Majority Empathy

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The majority of people in any nation, be it in America, India, Pakistan, China, Mexico, or elsewhere, lack empathy towards the minorities.

When a majority of white people in America hear about the day to day difficulties and unequal treatment of minorities, it does not register in their minds. When the Muslim majority in Pakistan hears about the atrocities committed against its minorities- they don’t believe it. When the Hindu majority hears about what is happening to Christians and Muslims in India, they don’t think it is for real. The majority believes that minorities are at fault. It is like blaming the woman for rape and saying she should not have been there.

I have struggled to like Senator Lisa Murkowski as she is not a person of her own; when she tries to be independent, the pressure from her fellow Republicans makes her cast her sheepish vote at the last minute. She voted for Bret Kavanaugh’s confirmation, a reinforcement of misogyny; indeed, she betrayed the women.

However, I admire her for the acknowledgment of the Apathy among the majority of Americans towards others. She did not understand what Senators Booker and Harris were talking about their experiences. I found validation for my statement in the speech of Lisa Murkowski – Senator from Alaska.

1-minute video

https://www.facebook.com/MikeGhouse/videos/1288884221485535/?t=30

33% of Americans or Indians

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Approximately a third of Americans behave the same way as a third of the Indians. This group of population worships Modi/Trump. Why do they worship them? Is it because these two men exhibit raw power? Is it because they are always ready to bulldoze and crush dissent and make bold promises? Do people want them, or is it a temporary phenomenon? Humans are either slavish who admire the powerful and worship them or independent who question and demand accountability.

Strength to men of raw power is beating up on fellow humans. It’s an expression of their immaturity towards the other. If you analyze the statements made by Trump and Modi – their language is about showing the other people their place. They want to rule and not serve.

Trump and Modi pretend to be nationalists, which they are not, they are merely power-hungry people. A nationalist builds on the idea of one nation, they make all-out efforts to bring people together. A nationalist will not pit one against the other. Modi to his credit has engineered one of the best slogans ever, “Sab Ka Saath, Sab ka Vikas, and Sab ka Vishwas” that is everyone comes together, for everyone’s prosperity by trusting each other. Sadly, he does not mean a word based on some of his practices.

Trump claims, he is rich and does not need anything but making America Great Again.
Modi claims, he is a Faqeer (mendicant) and has given up everything to serve the nation.

That is pure hyperbole and pathetically consumed by a third of the population without every questioning. The majority on the other (2/3rds) hand sees them through. If you know grouchy older men in or around your family, they don’t want anything either. All they want is to control everyone; they threaten, scream, or divide and rule. Everyone around them is scared and no one dares to speak up to them and silently endure the abuse.

The leaders are elected by the people’s consent to govern. Once elected, they assume God chooses them to want to rule people instead of serving them. Not all Presidents or Prime Ministers have done that, except Nixon and Indira Gandhi.

A leader should not instill fear in people but admiration. Both these men have solid support from a third of the population. Unfortunately, the power-thirsty virus is infecting many world leaders – all of this will change in the next few years, and we will be back to living healthy lives – respecting the otherness of the others.

When God/nature created life, it came in two formats; Animals and Humans. Animals were given horns, fangs, and paws to fight and resolve their conflicts to get what they want, whereas humans were not given the same tools to resolve their conflicts. Instead, they were given the ability to talk and communicate, so they can resolve their conflicts through dialogue.

The bottom line expressed or unexpressed goal of all humans is to achieve peace, tranquility, and harmony within. A state of mind without tensions.

Nearly 67% of the population achieves the tranquility and lives in tune with what surrounds them; life and environment.  They get along with others and feel secure in their own skin. They live their lives and let others live theirs.

As an observer of social behavior, I have chosen to be part of extreme left and right-wing groups. They are from Atheists, Buddhists, Christians, Hindus and Muslims. The other faith groups are smaller in numbers, but they also have their own extremes. They lack empathy towards fellow humans. They have no problem lynching, killing, shooting, kicking and burning them alive.

I believe the creator has set the monitor within all of us, that makes us feel good or bad based on our karma. No one goes scot-free- they are burning inside as bad deeds keep piling inside them, causing them to live less than normal life.

