Recently when Kishore Mariwala contacted the chartering company’s office, the receptionist enquired if he was from India and if he was a Hindu
Mumbai: Recently Industrialist Kishore Mariwala has shared a narrative on social media chronicling his embarrassment over India’s reputation abroad.
Mariwala on his Facebook account articulated the incident reminiscent of the recent series of intolerance towards Muslims in India in the wake of anti-CAA protests, NRC and the latest clash between the police and students in particular universities (Jamia, JNU and Aligarh Muslim University).
The 84-year-old businessman recounted his recent sailing holiday in Phuket in Thailand, where he had chartered a yacht.
Recently when Kishore Mariwala contacted the chartering company’s office, the receptionist enquired if he was from India and if he was a Hindu.
“I was ashamed! I have come to Phuket, Thailand for a sailing holiday. I have also a chartered yacht with a skipper for sailing for a week. On my arrival in Thailand yesterday, I visited the chartering company’s office to finalize the arrangements. At the office, the receptionist took down all the necessary details and then asked me, “Sir, you are from India. Are you a Hindu”?” he registered.
When Mariwala asked the manager the reason for asking such a question, the executive replied, “Sir, all our skippers except one have gone with our other yacht. The only one left is a Muslim. I hope you don’t mind that”.
A shell-shocked Mariwala when questioned the manager, “Why are you asking this? Why should I mind?”
The executive then answered, “We read in the newspapers that Hindus don’t want Muslims near them so we were worried about it.”
Mariwala said he felt “ashamed beyond words” on hearing this. Retaining his calm, he explained to the manager that “not only I but most of the cultured Hindus don’t behave like what you must’ve read.”
The incident left the industrialist ashamed of India’s reputation abroad. Is this India’s reputation abroad amongst common people was really ashamed (sic),” Mariwala wrote.
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