Gerald D'Cunha

  “Polarization affects families and   groups of friends. It’s a paralyzing situation. A civil war of opinion.” Mick Jagger   T he Independence Day  – I am referring to any Country’s Independence Day – only marks the day that country got free from a foreign rule. In our case, it’s 15 th August, and we celebrated it two days ago. As an Indian, I know how hard it had been for generations before me to achieve that freedom. I, therefore, feel privileged, grateful and blessed to have been born in a ‘Free nation’. Well, that being said, I see around me, and see within me - and ask: “Have I become free from my prejudices?”… “Have I become free from the curse of polarization?” Did I say ‘Curse’? Yes, I did… The British have left us, the Mughals and every other ‘outside’ rulers have gone… But, to see ourselves freed from social, religious, political and cultural prejudices, we need a different kind of ‘freedom struggle’. Territorial freedom, therefore, has on...

  “Religion is for those who’re afraid of going to hell; Spirituality is for those who’ve already been there.” Vine Deloria Jr.   I do not know, if they still teach the fascinating stories from The Ramayana and The Mahabharata in pre-primary and primary schools, these days. Hope they do… The stories are so fascinating, that they have remained permanently etched in my mind even after sixty-plus years… Every time Deepavali comes, come back to my mind the inspiring stories of Rama’s sacrifice, Bharata’s love, devotion and righteousness, his mother Kaikeyi’s stubbornness and father Dasharatha’s atma sankat… Though the primary school I studied in (St. Peter’s ) was run by the local church authorities, the atmosphere out there was purely secular… I grew up among scores of non-Catholic friends – Hindus, Muslims and Jains… Brahmins and Harijans all. The stories from The Ramayana and Mahabharata enchanted all of us… Thus, as a grown-up man, today, I am quite aware of why De...