I pray Modi, Trump, and their supporters see the goodness in service rather than power. I hope they walk the path of living their own lives and letting others live theirs. I hope peace and tranquility becomes a part of their life.

If we learn to respect the otherness of the other and accept the uniqueness of each other, most of the conflicts will fade away and solutions emerge.

God bless the World.

Mike Ghouse is the founder and president of the Center for Pluralism. He is a speaker, thinker, author, consultant, pluralist, activist, newsmaker, and an interfaith wedding officiant. He is committed to building cohesive societies and offers pluralistic solutions to the media and the policymakers. www.TheGhousediary.com 

Bad Speech by Maulana Israr Ahmed

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The speech by the Maulana is in Urdu/Hindi.

Shivaji did not fight with Aurangzeb to eliminate Muslims, but to expand his territory – that is what all the bloody kings did. Shivaji’s generals were Muslims. Maulana gave a free degree to Aurangzeb, adding Rahmatullah Alaih to his name. Was he Rahmat to ‘all’ of his subjects? 

The correct narratives would be:

  1. Islam did not emerge to rule others. Islam came into being to bring sanity, peace, and harmony to society. 
  2. Muslims ruled (Hukoomat) Spain for 800 years, and India for 1000 years – wrong, they were kings for themselves who happened to be Muslims. The right term could be Muslims served in India for 1000 years (Khidmat v. Hukoomat). 
  3. We, the people of India, need to remove religious labels off kings, all Kings, Muslims, Christian, Sikh or Hindu. They were not for religion, any religion, they were for themselves and their power. If the Muslim kings did anything, it was to appease their base of influential clerics.

Mr. Tariq Farooqi adds his comment, “Many Muslim Kings spent a lot of time fighting other Muslim and Hindu kings to expand their kingdoms. Plenty of Muslim Kings employed Hindus in their armies and the Hindus employed Muslims to fight on their side. It was a battle for land, money and power. Religion was a side issue!” and “We all get trapped in false narratives and stay prisoners to those narratives.”

Mike Ghouse

Leadership to Trump: keep your mouth shut

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President Trump is like the older man in or around your family, who wants to control everyone by force and threats. You know the kind. Like the older man in your family, no one dares to speak up to him and silently endure the abuse. The Houston Police Chief and several police chiefs have demonstrated real leadership. 

 Here is a clip- worth watching https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dZBZ_hwUobw&feature=youtu.be 

 When people are uncertain about the outcomes, what they need to hear is assurances. Two nights ago, I made a video calling on Trump and Barr to come out and tell the demonstrators that they will take every possible step to bring justice to the Floyds of America.

Facebook Video:  https://www.facebook.com/MikeGhouse2/videos/3181842545201125/

 Instead, Trump comes out and talks about domination and forcing people to obey. – His language is to please his supporters by displaying crude strength – It is disrespectful to Americans. As an American, I am embarrassed that the President talks like a third world tin-pot dictator. 

My other video: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MikeGhouse/videos/286143999228019/?t=25

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EpfEP-0FB7U&feature=youtu.be

George Floyd’s death – Police brutality

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No American has to live with the fear of getting stopped by the police, or he/she has to beg to breathe. Every day, African Americans live in tension when they step outside their home, which should not be acceptable. Our civility demands us to treat every human with dignity.

I have always admired the American police, and they represent the values of a majority of Americans. However, there are a few racists among them, and we need to address the issue boldly.

If the police get weekly reminders, that they will lose their job and go to jail if they deviate from the policies, it may mitigate some brutality. We may also have to have monthly psychological tests to determine racist tendencies and refrain them.

Joe’s speech was moving, and this is the first time Joe has scored with me. He said all the right things! In contrast, Trump does not connect with the average Joe and lacks empathy.

“Everyday African Americans go about their lives with constant anxiety and trauma of wondering, ‘Will I be next?’ It sounds like an exaggeration, but it’s not,” Biden remarked.

At this time, the Christians and Muslims in India feel the same as the African Americans do in the United States, worried about the lynchers and Cow-vigilantes. Shame on the prime minister who does not condemn these incidents, much of the chaos will be down if he does.

The hallmark of civilized societies is freedom, and when every member of the community feels secure. At this time, the people of Kashmir and Uttar Pradesh and other states in India live with tensions, and it cannot go on.

