Watching BBC Panorama programme in the aftermath of Paris atrocities, I feel it captured the ground realities of the prevailing situation. As we all know, Islam is not just Shia and Sunni division.
Islam, like any religion, culture or creed, has many sub-divisions. Prominent sects are Daudi Bhora, Ismalis, Ahmedias, Sufis, Memons and Shia Ithna-Asheris. But they form tiny percentage of the overall Muslim population.
Some of the above groups were prominent in East Africa; hence we all had school friends amongst them. They are hardworking, well educated, moderate and extremely law-abiding citizens who would never involve in terrorism.
When we first came to these shores, we maintained close friendships, going out for drink and meal, although we may have pint of lager and they have soft drinks, we have veggie food while they enjoy chicken biryani.
During the last two decades the atmosphere has changed to the detriment of interfaith harmony. They will now not set foot in an establishment serving alcohol or non halal meal.
Even simple fun of card games like bridge is out of question and there house is out of bound if they had been on the holy pilgrimage, making our friendship artificial, tenure shaky.
Their children are even more traditional, although highly educated, being doctors, lawyers, who are our GPs, dental surgeons. But integration, even within ethnic minorities, let alone with indigenous population is on ice!
I wonder whether this is time for prognosis, introspection!
Bhupendra M. Gandhi
By email
