Secularism

I don’t consider myself as an expert. Customers get the borders and I work on my ‘Karigari’. I have designed countless photo frames of Hindu Gods for the last 33 years

Lata Jain

Meer Yusuf Ali, owns a shop measuring about 150 square yards on the busy Chikkadpally road. He has been running the shop for the past 33 years. His job? He specialises in framing photos of Hindu Gods. A perfect testament to secularism in our country.

Meer, who runs the GP Glass Centre, is familiar with the names of Hindu Gods and their various avatars. He has more than 300 regular customers. During Diwali, his customers throng to him to frame pictures of Goddess Laxmi. He also specialises in silver frames.
“I don’t consider myself as an expert. Customers get the borders and I work on my ‘Karigari’. I have designed countless photo frames of Hindu Gods for the last 33 years. After my father’s death, the burden of six siblings came onto my head. A friend of mine, Kedarnath, who excelled in this job trained me. Thanks to him, I could earn my living,” says Meer

Meer never attended school but reads Urdu fluently. Talking about secularism, Meer says, “Equality and freedom are more important than religious beliefs. Though many Hindus and Muslims in India are affected by the virus of communalism, the fact is that before 1857, there was no communalisation among Indians. There were, no doubt, some differences between Hindus and Muslims, but there was no animosity. Hindus used to join Muslims in celebrating Eid, Muslims used to join Hindus in celebrating Holi and Diwali and they lived together like brothers and sisters. Differences were only created by politicians and others who had vested interests.”

“Secularism does not mean that one cannot practice one’s religion. Secularism means that religion is a private affair unconnected to the state, which has no religion. In my opinion, secularism is the only policy which can hold our country together and take it on the path of prosperity,” signs off Meer as he prepares for his evening Namaaz.