“If we’re not committed as a nation,” Biden added, “with every ounce of purpose in our beings, not just to bind up this wound in the hope that somehow the scab once again will cover things over — but to treat the underlying injury — we’re never going to heal eventually.”

“It’s a 400-year-old wound | it’s America’s original sin.”

https://amp.usatoday.com/amp/5281901002

https://www.pbs.org/newshour/amp/nation/watch-biden-calls-for-justice-in-horrific-floyd-death

India’s caste problem is similar to America’s race problem.
https://www.ndtv.com/opinion/india-s-pandemic-response-is-a-caste-atrocity-2236094

Mike Ghouse is the founder and president of the Center for Pluralism. He is a speaker, thinker, author, consultant, pluralist, activist, news maker, and an interfaith wedding officiant. He is committed to building cohesive societies and offers pluralistic solutions to the media and the policymakers. www.TheGhousediary.com Share this:

An appeal to my fellow Indians

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The overwhelming majority of Indians never had a problem with fellow Indians; it is the political supremacists among us who have taken up to violence as a defense mechanism. The basis for such an attitude is the ‘perceived’ fear of losing their way of life.

Hinduism is not going anywhere, in fact, it is known as Sanatana Dharma, the eternal righteous way of living. Neither Islam, Christianity, and other faiths are going anywhere. We are all here to stay and figure out how-to live-in harmony.

One must trust the stable, consistent heritage of over 5000 years of the Sanatana Dharma, it is not in danger; it never was, and it never will be.

At this time in India, the Hindutvadis, the Hindus, Dalits, Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, Jains, Adivasis, Lingayats, Jews, Buddhists, and others are living in apprehensions, do we need to live like that?  

Let’s ask the Government to take a corrective stand, but before that, let us ask what we can do as Indians to restore peace, security, and harmony among Indians.

Every mother (and father) feels good and happy when all her children get along and act as one.  We owe it to our Motherland to restore harmony among all her children. After all, our heritage rests on the idea of Vasudhaiva Kutumbukum. So is the concept in Christian, Muslim, and other faiths, that we all originated from the first single couple (Adam & Eve) at the beginning. We are indeed one family.

Our religions teach us to respect the dignity of every human. To wish for others what we would wish for ourselves. We need to listen to our sages and not the men who pit one against the other for their personal gain – power, or money.

I am inviting my fellow Indian-Americans to join together to make an effort to restore harmony in India. We all had our share of hatred, ill-will, and distrust, and we cannot continue with that. At this time, adharma has reached extremity and it is time to restore dharma, as Lord Krishna had promised.

If we all subscribe to our constitution and abide by it wholeheartedly, none of us need to worry about the future. Each one of us is guaranteed our way of life, we have the freedom to eat, drink, wear, and believe whatever we want. It will take the tensions out and let’s live a fuller life. We have proved to the world that we are a stable democracy. At this time, we are lost, and we don’t trust each other, and it cannot go on forever.

 Let’s appeal to the Prime Minister to make a statement.

 “I am your Prime Minister, and my responsibility is to ensure the safety of every Indian, yes, every Indian. This nation of ours was built by Hindus, Dalits, Muslims, Sikhs, Christians, Jains, Buddhists, Lingayats, Adivasis, Parsees (Zoroastrians), Jews, Atheists, and others. From this day forward, we will vigorously pursue and severely punish anyone who lynches, harasses, or burns the places of worship.

From this day forward, if any member of my political party denigrates his or her fellow Indians, I will not tolerate it.

If someone from my party or its affiliates says that Muslims and Christians will have three choices, to become Hindus, live as 2nd class citizens or disappear from India will face grave punishment, including banning from our parties. I will make sure that person is punished, no one is going scot-free.

 People of all faiths built our nation, and everyone’s sacrifice will be honored and posted on a monument at the entrance of the parliament house. Let’s put the past behind and advance a new India that respects all her citizens, where no one is more privileged than others. After all, none of us will live forever, why live with hatred and tensions? “

 If you are inclined to restore dharma in our Motherland, let’s come together to discuss how to rebuild trust. The Prime Minister has the right words, “Sab Ka saath, sab Ka Visas and Sab ka Vishwas.” Let’s give life to these hollow words.

