Beef Vindaloo

Mumbai slum dwellers are leading the charge for the country to follow as far as multiculturalism is concerned. The nearly 11 million slum dwellers in the city have announced that they are going to be celebrating Christmas this year and therefore would require extra electricity to power their trees and other lights. Since slum dwellers currently pay nothing for their electricity, it is up to the state government to ensure that this move to promote multi-faith understanding does not go dark. Various members of the Catholic community in the city have encouraged the state government to help the slum dwellers lead the country in spreading the Christmas cheer.

Dharavi is the first locality that is being targeted for this exercise. Home to thousands of slum dwellers, the area is expectant to brighten up considerably for the season. Ramkisore Jha is one resident who is entirely in supporting this move. “You do not have to rich and educated to accept other religions,” he said, “with enough support from the government, we will prove to the country that it is the poor and downtrodden who can make the biggest difference.” Jha feels that it is a small price for the government to pay to encourage relationships between the various religions of India.

Mary D’Costa, head of the Catholic Christmas Association of Bandra, feels that this is exactly the kind of activates that will bring the country closer. “Christmas is not about religion,” she said, “it is about peace for everyone and that slum dwellers are asking for our support to light up their homes is not something we can deny them.” D’Costa is planning a signature campaign that will draw people’s support for the slum dwellers to get free electricity so that they enjoy the birth of Christ. She hopes that celebrities and residents will come out to show their support in large numbers. And the country will have to wait a couple of weeks to learn a valuable lesson about faith and understanding.

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