The paradox of Belief!!

I recently watched a video of the legendary Ustad Zakir Hussain, who sadly passed away. In the video, he was masterfully playing the sound of Shiva's damru, accompanied by the resonance of a conch shell on his tabla.

Before his performance, he beautifully described the divine atmosphere of Kailash Parvat, where Shiva plays his damru, surrounded by his disciples playing conches and Ganesha watching over. His narration was simply captivating.

This is the true essence of faith: respecting and appreciating the beliefs of others, just as one would their own. In Odia culture, our prayers to Lord Jagannath are incomplete without mentioning Bhakta Salabega, a Muslim by birth but a devout devotee. Similarly, Dasia Bauri, a devotee whose coconut offering halts the chariot procession, and Manika Gauduni, to whom Jagannath gifted his ring, are revered.

Despite acknowledging these great devotees, we continue to discriminate. Why is it so difficult to accept that people of other faiths are human, just like us? Even after years of education that promotes inclusivity, we often cling to rigid orthodoxies and resist change. Why?

Great reformers like Raja Ram Mohan Roy and Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar fought against such narrow-mindedness, yet we still hesitate to embrace their ideals.

Sometimes, I feel a surge of revolutionary spirit and question traditional beliefs. But I realize that true change can only come from within. Until people are ready to change themselves, I cannot force it upon them.