Go on, make your own statement. Never mind that it might hurt the sentiments of a billion plus people. After all, they are the punching bags. When they believe, it is superstition, when others believe, it is faith. When they protest it is stoking communal flames, when others protest, they are fighting for minority rights.

Where are you oh breastbeaters! The harpies and bleeding hearts who cannot bear a pinprick against humanity? Oops my mistake. Their hearts do not bleed or their voices shrill for everyone. Hmm, they do not even consider you human. What was I even thinking of? Like the emotions of a billion plus even matter!

And all you billion plus out there, followers of the most ancient faith in the world, pray while you can. ‘Your’ government by tomorrow probably would have outlawed your favorite gods and made praying to them illegal. After all what proof do you have of their existence?

All you have to show is millennia of unwavering faith that stood the test of time and sword. Or maybe you have a few paltry epics and songs composed as manifestations of purest bhakthi, in moments of Supreme Oneness. All your Thyagaraja Swamis and Tulsidases and Meerabhais and Chaithanya Mahaprabhus were probably hallucinating. Hah! Just psychological bull…

As for your countless gods, did you know they are being stretched out on Freudian couches and 'erudite' papers are being published about them. Go read them for your daily fix of the most absurd and most outrageous interpretations ever.

After all, what ‘scientific proof’, what hard proof do you have to explain your beliefs? Never mind that you follow the most scientific of faiths or that your faith has been the only one that has allowed scientific enquiry.

And while you are at it, don’t you dare question the beliefs of others. I could come up with a bunch of them, but my faith, which inculcates in me a basic respect for all faiths, prevents me from making such mindless statements.

Around the world, even the mighty tread carefully when it comes to matters of faith. Even the most innocuous details are handled with respect. Because when it comes to faith, it is a matter beyond question, beyond political statements, often beyond rational justifications, beyond government interference.

But over here, anyone can have a go. It’s a free for all. After all, who care about you? Even you do not. It is those among you that make such statements. Why else would you elect your spineless and senseless leaders? Fall at their ‘worthy’ feet, why lick their boots if it so pleases you, carry them on your heads and beg them to debase you. You deserve those who rule over you.

Meanwhile I have only one thing to tell the UPA government: “Koththi koththi muraththil keri koththatheda makane…”

P.S. hate mail expected. do drop in a line.