Let us live without tensions, and together we have to find solutions.  Please feel free to send an email to MikeGhouseforIndia@gmail.com   

 Thank you.

Mike Ghouse is the founder and president of the Center for Pluralism. He is a speaker, thinker, author, consultant, pluralist, activist, news maker, and an interfaith wedding officiant. He is committed to building cohesive societies and offers pluralistic solutions to the media and the policymakers. www.TheGhousediary.com 

Modi urged to repeal the Citizens Amendment Act.

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A few powerful statements ( Courtesy of Lalit Jha)

In her keynote address, Nadine Maenza, vice-chair of the USCIRF, noted with alarm the social and economic boycott of Muslims in some parts of the country as well as discrimination against Muslims in the context of medical treatment during the global pandemic, the IAMC said in a statement on Friday.

Dr Harrison Akins, South Asia policy analyst with the USCIRF, alleged that the ruling BJP is using the symbols of Hinduism and policies aimed at their protection as weapons against the minority communities in their quest to further marginalise the religious minorities and shape a Hindu nation.

Francisco Bencosme, Asia Pacific Advocacy Manager of Amnesty International USA, expressed concern over activists imprisoned for peaceful dissent, mentioning Safoora Zargar, a pregnant student arrested in connection with an anti-Citizenship Amendment Act protests in New Delhi. While the world faces a global pandemic, India has decided that now is the time to attack religious freedom, he alleged.

The event was organized by the Indan American Muslim Council in association with the International Christian Concern and Hindus for Human Rights.

Lalit, thanks for the above, a few more statements followed by my opinion.

Sunita Vishwanath, an activist from Hindus for Human rights said, “We who are advocating against Hindutva ideology and discriminatory laws like CAA/NRC are doing so out of love for Hinduism and India, both of which are inclusive and expansive.”

Raju Rajagopal from the same organization added, “We are NOT marching toward a Hindu Rashtra; we are marching toward a Hindutva Rashtra.”  

Matias Perttula of the international Christian coalition had this to say, “The persecution of Christians and religious minorities in India has been increasing since Modi and BJP came to power in 2014. It is encouraging to see that India is recommended to CPC status by USCIRF. Now is the time to appeal to India to cultivate greater religious pluralism and steer away from the Hindutva agenda.”

The bad things happening in India are not a part of Hindu teachings. We have been super careful about separating the two in the following article:  http://centerforpluralism.com/hindutva-is-not-hinduism/

The supremacist ideology should be repulsive to those who believe that all humans are created equal. The Al-Qaeda, ISIS, Nazi, KKK, and Hindutva ideologies have disturbed the peace and harmony in Afghanistan, Iraq, Germany, the USA, and India respectively. Taken to its fullest extent, the Hindutva (not Hinduism) coupled with the Manu Smriti dehumanizes Indian women and Dalits, as well as Christians, Muslims, and other minorities.   

The Government of India needs to repeal the CAA and restore freedom to the people of Kashmir to honor the dignity of Indians and also earn respect from the community of nations if we want to be a leading civilized nation in the world.

The intent of passing the CAA was mala fide. There was no need for this act, all they had to do was give citizenship to the persecuted minorities from around the world. The irony is the government says that there are no persecuted Muslims in India from the neighboring nations, then why deliberately exclude Muslims from the act if there were none?

The Indian Muslims and Christians welcome the persecuted Hindus, Sikhs, and others; it would make us proud of our motherland to provide safe space to the victims of prejudice anywhere in the world. Our greatness would be greater if our leaders act in good faith, befriend, and influence our neighbors so we don’t have this problem.

Demanding birth certificates and parents’ birth certificate is to identify all those who do not have these documents. I bet Modi does not have a birth certificate, nor his mother or his abandoned wife. I don’t have one, and a lot of Indians born between 1947 and 1952 don’t have it either, however many of us have two birthdays, including me.   

Those who do not have the birth certificate, and are Muslims will go to the concentration camps, and all others get automatic citizenship. The intention of the law is disingenuous.

If the US economy goes down the tube, Trump’s base will resent Indians who are taking their jobs and doing well. It happened when Microsoft and other companies fired the Americans and outsourced the work to Indians. We have the sparks under control now. If Trump gets reelected, he will do anything to appease his base. It will happen if the economy tanks.

