“I lived in Rajasthan all my life, I’ve never seen any other part of the world and I’m happy I have seen enough of India, also the mankind here. You know we are all different people, even all the westerners who come here. We see them as people with no culture. Look at them, they come here, just because they have money. They come here to look at us. We don’t go to their lands to look at them. We don’t need to, you know why? Because we work hard here, we are happy with our mother land, so we mind our own business and live our lives.”
“Have you heard of the attacks happening around the world. There was a bombing in a western country today and many people died. And people are saying it’s the muslims. What do you think about that?”
“Is it? No I don’t know, but that’s very bad. But this is what I know. Ever since I was growing up I always hear about muslims fighting all their lives. They fight for their rights to be left alone. Like us Hindus, we were also living with all this Westerners till we got our freedom. They took everything. This westerners never leave people alone, just because they have money and power. For us money and power is not important. We are happy with what we have.
The Muslim and Hindu here live peacefully, Why? Because we leave them alone, even if our cultures are different. Do you know how many cows they kill, it’s in their faith, this sacrificing thing. So they learn in the very young age about sacrifice. What I think is simple, let people be, muslim, hindus or even the white folks, let people be and they will work hard for their own lands and for their families. If you go invade their lands, no matter who you are, they will came invade yours. So mind your own business.”
Shivraj, 80, Camel Herder.
(Pushkar | Rajasthan)
