World of amazing people
Sometimes, when you see some people fighting or standing up for a cause, which they strongly believe in, you cannot help but wonder what is it that inspires them from within to do what they do? This is precisely the thought which comes to mind when we see this small little old man, Krishan Das standing, each and every day, for the past four years, at a busy junction in Mumbai (Juhu circle) holding a placard with a message – ‘Apne dharm par chalo. Sab se prem karo.' Be it rains, summer, any weather, he is there everyday like the sun rising everyday. He stands there always with a smile on his face, saying nothing, shouting nothing but conveying this message of peace through his placard.
He decided to stand there after attending a world religion conference. He says, “Every speaker there spoke so beautifully, but I felt that such a small number of people were getting to hear what was being said. The idea came to me when I wasn't allowed to stand in line to receive blessings at a church. I was also given looks when I went to pray at a mosque. I saw that some Hindu temples say 'Hindus only' and the Parsi fire temple at Churchgate doesn't allow non-parsis. That's when I realized that we all just make big talk, but when it comes to humanity we all shut our doors to others, in the name of religion.”
His message is – all religions ultimately say the same thing – love all and that is what one should do and not split people on religion, spewing hate, which is actually not dharma at all. He is well known to most Mumbaikars today and many walk up to him and applaud him for his selfless message, trying to spread peace in these troubled times. Some even share their food with him, spend some time talking to him. He lives in a small hut near the beach and says, “ there are many who have complained about me but soon many who had complained also smiled back at me. That, in my eyes, is a victory of humanity over the devils that live inside each of us."
If you come across Kirishan Das, do not forget to wave to him or better still, take the effort to meet him and applaud him for what he stands.