As my car halts at the signal, I notice a flag above a house, not
very far. A millisecond is all it took for me to recognize that its the
flag of Pakistan. I wondered, why? Why is that our own people, living in
this country which is as much theirs as its yours and mine would want
to hoist the flag of Pakistan. I am sure you would agree, no matter how
liberal you are that it is kind of disturbing. Just yesterday I read
this article about a locality in Mira Road being Called Chota Pakistan
and another being called Chota Bangladesh (I don’t think its right to
name areas like this – not a secular practice for sure). Hence may be my
mind stuck to this flag for a while longer than the other thoughts I
have had today.
While my thoughts grew around this, a flash took me back to something that one of my Muslim friends had once told me. He had mentioned that its a coincidence that the flag of Pakistan is similar to this. The color green is traditional to Islam and so does the symbol of the moon and the star. Its obvious that people perceive it to be the flag of Pakistan but in reality the Pakistani flag is a subset or a product of this.
It wasn’t long before I moved on from this thought and started to surf the FM channels, that I reached this flyover before the domestic airport in Santacruz, Mumbai. To my right, towards Kalina, I saw this absolutely amazing site. I saw on top of a big advertisement hoarding there were 3 flags. First flag was orange in color the second was white and the third was green. They all had the symbols of the star and the moon – the traditional Islamic symbol. They were close to each other and fluttering graciously in the pleasant warm yet cold breeze. Yes you got it – They looked like an Indian flag when combined together with the Islamic symbol.
It was so heart warming and I knew that very instant that I was too quick to judge.
I cursed myself. I wasnt carrying my SLR. I really wanted to shoot this sharp
But nevertheless I used my phone camera to click the below pic – not very clear but it tells the story, isn’t it
While my thoughts grew around this, a flash took me back to something that one of my Muslim friends had once told me. He had mentioned that its a coincidence that the flag of Pakistan is similar to this. The color green is traditional to Islam and so does the symbol of the moon and the star. Its obvious that people perceive it to be the flag of Pakistan but in reality the Pakistani flag is a subset or a product of this.
It wasn’t long before I moved on from this thought and started to surf the FM channels, that I reached this flyover before the domestic airport in Santacruz, Mumbai. To my right, towards Kalina, I saw this absolutely amazing site. I saw on top of a big advertisement hoarding there were 3 flags. First flag was orange in color the second was white and the third was green. They all had the symbols of the star and the moon – the traditional Islamic symbol. They were close to each other and fluttering graciously in the pleasant warm yet cold breeze. Yes you got it – They looked like an Indian flag when combined together with the Islamic symbol.
It was so heart warming and I knew that very instant that I was too quick to judge.
I cursed myself. I wasnt carrying my SLR. I really wanted to shoot this sharp
But nevertheless I used my phone camera to click the below pic – not very clear but it tells the story, isn’t it
Yes it does..beautiful thoughts..loved ur blog!!
ReplyDeleteLooks great! Have to point out the presence of Chinatown, Japantown and Little India in several major cities all over the world. We can't stop the nomenclature. It is a tribute to our country that despite so many differences there exists an area (that too in a troubled city like Bombay) called chota Pakistan. What do you say?
ReplyDeleteMeera
Thanks Meera!
DeleteIn other cities certain suburbs are named after countries because the predominant population staying there is of a specific nationality. However in Mumbai the places are called so not because of the nationality of the people (most are Indians) but because of religious concentration. That is what is very unsecular.
It is not a flag of pakistan...Pakistan flag has white color next to green along with symbol of moon & star.
ReplyDeleteThats Good Info :-)
DeleteIn Hyderabad India, it isnt uncommon to actually see the real Pak flag fluttering.. :) I ll try to click one sometime..
ReplyDeleteAfter listening to Mr. Owaisi'shatred speeh, I cant even say that shocking ;-)
DeleteLoved your blog Vinos ;) it's your vision that's perceives what you want to until you look beyond.
ReplyDelete