The Book of Life

it could even reach Mawsam Pul, it turned chaotic. It is said that a non-Muslim photographer kept taking pictures despite requests from some Muslims to stop. When someone tried to snatch his camera, the police arrived to calm the situation. But some people in the crowd began throwing stones, and from there the terrible cycle of action and reaction began.” If tolerant people take out a procession, it is called a demonstration. If intolerant people do it, it is called a riot. THE OUTCOME OF ANGER I n Delhi’s Karol Bagh area, on Ajmal Khan Road, there were two shoe shops side by side. One was owned by Surinder Kumar (35), and the other by Balraj Arora (45). A week earlier, a man had bought a pair of shoes from Surinder Kumar’s shop for 180 rupees. As he stepped outside, the other shopkeeper, Balraj Arora, called him over, looked at the shoes, and asked how much he had paid. The customer said 180 rupees. Arora then showed the same type of shoe from his own shop and said: “Look, this is the same shoe, and I can give it to you for only 135 rupees” (The Pioneer, 14 October 1992). The customer became angry. He went back to Surinder Kumar and demanded a refund of 45 rupees. Surinder Kumar got upset, went to the neighbouring shop, and