I have friends who have left me shocked with their communal sentiments: Tanuja Chandra

A liberal who is hell-bent on walloping every unsuspecting fundamentalist passing by, without so much as an exchange, is she much different from the self-righteous, blinkered fellow pursing his lips down the road? Must we unceremoniously shout down to the gallows, non-progressive, non-secular people?

I have friends who have left me shocked with their communal sentiments, but they are kind-hearted in other areas of life. I worked with an action director who disliked taking instructions from a woman, but would pray fervently for his stuntmen’s safety. I have seen extremely graceful, old people spend money they can ill-afford to help the poor, but be frugal in affection for those of an alternative sexuality.

Human beings, we’re infuriating, we refuse to fit into neat classifications. Else living would be much easier. I always thought Gandhi’s way was to be admired from afar. I now see its shrewdness, its political astuteness, its sane logic. I remain doggedly freethinking, but there is, it seems, a far-sightedness in listening to the ‘other.’

So let’s listen.

Tanuja Chandra is a filmmaker and writer

"Exciting news! Mid-day is now on WhatsApp Channels Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" Click here!