7/2/2010 6:45:00 AM

When I started writing this piece a few days ago, it was titled “Change, we can believe in!”  It was to mourn the demise of a way of life.  This is what I wanted to share first of all that day:
One of my domestic help had gone to the shrine of ‘Daata Sahib’ a few weeks ago for a special supplication.  He didn’t succeed.  The reason:  extremely tight security!   He was thoroughly checked at least four times and was asked questions like: why are you here?  Each time he said “for a prayer”.  Next question:  Why here and not elsewhere? He would reply: because the same blessings are not found elsewhere!
After further checks, when he was finally ‘cleared’ by the security, he met the person incharge; who told him the darbar no longer did supplication for general public due to security risk.
Upon hearing the ‘ordeal’ my helper had been through, I wondered, if our mosques and shrines would ever be the same again.  They are locked after prayers instead of staying their doors open for all at all times.  Everyone is screened before being allowed in.
Mosques and shrines were places where no one was discriminated against.  Places where hungry would find free food, and homeless will find shelter.  The orphans will find home and poor will find free education.
All that has changed.  The change we can believe in! 
A change that is- at the very least- long lasting if not permanent!
This change can be seen at all shrines and mosques in every street.  No longer will any needy find the doors of these places of worship and centres of welfare in  one- open for them when they need the most.  No longer will the worshipper be welcomed with open arms.  Everyone is a suspect: the poor, the needy, the homeless, the hungry… all suspects!
Today, however, it has taken on a completely different meaning.  It’s a mourning, nevertheless, bit not of a way of life- but of the so many lives lost in a flash that brought death and blood and cries!  The lives that came in the hope  to gain spirituality, in the hope to alleviate suffering, sorrows and troubles.
They all came to the shrine wherein lies the saint revered by Muslims and Non- Muslims alike.  The saint who gives the city it’s identity. The saint who embraced all!  Tonight, the saint embraced not the prayers but those making the prayer.  He embraced not just the little troubles they wanted to get rid of, but the very souls which possessed those troubles.
I am only wondering… if he is leading the congregation of these souls and standing in front of the Almighty and asking:  They had come to me to ask for a favour, to ask You to relieve them of their troubles;  why have you relieved them of their souls???  Was this the only solution to their problems?  Was there no other way to bring succour to these wretched souls??
Why these paradoxes???  A place of peace and tranquility; and such a violent and bloody act?
A place people come to gain something for life, instead of being robbed off everything- their very souls- for eternity???