“Each color is important, mix them well”

“Each color is important, mix them well”

Since this was a weekend, he was feeling more relaxed and decided to watch TV till late night. But watching news has always disturbed him in one way or the other. He felt bad when he saw news related to honor killing, inter-religion troubles, caste differences and all. He thought what we are doing with our lives; we have become experts in creating trouble for each other. Anyway, it’s none of my business; I am having a great life. He went to bed with mixed emotions.

He did not realize if it was dream or real, but he met someone who looked like god. He asked him, are you god? The answer was, yes. God said, “Can you do a favor to me”. He was surprised, if you are god, then why you would need a favor from me. You are the supreme power. God said, “can you paint a picture and make garland for me”. Of course I can, but why would you ask me to do that. God said, just do it and make it sure that you make the best picture and best possible garland.

He mixed the best possible colors and painted a picture, which he was sure that, is the most beautiful picture, he could possibly paint. Then he made a garland by sewing together different flowers with different colors and fragrances. He proudly showed it to god.

God praised his efforts and asked him, but why have you used different colors in this painting and so many different flowers in this garland. He said, because each color was important and together they make a beautiful picture. If I would have used just one color, the picture could not have been as beautiful as it is now. Here, each color is complimenting the other color. And in the same way these different flowers has made this garland the best, because each has its own fragrance.

God replied, my friend just now you have explained the secret of life. You have said that for a beautiful picture each color is important and they complement each other. Now imagine these colors as different religions (and castes) existing on this earth. Together they make a beautiful picture of this world, each one of them is important and like those flowers, each one has its own fragrance. But instead of making a beautiful picture from them, you people have made each color fight with other and prove it superior to other. Where it could become a beautiful picture with all the colors (religions and castes), you people are fighting hard to paint a picture with just one color (your own religion or caste). You have entirely changed the idea of making a beautiful world.

Why there is so much resistance to inter-religion (and inter-caste) marriages, this is similar to mixing different colors for a more beautiful picture of life. Why you people still feel that some castes (or religions) are more superior to others, when you yourself have said that each color is important for a best picture. And why are you afraid of mixing these colors together. And this is also like; to save your favorite tree in a garden you are trying to cut the other trees. But in this whole exercise you have destroyed the garden itself. I just want you to realize the importance of making a beautiful picture of life, rather than fighting for any one color.

And the day, you people could look at the whole picture, there would not be any different (religion or caste) color.

There would be just one beautiful picture of life having all the colors (religions) existing together, making it more meaningful and alive. And the next morning he actually woke-up "for the first time in life".

-Ajay Bamel