“I may defend a Muslim's stand that he is a Muslim first and an Indian afterwards , for I myself say that I am a Hindu first and am therefore a true Indian .”
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About this quote
Being firmly rooted in one tradition and belonging fully to a larger whole aren't opposites; the first can feed the second. Someone secure in who they are rarely needs to shrink anyone else, and that steadiness is what lets a mixed community hold together.
When to use it
- An immigrant who cooks her grandmother's recipes and hosts the whole street for the holidays.
- A lifelong union member who defends coworkers in other departments as fiercely as his own crew.
- A devout person who volunteers at an interfaith shelter without watering down her own practice.