An age of chameleons

Today while returning home,on a crowded bus I heard a woman loudly exclaiming that all muslims were bastards(obviously in bengali) in response to a shove she got from the man in question.I really didn't understand how she came to the conclusion that he's a muslim.This sentiment is probably common in most people,even those who claim to be "highly educated".The communal divide that was created in our minds 62 years back by the English has remained intact even though we claim to be a modernised and liberal society.The divide is not only inter religion,but also intra religion.Few days back a Hindu Brahmin friend of mine declared that she's going to marry a Brahmin only and will never settle for the other low statured castes of the Hindu religion.I wanted to ask whether her Brahmin status will ever help her to escape a tsunami or become a multimillionaire.
I can't help remembering what Chetan Bhagat said recently in an interview.Well he said marrying outside your community is the best way of showing your patriotism.Its the best thing someone could have said to portray the mindset of almost all Indians.Even a Punjabi Hindu could face caste issues if he decided to marry a Tamil Hindu because the latter could be from a different sub caste,sub-sub caste etc....The "broad minded","free thinking" intelligentsia accepts and acknowledges the diversity of our nation only as long as they don't have to live with them.In diversity lies our unity.........I guess I heard this many times...but now I know that it means holding hands and declaring ourselves to be brothers and sisters in front of the media.It definitely doesn't mean the union of sperms and eggs!!
Recently a Hindu girl i know,suddenly broke up with her Christian boyfriend because she realized all of a sudden that her parents wont allow her to marry a non Hindu.Could there be a more dumber reason?If she had even spent half the time analysing her own life rather than analysing her future marriage she could have been a much better person.Anyway this is what our society is- chameleon like-pretending to be open minded but recoiling as soon as it comes to personal dealings.
Analysts say India is on the path of becoming a developed country.The GDP is rising,India shining,roads broadening,industries prospering,ministers smiling.......but the mind is narrowing.The divide and conquer algorithm of the Britishers had worked then and its still working....now on a higher scale.
In short we are yet to recover from the colonial hangover.
Well we are an independent country-in the sense that we now make our own government.But our minds are still ruled by the ideas inserted by the Brits,for their own benefit.
The age of chameleons is here to stay!