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| A still from the short film The Garden - Ram & Huzaifah |
Staff correspondent, August 15, 2015
Two kids, Ram and Huzaifah, send a powerful Independence-Day message to India, which stands somewhat polarised at the moment.
A short film, The Garden - Ram & Huzaifah, shows them responding to a series of questions - their names, who they worship, favourite superhero, colour and blood group.
From their names to the blood group, the kids differ in everything. Ram worships Bhagwan, it's Allah for Huzaifah. Ram likes Spiderman, Huzaifah like Green Lantern.
Ram is a vegetarian, while Huzaifah likes chicken.
Come to the last question - Who is Ram's best friend.
Answer: Huzaifah
And, who is Huzaifah's best friend:
Answer: Ram
When societies split on caste and communal lines, the divisions percolates to children. It is right at that age they have to be taught to welcome differences, not seek a bulldozing uniformity.
The simple video with its heart in the right place comes from two senior advertising professionals Kunal Sawant and Syed Mohammed Talha Nazim. Music comes from noted Bollywood composer Sandesh Shandilya.
Ram Shandilya and Syed Muhammad Huzaifah are the real names of the children seen in the video.