\u0948\u0902 \u090f\u0915 \u091b\u0947\u095c \u091b\u0921 \u0938\u0947 \u096d\u0966 \u0932\u094b\u0917 \u092e\u0930 \u091c\u093e\u090f\u0901 \u092f\u0939 \u0938\u092e\u091d \u0928\u0939\u0940\u0902 \u0906\u0924\u093e . \u091c\u092c \u0924\u0915 \u0935\u093f\u0936\u094d\u0935\u093e\u0938 \u0928 \u0939\u094b \u0939\u093f\u0928\u094d\u0926\u0942 \u092e\u0941\u0938\u0932\u093e\u092e\u093e\u0928\u094b\u0902 \u0915\u0940 \u0905\u0932\u0917 \u0915\u0949\u0932\u094b\u0928\u0940 \u0907\u0924\u0928\u0940 \u092c\u0941\u0930\u0940 \u092c\u093e\u0924 \u0928\u0939\u0940\u0902 \u0939\u0948 .<\/p>\n

\u0907\u0938 \u0938\u092e\u0938\u094d\u092f\u093e \u0915\u093e \u0938\u092e\u093e\u091c \u0936\u093e\u0938\u094d\u0924\u094d\u0930\u0940 \u0905\u0927\u094d\u092f\u092f\u0928 \u0915\u0930 \u0938\u0915\u0924\u0947 \u0939\u0948\u0902 .<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Opinion From OUTLOOK<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 A Case Of Mistaken Identity<\/div>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 The landlord, after refusing to let out his house to the author, said, “No, you are a Muslim. But the Society will happily let\u00a0 it out to a Bengali.”<\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n\n\n\n
<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n
\n\n\n\n
<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
\n\n\n\n\n
<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n

During his lifetime, a man can have several identities. That was the subject\u00a0 of an entire book titled Identity & Violence\u2014the illusion\u00a0 of destiny<\/i>\u00a0\u00a0 by Amartya Sen. He cited instances to establish how the same\u00a0 person\u00a0 can have different identities in his lifetime and how these identities\u00a0\u00a0 assume importance over others at different times. The book made me think afresh\u00a0 about my own identities\u2014one as a Bengali who is a Muslim as\u00a0 well, one who grew\u00a0 up in a village, was educated in urban centres, who\u00a0 now has a doctorate degree\u00a0 and who is associated with a research\u00a0 institute.<\/p>\n

I actually felt quite elated.<\/p>\n

But the elation did not last for long. I had just acquired a job in\u00a0 Kolkata\u00a0 and felt the need to shift from my one-room accommodation in a\u00a0 coaching centre\u00a0 run by a devout Muslim on College Street. The room was\u00a0 too small for my needs\u00a0 and too far from my research institute. It was\u00a0 also difficult to host friends\u00a0 and relatives and, above all, I was\u00a0 spending too much time in commuting to and\u00a0 fro.<\/p>\n

My research institute being in the Patuli-Baishnabghata township, my\u00a0 first preference was to look for accommodation in that locality. Not\u00a0 knowing too many people there, I fell back on a broker, who identified\u00a0 two flats within my budget. I liked one of them and had a cordial\u00a0 conversation with the landlord. He wanted an advance and I immediately\u00a0 agreed to pay it the next day. The smiling landlord came out to see me\u00a0 off.<\/p>\n

At the gate I hailed a cycle rickshaw. Where would you like to go,\u00a0 the rickshaw puller asked. ” The masjid”, I replied. It was Friday and I wanted to offer Namaz in thankgiving. I waved to the landlord and was\u00a0 off.<\/p>\n

Minutes later, my mobile rang.\u00a0 The broker was on the other side. He\u00a0 sounded grim. The landlord had refused to let out the flat to me, he\u00a0 informed. ” He will not have a Muslim as tenant; if you had told him\u00a0 that you are a Muslim, he would have told you himself,” he added.<\/p>\n

Surprised, I retorted, “He too never asked me my religion and what\u00a0 has that to do with the tenancy?”\u00a0 “I am helpless. He is not going to\u00a0 let it out to you,”\u00a0 said the broker.\u00a0 Rattled, I asked him to confirm\u00a0 the other flat.” I am sorry, but I just spoke to the second landlord. He too is not ready to have a Muslim as tenant,” he informed me.<\/p>\n

