Turning point

In the middle-class housing colony in a city in Madhya Pradesh, where I lived for about 25 years, no one harangued the residents about the need for communal harmony or national integration. The colony was inhabited by people of all religions from almost all parts of India. There was only one Sikh family. It was the most affluent one by middle-class standards. The colony of 200 flats had a village-like atmosphere about it 8212; everybody knew everybody else and co-existed in perfect amity.

As a new resident of the colony in the late 8217;70s, it was a curious sight for me to see a burly Sikh gentleman holding a medium-sized Ganesh idol close to his massive chest and leading a procession of Ganesh devotees chanting, 8220;Ganapathi Bapa.8221; Sardar Mahendra Singh was the undisputed leader of the colony. Despite being busy with his transport and petty contract business, he took part wholeheartedly in all the Hindu religious celebrations possible, singing the hymns in his stentorian voice. Needless to say, he was also the top financier and underwriter for any celebration in the colony. His trucks were available free of charge to anyone in the colony for moving house, for visarjans and for the final journey to the cremation ground.

When somebody mentioned 8216;Mahen Bhaiya8217; it was difficult for a stranger to imagine a Sikh 8212; there were many Thakurs and Jats in the colony with similar names. Mahendra Singh, a devout Sikh, also did not appreciate anyone addressing him as 8220;Sardarji8221;.

And then 1984 happened. That day, when the 8220;big tree fell8221;, a group of local goons went to his ground floor flat with the intention of burning down his trucks and other properties. A true fighter, he came out with a drawn sword 8212; his kripan 8212; and challenged any mai ka lal to touch him or his trucks. His neighbours, mostly families of Ganesh devotees, watched the tamasha through the chinks in their closed doors and windows. The motley mob melted away as fast as they came but, clearly, Mahendra Singh was alone in his hour of need.

Thereafter 8212; although he continued giving liberal donations for festivals 8212; he kept aloof from active participation. He also changed the name-plate on his gate from 8216;Mahendra Singh8217; to 8216;Mohinder Singh8217;. Many missed this subtle transformation.

As for us, haven8217;t we perfected the art of alienating our own people? My apologies to Mohinder Singh for using his name.