Ominous murmurs are circulating that if India forces its Christians to convert to Hinduism, kicks them out, or allows them to live as second-class citizens, then we must do the same, kick the Indians out of America. If Muslims continue to bear the brunt of Hindutva (not Hindu) hatred, the Arab countries may get rid of some 5 Million Indians who bring nearly a $100 billion to India. It will add to the massive unemployment. Indians stand to lose and chaos will follow.

I can see the absurdity of ‘some’ of the BJP members in India. Their words are dangerous, and Modi has not condemned them either, and if the good Indians do nothing about it, they will continue to create an environment of distrust leading to an unstable India. The Indian economy and the social fabric of the nation will be destroyed. I trust in the goodness of Indians, and hopeful that they will ask Modi to do the right thing.  

What is difficult to understand is the stinky attitudes of a “few” Indian Americans who are rejoicing with what is happening to Muslims and Christians in India. Shame on them.

The CAA is bad for India, bad for Muslims and bad for the Dalits. More importantly, it is terrible for the very people supporting it. The protests will continue unless the CAA is repealed or modified. Millions of Indians who got it good in the last twenty years stand to lose. Major corporations will withdraw if they see a continuance of chaotic discriminative and an unstable nation. All of us lose.

Every Indian American loves his/her motherland, to think otherwise is venomous and a sign of stupidity. Those Indians need to clean their hearts and minds. America is a great country, and they need to live by its ideals of liberty and freedom.

I appeal to those few Indian Americans who care about India to get their act together and urge Modi to repeal the CAA, and allow the USCIRF commissioners to go on a fact-finding mission. What do we have to hide? Let Modi listen to their reports and correct the wrongs and not go down in history as the man who destroyed India.

We have to save India, although it is not our country anymore, it is our motherland, and we owe her a debt of gratitude.

God bless India.

Mike Ghouse is the founder and president of the Center for Pluralism. He is a speaker, thinker, author, consultant, pluralist, activist, newsmaker, and an interfaith wedding officiant. He is committed to building cohesive societies and offers pluralistic solutions to the media and the policymakers. www.TheGhousediary.com 

Your Iftaar Drink

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Mix Pakola and Milk and enjoy the taste! Personally. I use Lactaid milk, but whole milk will give the best feeling and taste. If you have basil seeds, soak them overnight and add to it. The other good drinks are Lime Juice with a pinch of baking soda, salt, and sugar. You can try Lassi with a pinch of salt, a dash of finely chopped red onions, powdered cumin powder, and coriander leaves. My favorite remains Badam Milk if you don’t want to make it, get MTR’s Badam Milk from the Indo-Pak stores
If you like to know everything about Ramadan – its tradition, politics, and spirit – take a look
http://muslimmirror.com/eng/ramadan-everything-you-always-wanted-to-know-about/

Did you poison your kids?

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Twenty-five years ago, I took my kids to every place of worship from Baha’i to Zoroastrian and everyone in between, including the LGBTQ church. We would have gone to an Atheist gathering if there was one. However, they are familiar with the Athiest thinking; indeed, my daughter is ahead of me on the knowledge about Atheism.

This picture is from our visit to the Garland Gurdwara Saheb in Texas. I wanted them to be familiar with people of different faiths; I did not want them to grow up with a bias towards other people.

I wish I could reach out to every parent and ask them not to poison their kids against people of other faiths, nationalities, races, ethnicities, and cultures. When they grow up, they don’t invest 100% into relationships at work and society. I wish parents don’t run sewers in the hearts and minds of their children.

One of the Medical Doctors was in DC for the training, and he was the son of a friend’s friend from Bangalore. He stayed with me for a month – we carried conversation every other night. He said something very profound. “Mike, I wish my parents had not poisoned me against Muslims and Black people, I have stayed with both people, and now with you, I had apprehensions about staying with you, but I found my parents to be wrong. All the myths I have heard about Muslims was bullshit.” Bullshit it is, the same is true when a Muslim stays in a Hindu Home, or a Christian in a Jewish home, a Sikh staying in a Bahai’s home, or other combinations. This is not common, but they’re enough parents out there who are poisoning their kids.