Disheartened, I again started searching for a suitable accommodation. And once bitten, twice shy, this time when I finally identified a flat, I bluntly told the landlord: “Before we talk any further, it is\u00a0 important for you to know that I am a Muslim.”<\/p>\n

Visibly embarrassed, he replied, “Why should that come in the way ?”<\/p>\n

“Well, I have had several bitter experiences of late and I would like to sort out this issue first,”\u00a0 I replied.<\/p>\n

“No, no, that is not a problem at all. But since you have raised it,\u00a0 let me speak to the Secretary of the Housing Society first.”<\/p>\n

His conversation with the Secretary did not last more than a few seconds. It was an emphatic \u2018no\u2019.<\/p>\n

Strangely, I felt euphoric. “What did I tell you ? In this city,\u00a0 Muslims do not have the right to take a house on rent,” I said\u00a0 triumphantly.<\/p>\n

The landlord was apologetic. “I hope you appreciate that this is not\u00a0 my thinking. But I do live in a housing society and must follow what the society lays down,”\u00a0 he told me.<\/p>\n

I walked away. There was no point in arguing the point further. I\u00a0 need to now look for a house in a Muslim locality, I told myself.<\/p>\n

The gentleman called from behind, “If any of your Bengali friends\u00a0 wants the flat on rent, let me know. I will be happy to let it out”.<\/p>\n

I stopped in my stride and turned back. “What do you mean ?”<\/p>\n

“No, you are a Muslim. But the Society will happily let it out to a Bengali,”\u00a0 he asserted.<\/p>\n

I stood there, speechless.\u00a0 For whom does Professor Sen write his\u00a0 book, I\u00a0 mused. Does his books leave any imprint at all on the so-called Bengali middle class?<\/p>\n

I lost my cool and raising my voice, I told the gentleman, ” If you\u00a0 do not want to let out flats to Muslims, it is your prerogative. But\u00a0 don\u2019t you consider me even a Bengali?\u00a0 Do Bengalis have to be Hindu?”<\/p>\n

A friend, when I narrated my experience, corrected me. “You must be a\u00a0 high caste Bengali to be acknowledged as a Bengali here. Otherwise you would be\u00a0 known as Chhotolok, Muchi, Bagdi or Bauri”.<\/p>\n

My mother tongue is Bengali. I\u00a0 was born in Malda. If I don\u2019t have\u00a0 rice and fish, my meal is incomplete. If I\u00a0 stay away from Bengal for\u00a0 too long, I feel homesick. And yet, I am apparently\u00a0 not a Bengali. My\u00a0 only identity is that I am a Muslim.<\/p>\n

The story does not end\u00a0 there. When I finally settled down in a house in a Muslim area of Kolkata,\u00a0 Bekbagan, a colleague taunted me and\u00a0 said: “So, you too opted to stay in a\u00a0 ghetto? What is the use of your\u00a0 education if you cannot get out of ghettos? What\u00a0 makes Muslims so\u00a0 hidebound as far as religion is concerned?”<\/b><\/i><\/p>\n

I didn\u2019t know how to reply to him.\u00a0An impotent rage convulsed me.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

\u0907\u092e\u0930\u093e\u0928 \u0939\u093e\u0936\u094d\u092e\u0940 \u0938\u0947 \u0932\u0947\u0915\u0930 \u0938\u0932\u092e\u093e\u0928 \u0916\u093e\u0928 \u0924\u0915 \u0905\u0927\u093f\u0915\u093e\u0901\u0936 \u092e\u0941\u0938\u0932\u093e\u092e\u093e\u0928\u094b\u0902 \u0915\u0940 \u092f\u0939 \u0936\u093f\u0915\u093e\u092f\u0924 \u0939\u0948 \u0915\u0940 \u0909\u0928\u094d\u0939\u0947\u0902\u00a0\u0905\u091a\u094d\u091b\u0940… more »<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":3408,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[19],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3613","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-articles-2"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/patriotsforumindia.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3613","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/patriotsforumindia.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/patriotsforumindia.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/patriotsforumindia.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/patriotsforumindia.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=3613"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/patriotsforumindia.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3613\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3615,"href":"https:\/\/patriotsforumindia.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3613\/revisions\/3615"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/patriotsforumindia.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/3408"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/patriotsforumindia.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=3613"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/patriotsforumindia.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=3613"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/patriotsforumindia.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=3613"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}