Born in holy town of Mathura, I was brought up in a house surrounded by temples. Religion and faith got ingrained in my psyche from childhood listening to daily early morning Gayatri chants, overnight non-stop reading of Ramcharit Manas on Hanuman Jayanti or accompanying my mother for puja at Chamunda temple during navratras. Besides, secularism remains a non-negotiable tenet of my life due to multiple life experiences –
Understanding of the fact that all tuberculosis patients admitted under my father’s care had similar problems of survival or poverty irrespective of their faith or religion.
Some of the best family friends are Christians. My mother ensured that Christmas was celebrated with as much fervor as any other festival.
My stay at Aligarh Muslim University for over 10 years exposed me to apprehensions and insecurities a minority has to live with.