Thread by @ghazalawahab

A thread: Shades of bigotry.

1. The relentless online #Islamophia & #Muslims hatred prompted a chat on family WhatsApp group. I said, unlike #IndianMuslims who come across several #Hindus in their lifetime, given d demography, a large number of Hindus have no opportunity...

2. To meet or interact with #Muslims; esp those who come with family traditions of #RSS. Hence, they tend to believe all kinds of propaganda because they grow up listening to that & never get a chance to see that it's all a lie. To this, my sister in law said, but what about...

3. My neighbour. I was speechless. My brother's family has been neighbours with this family for 10 years. They are d closest of friends, eating in each other's homes, women having post-breakfast tea together everyday. Celebrating birthdays/ anniversaries together etc. Yet,

4. The lady hates Muslims. And posts the most hateful messages on FB and WA groups. When she started doing this six years ago, my sis in law confronted her. She hugged her & told her, 'but you are not like other Muslims.' Wht other Muslims do you know, my sis in law asked...

5. She mentioned somebody among her acquaintance who knew someone who had met a Muslim once. 'Very conservative. Didn't let his wife step out of the house.' Could her hatred really be based on a third-hand hearsay? By way of apology, her husband told my brother tht he has...

6. Told his wife several times not to post/ share such things on #SocialMedia. 'But she doesn't listen,' he shrugged. Then he promptly gave the list of food he wanted on Eid from my parents. Included mutton yakhni pulao, korma, sheermal and shami kebabs...

7. His wife is particularly fond of sheermal-korma and looks forward to it. They don't like Delhi's Matka Peer variety of pulao and korma. 'Too much oil'. Her extremely close interaction with my family has not removed the prejudice she grew up with. The coming of Modi govt...

8. Encouraged her to air thm publicly. While my sis in law no longer feels same warmth towards her, kids still play together. My brother dismisses her as 'mental'. Her husband agrees, esp when he is spnding evenng with brothr but does nothing to change his wife's thinking...

9. I don't know if she would listen to her husband if he was to call out her bigotry. Or if someone was to counter her prejudice point by point. But for tht she has to first ask questions abt Muslims. Mayb d reason she doesn't ask is tht she fears losing her hatred...

10. Are most bigots like this? Prisoners of their upbringing? Or are some pretend-bigots too, currying favours with d powerful? How does one rid them of hatred that clearly makes them miserable too, which is why Indians remain amng d unhappiest ppl in d world? Ends