DHARAM AUR DESH KE BEECH MEIN FASAA HUA ALI PETER JOHN

My love for my religion and my country have always being at a clash and I have faced all kinds of difficulties because of my confused love and dedication to my religion and my country.

To add to my difficulties I have a name like Ali Peter John. How I got my name is a story I must share because it is necessary in these times when religion and the country have become hitted subjects of debate and discussion, most of them futile and solving no problems....

I was born of a Christian mother and a Muslim father. My father had given my mother his permission to bring me up as a Christian but he perhaps didn't know of the problems I would face with a name like Peter Ali. All was well till I finished school with my name as Peter Ali ...

I went to a prestigious college to get admission for my First Year in College. The man in charge of admissions asked me to fill my form and ask me to put my first name and I entered Peter in the application form , he then ask me to put my second name and I entered Ali , but he said I had to have a third name and he threatened me by saying that if I didn't submit my form that day I would loose my seat .

I entered my third name as John because I knew that my father was given the name John when he was converted to Christianity according to his last wish .

I didn't know how I had asked for infinte trouble by taking the name Ali Peter John and I am facing the consequences till now .

I don't have a ration card or a passport because I refuse to answer all the stupid questions of the authorities.

I also lost some of my girlfriends who couldn't understand why I had a name like Ali Peter John.

The only time I felt happy about my name was when the well-known flim maker Manmohan Desai said in public and in the media that he was inspired to make his flim Amar Akbar Anthony from my name and even called me ," my amar Akbar Anthony. "

The stories about my name can go on and on, but let me tell you the story about how I was caught in a kind of all kinds controversies over my religion and the faith I followed.

I had joined the NCC more because of my fancy for the uniform and the Cadbury chocolates and biscuits that were served after the parades .

I spent most of my time during the parades carrying my gun over my head and running round the ground then taking part in the parades.

It was August 15 and my college NCC unit had arranged a special parade of at 7:30 in the morning.

The leader of the brigade major Datti wala had given all the cadets a stern warning that said anyone who missed the parade would be severely punished.

At the same time, I had a religious ceremony in Church to celebrate the assumption of Mary , the mother of Jesus Christ into heaven and the priests had warned everyone to attend the ceremony at 7:30 and I knew i had to make a choice between going to church or the NCC parade .

The attraction of the Cadbury chocolates and biscuits took me to the parade and I skipped the religious service.

My not attending the ceremony in Church was considered a mortal ( serious) sin and according to the religious custom I had to confess my sin of not attending the service.

I went up to Fr. Phillip with my heart fluttering and whispered to him that I had not attended the service on August 15 in church .

The holy father lost his temper and ask me why I had not attended the service. I told him that I had to be present for the NCC parade on the college ground.

The reverend Father. Phillip flared up and asked , "Is that parade more important for you than the mother of God?

" I told him that major Datti Wala would have punish me if i didn't attend the parade. The dear Father turned red and said that he would not forgive me and when he said that , I left the church and didn't return for the next 6 years .

Did I prove that the NCC parade was more important for me than going to church ? Was it a victory for Desh Bharat over Dharam for me ?

HUMSAB KE LIYE DESH BHI EK BADA AUR AHAM SHAKTI HAI , LEKIN DHARAM BHI APNA HISSA MANGTI HAI . AUR HUM AAM AADMI AISE DHARAM YUDH MEIN FAS JAATE HAI.

ISS ULJHAN KO ABTAK KISI DESH WAASI NE SULJHAANE KI KOSHISH NAHI KI HAI . KOSHISH KARNI CHAHIYE KYUN KI AISE HI ULJHANO SE DESH KI ULJHANE BAD JAATI HAI.