Hindu Pani, Muslim Pani

muqawwee123 · March 7, 2012, 7:57am

Re: Hindu Pani, Muslim Pani

Here is an article published in 1946 which shows, how people felt for this discrimination.

Collected Works/Volume 92/Hindu Pani And Muslim Pani (20th October 1946) - Gwiki

HINDU PANI AND MUSLIM PANI

A stranger travelling in Indian trains may well have a painful shock when he hears at railway stations for the first time in his life ridiculous sounds about pani, tea and the like being either Hindu or Muslim. It would be repulsive now that the Government at the Centre is wholly national and a well-known Indian in the person of Asaf Ali Saheb is in charge of Transport and Railways. It is to be hoped that we shall soon have the last of the shame that is peculiarly Indian. Let no one imagine that Railways being under a Muslim, Hindus may not get justice. In the Central and Provincial Governments, there is or should be no Hindu, Muslim or any other communal distinctions. All are Indians. Religion is a personal matter. Moreover, the members of the Cabinet have set up a wholesome convention that they should always meet at the end of the day’s work and take stock of what each member has done. It is team work in which the members are jointly and severally responsible for one another’s work. It is not open to any member to say that a particular thing is not his work because it is no part of his portfolio. We have a right therefore to assume that this unholy practice of having separate everything for every community at railway stations will go. Scrupulous cleanliness is a desideratum for all. If taps are used for all liquids there need be no compunction felt by the most orthodox about helping themselves. A fastidious person may keep his own lota and cup and receive his milk, tea, coffee or water through a tap. In this there is no inter- ference with religion. No one is compelled to buy anything at railway stations. As a matter of fact many orthodox persons fast for water and food during travel. **Thanks we still breathe the same air, walk on the same mother earth.
**

** All communal cries at least at railway stations should be unlaw- ful.**

As I have often said in these columns trains and steamers are the best media for the practical education of the millions of travellers in spotless cleanliness, hygiene, sanitation and camaraderie between the different communities of India. Let us hope that the Cabinet will have the courage to act up to their convictions and may confidently expect the hearty co-operation of the Railway staff and the public in making this much needed reform a thorough success.

New Delhi, October 12, 1946

Harijan, 20-10-1946