How many of you feel somewhat or entirely at dis-ease with people of other faiths, races, ethnicity, and nationalities? Do you think you could be a wholesome employee for your employer and a healthful man or woman to your family?

Today, my kids can work with anyone with comfort. There were a few times; I had to pull them back from being biased against other nationalities. If you are Prejudiced against others, it depletes your good energy; you are the loser, not them.

Now, my son is doing the same with his kids, what a joy it is to see them enlightened. Indeed, it is the wisdom of every religion to build societies where people are not tense. If you are biased against others, it is not too late to extricate yourselves. If you find it difficult, let’s work together.

One good step is to ponder which group you are biased against and push yourselves to make friends, not one, but at least ten to make sure statistically you are not judgmental with one or two lousy examples.

There is nothing more joyful than being free from tension with any human. Let’s work together and find salvation, mukti, moksha, nijaat, and achieve nirvana. A state of mind, you are free from fear and tensions as you learn to respect the otherness of the other and accept the God-given uniqueness of each other.

May you find freedom from bias. Amen!

You may like these other articles:

Why I live in a black neighborhood?
http://centerforpluralism.com/black-neighborhood-is-my-residence/

Shaping America’s Future
http://centerforpluralism.com/shaping-americas-future/

A few stories shared by friends:

Aditya Deshpande A Muslim friend of mine had a difficult time financially. Yet he put my altruism to shame. We would travel in Mumbai by Auto and anytime anyone old came to ask money he would give. Without fail. I would often ask him why he did that when he needed money so badly he will give. He used to tell me – god helped me get a job where I can do this. I will keep doing until I can. If I cannot, then I cannot. He believed god worked through him. It taught me that a good person of any religion figures how to be a good person using whatever religion he is from. A bad person will find ways to be bad using his religion by finding things in his religion that allows him to be bad. It is a choice.

Let me share this beautiful story ( not sure if his name is right)

Mian Meer’s charity was well known, and no one would go empty-handed from his door. However, he lowered his eyes (humility) when he gave. Tulsidas, his contemporary heard about it and asked him in a Doha (couplet), why do you lower your eyes when you donate? Mian Meer countered it with another Doha – What I gave was not mine to give; it was given by God, which I am merely passing it on. When they thought that I was the giver, I felt humiliated and hence lowered my Nain (eyes).

My Saudi Story

Dr. Mike Ghouse is the founder and president of the Center for Pluralism.  He is a speaker, thinker, author, consultant, pluralist, activist, newsmaker, and an interfaith wedding officiant.  He is deeply committed to Religious Freedom, Human Rights, and Pluralism in Religion, Politics, Societies, and the workplace, and to building cohesive societies and offers pluralistic solutions to the media and the policymakers.  Book information is at www.AmericanMuslimAgenda.com and his info at www.TheGhousediary.com 

Mike frequently speaks to a full range of audiences in international, faith and interfaith, civic, educational, and community life.  He would welcome the opportunity to speak to you and your communities, as well as to invite you to events and programs that he and the Center for Pluralism offer.  He also welcomes your thoughts, comments, and inquiries.  

Muslims Caring for deceased Hindus

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MUSLIMS CARING FOR HINDUS

The following video is in Hindi language and is about a hero who gives dignity to the deceased person by performing the last rites regardless of the religion. I believe it is Burkha Dutt of NDTV who did the interview.

Shamefully some people run away from the dead bodies of their loved ones. This Muslim man is one of the hundreds of Muslims across India who care about the dignity of the deceased persons. Of course, there people in all faiths who care about fellow humans.

Fortunately, a few stories came up in the media – of Muslims performing the last rites of Hindus, among others, while the kith and kin of the deceased chose to distance themselves. I believe it was Burkha Dutt of NDTV who reported this story. 

It is an inspiring story. Indeed, the man speaks wisdom, a genuine person of interfaith, in my opinion.

That reminds me of my first volunteering effort.  In my town, similar things were happening. The poor and street people were dying, and there was no one to give them a decent burial/cremation.  A few kids – Ghani, Nazeer, my uncle Inayat, and I formed a committee, and we called it “Mouta committee – The committee of the dead.” 

No one died while we were still a group, and each one of us went our way. I was the head of the group.