Come visit my home, be my guest -Governance Now

Come visit my home, be my guest

A campaign launched by Shabnam Hashmi appeals to people to visit the house of someone from another community to break socially constructed barriers

Pranita Kulkarni | July 14, 2017 | New Delhi

#society #Shabnam Hasmi #campaign #communal violence

After massive participation in the #NotInMyName campaign initiated by filmmaker Saba Dewan – a peaceful protest against rising communal hatred in the country, another campaign along similar lines is being launched by social activist Shabnam Hashmi.

The campaign ‘Mere ghar aa ke to dekho’ (‘Come visit my home, be my guest’) is directed to change the preconceived notions and opinions that we hold about people belonging to another community, class, caste, religion, sexual orientation, language, region etc.

Hashmi has appealed to the people to meet at least one family from a different community in order to understand their life and culture. The objective is simple and direct, people must go to each other's house eat and drink tea, or even just water, and break the socially constructed barriers.

The three-day-campaign will officially begin on July 20 and participants will be asked to upload selfies clicked with the family they’ve visited on a Facebook page, with the hashtag #SelfieWithGuest.

People's organisations, activists, schools and colleges from different cities and towns have been called upon to coordinate, participate and encourage people to be a part of the campaign.

Hashmi says that the idea came to her mind as she herself has been perturbed by the kind of hatred and violence being propagated across the country. “One of the reasons why this happens is segregation. I have extensively worked in Gujarat, and there, there are areas and there are borders. On one side there are Hindus, and on the other side, there are Muslims. This ghettoisation of both the communities is happening everywhere,” she says.

Hashmi thinks that people have strong prejudices against the queer community, the Muslims, the Christians and Hindus – upper caste and lower caste. “So, we thought that we’ll try this. This is a very small experiment; not that it is going to change much, but we’ve given this call. After meeting these families, if there is even a small difference in their thinking, we have asked them to make a video in which they can talk about their experience, and send it to us,” she adds.

Photographs and videos of your interaction can be sent on WhatsApp on any of the following numbers: 9911016957 / 9811137421 / 8373940162 / 9979704474 / 9555999150 / 7503227553 / 8826768793 / 9818809018

For more information you can contact: Shabnam Hashmi - 9811807558, Abha Bhaiya - 8629863963, Leena – 9811137421 and Ovais - 9911016957/ 011 41670722

Comments

Other News

Who checks the books?

I read about the news about the Coimbatore library over coffee this morning. On the face of it, the headline was about a political ‘war’ between the DMK and TVK. But what stayed with me was something much more important than the blame game behind what had transpired. A writer walking through

Development paradox: Falling poverty miracle and an inequality problem

India’s reduction in poverty over the past decade is a development achievement of considerable significance. The World Bank’s April 2026 ‘India Development Update’ estimates that the share of Indians living below the international extreme-poverty line of $3.00 per person per day i

In Arunachal, a river we call mother

In Arunachal Pradesh, the Siang is not just a river. For many of us, especially the Adi people, it is part of our family. Our grandparents fished in it. Children learned to swim in it. Our farms drink from it. When someone says a huge dam will be built on it, we do not hear the word "project".

A new retelling of the Mahabharata delves into key moments

In a time when every decision carries consequences and questions of ambition, power, loyalty, identity and moral choice continue to shape our lives, Dr. Arun Krishnan’s new book, ‘Mahakshana’ (Penguin India) offers a strikingly relevant retelling of the Mahabharata.

Cabinet approves viability gap funding to develop grid-scale energy storage systems

The Union Cabinet, chaired by PM Narendra Modi, has approved the Viability Gap Funding (VGF) Scheme for Development of Grid-Scale Energy Storage Systems, with a total financial support of Rs.14,500 crore for the period FY 2026-27 to FY 2030-31. The scheme aims to support the development o

Cabinet creates a pathway to absorb Agniveers in Defence Forces

An objective assessment in terms of organisational requirements and operational efficiency has brought out the outstanding performance of Agniveers in terms of skills, motivation levels, physical fitness and technological prowess. As envisaged earlier, based on merit, 25% of Agniveers will be offered reg