LOVE-JIHAD: True story of a girl

“Love-Jihad”..when I heard this term first time..I did not get it actually. Gradually I got to know what it was all about ! I was following news reports..listening debates over this “term”. People were falling in love..and they are being converted or molded into something,they are not actually. Politicians were fighting on news channels..social activists were delivering their own speeches..intellectual people were showing off their so-called “secularism” ..
I was just watching and listening silently. I am a girl of 21st century and I believe everyone should be given right to select their own partner. No one has any right to interfere in someone’s life.
If someone falls in love with a person of different religion..1st thing they have to hear is “why can’t u find a girl/boy in your own community?? So many good girls and boys are there in our community”. TRUE..indeed !! Why to love someone..whose culture doesn’t match with our culture. But..there is a word which we call “feeling”. We can’t force someone to love a particular person. But our Indian society does so.
I switched the channel and saw a word flashing on News Channel “LOVE-JIHAD”. I could not stop myself to watch that news, put the remote aside and got glued on TV. Whatever..the anchor was speaking about seemed to me true !!!
A debate was going on a National news channel. I heard a politician saying “we are making an army to save our sisters..!!”. A whole army to save a girl..hmm..sounds good!! Another Politician said “you can’t stop girls and boys..falling in love !!”. Hmm…he is right too..!! I was watching them patiently and ultimately I got irritated and shouted “shut up u *******…stop uttering these shits”. And I decided to write a blog..my 1st blog, ever !!
Let me tell you..I neither support nor criticize a particular religion. I am not communal. I am writing on behalf of an Indian girl..who wants freedom..who expects people to listen to her..who wants her lover to take a stand against this society..who wants to cry out there “please let me live my own life”..who wants to hang all those bigot people who has made her life hell..who wants to love a man of her dream and wants to spend rest of her life with him..
But unfortunately she can’t do anything except thinking and fighting with herself because she can’t fight with her family..she can’t go against this society !! Because she is a “GIRL”..and she’ll have to follow the rules which has been concreted only for HER !!
Lets start this from a real incidence..
I am sorry Ragini (changed name)…but I can’t stop myself sharing your story and the mental torture you are going through. I Know people are deaf..they can’t listen..but at least they can read…
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“Ragini (a hindu punjabi) is in love with a Muslim guy. She never intended to love him because she knew it was going to be very difficult . But it happened !! “He is different from all other boys of his community..like the one I always wanted to have. But he is Muslim!!” she once told me.
“Our family is not gonna get ready .”
Obviously (yeah…I mentioned..Obviously..!!).
“what about his family ??” I asked
Ragini told me “They will accept me if I convert myself into a Muslim..HE TOLD ME”
WADAAAAAAAAAAA……..??????????
“IF HE IS SAYING SO..I DOUBT HE IS ACTUALLY DIFFERENT FROM OTHERS..!!”..I disgusted in anger.
I decided to talk to her boyfriend. I met him (I have this instinct to go into a depth of a case to find out the solution)..asked few questions..and he could not answer them.
These questions are,for all those guys..who pretend to be in love..
Here is the conversation..If any one of you can answer..Please..you are invited !!
“Do you love Ragini??” I asked
“yes I do..” He said
“Are you a secular or a communal?”
“Obviously a secular and a liberal one !! That is why I dared to love a girl of a different religion !!”
“I appreciate that !! What is the problem then??”
“Our Religion !!”
“Our religion or her religion???”
“well..mmm..look she is a Hindu..and you know how difficult it is to …”
“…difficult??? And you call yourself Secular and liberal!!” I interrupted to fire some more question..
“..please listen at least !! Difficult thing..is to convince my family.. They will get ready only if she accepts our religion.. !!”
“what about her family..if they ask you to do the same..what will you do ??”
He was silent, I did not wait for his reply either.. I continued..”Will you convert yourself and adopt her religion??”
“..AND WHY THE HELL DOES ANYONE HAVE TO CHANGE THEIR RELIGION..DUDEEE??”..I burst in anger.
“You are an MBA, working in an MNC your girl is an MBA too…and you still believe in these old-rituals. C’mon dude..isn’t this enough that you guys love each other!! If you guys understand each other..you people are aware of your needs..then what is the problem!! You follow your traditions and let her follow her own.. Respect her traditions and she will respect yours.. !!”
“set an example..in this society..If u educated people (so-called) will not initiate..who will ???? If you really love her..accept her with her own identity..with her own surname..with everything. Accept her the way she is..!! I know you are a fan of SALMAAN KHAN..your girl-friend told me so..Why don’t you learn something from him..from his family ??. If her religion, her name is going to create troubles for you and you find it so problematic then accept that you do not love her. GO and love someone who has name of your choice..who belongs to your community.”
He looked down.. This time, I waited for his reply.
“Even if we get married..our shadi (marriage) will be considered as HARAM (illegal..that can’t be accepted by society) .. My eyes were wide opened..”Am I talking to a boy of 21st century..?? Go for a registered-marriage”.
“..still!!!” he said.
I was stunned..I never ever thought in my dream..this word “still” could have ever acted like a thunderbolt.
I just realized..whatever I said was useless to him. It was like talking to an empty-head man !! Or a man whose Head was already filled with craps..!!

I left the place with Ragini and suggested her…”Do whatever you want to do but be careful because this man is not going to support you..for any of your action.”. This is what I could say being a  friend to her.
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When I watched this news..I Just decided to put her story on a blog.
Before that, I called Ragini..and found out that they were not in relationship anymore. It was hurting..!!! Whatever she told me..was shocking and embarrassing.
Well I do not blame him. He loved her..for sure !! But everyone has a fear of “honor-Killing”..everyone loves their family . And it ended before it started.
Now I am left with few questions. I ask to those..who go to discs..party hard..and call them modern and educated :
1) Who should we blame to create this term LOVE-JIHAD??
2) Who is responsible for giving a chance to orthodox people to rule us ??
3) If you love your partner (hindu/muslim whosoever)..WHY are you so hesitant to accept them with their own identity??
4) Why are you afraid of bringing changes which are good for our society ??
5) Why can’t we choose a partner of our own choice?? Why do we put religion before someone’s qualities??
And few suggestions..” STOP CALLING YOURSELF SECULAR, MODERN AND LIBERAL UNTIL YOU GET THE REAL MEANING. ALSO THERE IS NO USE OF GAINING EDUCATION IF YOU CAN NOT CHANGE YOUR MENTALITY. ALL THE DEGREES ARE JUST A BUNCH OF PAPERS IF YOU STILL FOLLOW THOSE RITUALS WHICH ARE CANCEROUS FOR OUR SOCIETY !! “.