Being a Muslim today can come with its own baggage and stereotypes. The steady rise of Islamophobia in the post-9/11 world, the depredations of ISIS, and pronouncements by the new American president or leaders closer home don't make things any easier for Indian Muslim men, women, boys or girls as they try and go about their daily lives.
In his evocative poem, Hindustani Musalmaan, Hussain Haidry highlights the diversity of class, caste, region, belief systems, food habits and personal attitudes that a bland term like 'Indian Muslim' can hide.
Haidry recited his poem at Kommune India, a storytelling platform founded by performers Ankur Tiwari, Roshan Abbas, and Gaurav Kapur for young artists wanting to showcase their talent and share their thoughts.
Here are bits from his poem.
Main Shia hoon ya Sunni hoon
Main Khoja hoon ya Bohri hoon
Main gaaon se hoon ya shehri hoon
Main Baagi hoon ya Sufi hoon
Main Quomi hoon ya Dhongi hoon
Main kaisa musalman hoon bhai?
Main sajda karne wala hoon ya jhatka khaane wala hoon?
Main topi pehen ke phirta hoon ya daadhi uda ke rehta hoon?
Main aayat call se padhta hoon ya filmi gaane ramta hoon?
Main Allah Allah karta hoon ya shekhu se ladd padta hoon?
Main kaisa musalman hoon bhai?
Main Hindustani Musalman hoon
Dakkan se hoon, UP se hoon, Bhopal se hoon, Delhi se hoon,
Kashmir se hoon, Gujarat se hoon
Harr unchi neechi jaat se hoon
Main hi hoon julaha mocha bhi
Main doctor bhi hoon darji bhi
Mujhmein Geeta ka saar bhi hai, ek urdu ka akhbaar bhi hai
Mera ek mahina Ramzan bhi hai, maine kiya toh Ganga snaan bhi hai
Apne hi taur se jeeta hoon
Daaru cigarette bhi peeta hoon
Koi neta meri nas nas mein nahi, main kisi party ke bas mein nahi
Main Hindustani Musalman hoon
Watch the video here:
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