I have always celebrated Christmas as long as I can remember. Growing up in Bombay, as it was then, I remember one of the big highlights for a child was a trip to Akbarally’s, the city’s best-known department store, to meet Santa Claus. This was in the pre-mall days, when the festival had not been hyper-commercialised. Akbarally’s was owned by a well-known city family who happened to be Muslim. That a Hindu boy visited it to meet a portly figure associated with a Christian festival was the most natural thing in the world.
Christmas in college was a different kind of celebration – it meant early, furtive attempts to try out liquor at shabbily organised parties. A proper Christmas party, with food, drink and a sensible male-female ratio came only later. But all throughout, the general objective was the same – to have a good time, never mind the hangover that was certain to follow the next day. It was Christmas, after all, the one time in the year when everyone was in a joyful spirit. You do not have to be a Christian to enjoy this most non-denominational of festivals.
This is not an exclusively Bombay experience. In Calcutta, the famous Park Street Christmas is an event the city waits for, when the storied street is brightly lit up. In Chennai, Bangalore, Delhi and even smaller towns, Indians from all communities and religions celebrate Christmas with equal fervour.
Party or shut up
For the Christians, it is, of course, one of the holiest days of the year. They dress up in their finery and go to church before heading out for dinner and dancing. But it should come as no surprise that midnight mass on December 24 is also attended by those who are not Christians. Again, it is just one of those things which do not need to be over-explained or over-analysed.
To the Grinches who have popped out of the woodwork claiming that Christmas – and now even New Year’s – are the sinister handiwork of Christian missionaries who want to convert this Hindu-dominated country into Vatican worshippers, I would like to say this: lighten up and have a party or if you cannot, because you are endemically dyspepsic and bilious, shut up.
Implicit in this argument of Hindutva votaries is the suggestion that Christmas celebrators are the Macaulayputras, English-speaking types who went to Christian schools and got gradually converted to the religion because of subtle and insidious propaganda. As a product of “convent” schools, to give them their generic name, I can safely say that religion was the last thing we were taught. Science, geography, (good) English and even moral science, yes. Christianity, no. Knowing children, it is a safe bet that any attempt to teach religion would have meant putting them off it for life.
Nor is Christmas celebrated solely by those who went to such schools. Bombay’s streets come alive on Christmas night with lights and stars. The hundreds of malls all over the country would go bust if only Christians or Christian school alumni visited them to see the Christmas decorations. Let us face it, just like Diwali is now a festival for all Indians, so is Christmas.
India's colourful fabric
In most cities now, festivals of other religious groups have become great occasions for eating food associated with them. Navroze is about dhanshak, Christmas is about pudding, and Ramzan nights are when one heads to the neighbourhoods where one can try out nihari and kababs. This is the intricate and colourful fabric that makes India what it is and which we take for granted all along. Call it secularism, diversity or plain cosmopolitanism, this is the India we live in and want to continue living in.
It is indeed saddening that we have come to a pass where Hindutva groups are now feeling encouraged to declare that they will organise “ghar wapsi” for Christians and Muslims on Christmas or declare war on New Year’s Eve revelry. Such fringe elements have always existed, but of late they have become louder and more militant. No one seems to be able to quieten, much less control, them. No word has come from the authorities that such divisive tactics will be stamped out ruthlessly. In such a situation, the onus falls on us citizens.
This Christmas, we must make it a point to eat, drink and be merry with even more gusto. Sing carols at the top of your voice. Wear a silly Santa hat and then post your pictures on social media. Show them that their tactics and threats will not work. That is the most fitting way to ensure that our important traditions are kept alive and do not fall victims to these narrow-minded bigots.
We welcome your comments at
letters@scroll.in.
Christmas in college was a different kind of celebration – it meant early, furtive attempts to try out liquor at shabbily organised parties. A proper Christmas party, with food, drink and a sensible male-female ratio came only later. But all throughout, the general objective was the same – to have a good time, never mind the hangover that was certain to follow the next day. It was Christmas, after all, the one time in the year when everyone was in a joyful spirit. You do not have to be a Christian to enjoy this most non-denominational of festivals.
This is not an exclusively Bombay experience. In Calcutta, the famous Park Street Christmas is an event the city waits for, when the storied street is brightly lit up. In Chennai, Bangalore, Delhi and even smaller towns, Indians from all communities and religions celebrate Christmas with equal fervour.
Party or shut up
For the Christians, it is, of course, one of the holiest days of the year. They dress up in their finery and go to church before heading out for dinner and dancing. But it should come as no surprise that midnight mass on December 24 is also attended by those who are not Christians. Again, it is just one of those things which do not need to be over-explained or over-analysed.
To the Grinches who have popped out of the woodwork claiming that Christmas – and now even New Year’s – are the sinister handiwork of Christian missionaries who want to convert this Hindu-dominated country into Vatican worshippers, I would like to say this: lighten up and have a party or if you cannot, because you are endemically dyspepsic and bilious, shut up.
Implicit in this argument of Hindutva votaries is the suggestion that Christmas celebrators are the Macaulayputras, English-speaking types who went to Christian schools and got gradually converted to the religion because of subtle and insidious propaganda. As a product of “convent” schools, to give them their generic name, I can safely say that religion was the last thing we were taught. Science, geography, (good) English and even moral science, yes. Christianity, no. Knowing children, it is a safe bet that any attempt to teach religion would have meant putting them off it for life.
Nor is Christmas celebrated solely by those who went to such schools. Bombay’s streets come alive on Christmas night with lights and stars. The hundreds of malls all over the country would go bust if only Christians or Christian school alumni visited them to see the Christmas decorations. Let us face it, just like Diwali is now a festival for all Indians, so is Christmas.
India's colourful fabric
In most cities now, festivals of other religious groups have become great occasions for eating food associated with them. Navroze is about dhanshak, Christmas is about pudding, and Ramzan nights are when one heads to the neighbourhoods where one can try out nihari and kababs. This is the intricate and colourful fabric that makes India what it is and which we take for granted all along. Call it secularism, diversity or plain cosmopolitanism, this is the India we live in and want to continue living in.
It is indeed saddening that we have come to a pass where Hindutva groups are now feeling encouraged to declare that they will organise “ghar wapsi” for Christians and Muslims on Christmas or declare war on New Year’s Eve revelry. Such fringe elements have always existed, but of late they have become louder and more militant. No one seems to be able to quieten, much less control, them. No word has come from the authorities that such divisive tactics will be stamped out ruthlessly. In such a situation, the onus falls on us citizens.
This Christmas, we must make it a point to eat, drink and be merry with even more gusto. Sing carols at the top of your voice. Wear a silly Santa hat and then post your pictures on social media. Show them that their tactics and threats will not work. That is the most fitting way to ensure that our important traditions are kept alive and do not fall victims to these narrow-minded bigots.
