Secular India?

Sophie Chowdhary

Buying a home in Mumbai can be tough, as many have discovered. Religion, marriage status, profession — anything can spoil the deal

I was born and brought up in UK and spent my childhood in the prosperous streets of London amongst Jews, Catholics and people of different faiths. Not once do I recollect anybody refusing us a home based on our origin.

When I came to India to pursue my career, it took me three years to choose a society that would let me stay. Societies in Khar and Juhu refused to sell us a flat simply because my mother is a Muslim and she was bluntly told so.

Since most of these societies were affluent, we assumed that educated people will have a broader perspective. I was so wrong.

Here, in my country’s most cosmopolitan metro, I do not have a choice. More than once, I offered to pay twice the price, but they did not relent. Beyond a point, it was not about religion either. They had a problem with what I ate and doubted if my profession was ‘acceptable’. I am a non-vegetarian, half-Muslim and an actor. I was the worst possible combination.

Today, I have a home and I love it. But it disturbs me that in a country we proudly call secular, there are many who still insist on maintaining religious ghettos.

Aamir Ali,
TV actor

I think it is about time we speak up
When I came here, just like everyone else, I set out house hunting. Soon I discovered that it was not an easy task to find a home you like. Last year, I fell in love with a place in Lokhandwala Complex in Andheri. But my broker told me to look for another place. The society didn’t sell flats to Muslims. I was shocked.

I decided to approach the members of the society. I thought I’ll talk to them and once they know me they would let me in.
But despite several calls, they wouldn’t hear me out. That is when it struck me. They were never going to let me in.

As I got talking to people, I realised discrimination on religious grounds while buying property here is not a new thing. Earlier, brokers quoted an obscene amount to discourage buyers of a different community. These days, it is more blatant and there are defined territories. It is not a minority issue anymore. I have a number of Bengali friends and Hindu colleagues who have been denied NOCs because they were not from the same community.

I think it is time we speak up. I have filed a PIL in the Bombay High Court three months ago and the case has come up for hearing now. I am a celebrity and so I am being heard. What about the thousands who don’t? I wonder what will happen 25 years later if this goes on. The city will be divided into complexes of Hindus and

Muslims, vegetarians and non-vegetarians. It is scary.