- INTERVIEW WITH
JAWED AKHTER
- BY
- Dr. Khalid Sohail
QUESTIONS…PART ONE…GOD
AND RELIGION
Q -1. Do
you believe in God? If you do Why?
A - 1. I believe in God because God is
love.
Q -2. What
are your concept / experience of God?
A - 2. God is in me I breathe God in and
out every minute of my life.
Q - 3. How is your
belief system different than the belief system of your family and
community of origin?
A - 3. I believe in equality and to me
every one who is good to humanity will go to paradise not just Muslims.
Q- 4. How did you
become an Atheist / Agnostic / Free Thinker / Humanist?
A - 4. I was born different and I
challenged the hypocrisy and double standards of the society.
Q - 5.Why do you
believe in a Religion?
A - 5. Religion gives me peace and
guidelines.
Q - 6.Why do you
practice your preferred religion [Islam / Christianity / Judaism /
Hinduism / Sikhism / Native Spirituality etc] as opposed to not any
other religious or spiritual tradition?
A - 6. I love Islam because Islam is a
complete code of life.
Q - 7. Do you
believe in giving Religious Education to children at home and in
schools?
A - 7 I believe in giving religious
education to children at home but not in schools.
Q - 8. Why can’t we
teach our children different religious and spiritual and secular
traditions as part of history and let them decide when they become
adults?
A - 8 Yes we can teach our kids about other
religions to create harmony and better understanding . But as a Muslim
Allah has chosen the best religion for us.
Q - 9. What are
your views about the relationship between Religion and State?
A - 9. Religion should not be business of
state. These are two separate things.
Q - 10.
Where you do get your
guidance about your moral and ethical values?
A
- 10. From my parents, holy Quran, and Holy Prophet Muhammed MPBH.
PART TWO…LOVE, SEX AND
MARRIAGE
Q -
11.
Are you single or married?
A - 11. Single
Q - 12.
If you are single is it out
of your own choice?
A - 12. I have no choice cuz’ it is hard to
find a genuine life partner in Canada.
Q - 13.
What are your views about celibacy?
A - 13. There is no harm in Celibacy if one
can do it purely for spiritual empowerment.
Q - 14.
Do you believe in platonic
relationships between men and women?
A -
14.YES
Q - 15.
Are you gay or lesbian?
A - 15.YES
Q - 16.
Have you shared your gay /
lesbian lifestyle with your family and community?
A - 16.For
your kind info it is NOT a lifestyle. Being Gay/Lesbian is by birth
not by choice.Yes I have come out to few members of my family.
Q - 17.
What was the reaction of
your family and community?
A - 17.
It was like an earthquake plus tornado
hitting my family.
Q - 18.
What do you think of
legalizing gay and lesbian marriages in Canada?
A - 18.
Ans…I am proud to say that
finally Canada did the right thing.
Q - 19.
Do you have a gay or
lesbian friend or relative?
A - 19.
Ans…YES
Q - 20.
What do you think
different Religions and Scriptures say about gay and lesbian lifestyle?
A - 20.
Ans…Though they all condemn but all
religions or scriptures have been wrongfully interpreted by straight
people due to homophobia.
PART THREE…BECOMING
IMMIGRANTS
Q - 21.
Are you an immigrant? For
how long have you been living outside your motherland?
A - 21.
10 years
Q - 22.
What do you consider the
cultural differences between the two cultures?
A - 22.
Religion, race, Language, and skin colour
Q - 23.
How do you deal with your
cultural conflicts?
A - 23.
Being very realistic that some basic
differences will be there forever and no one can erase them.
PART FOUR…CREATIVE PERSONALITIES AND EMOTIONAL PROBLEMS
Q - 24.
Are you a Creative Person?
A - 24.
YES
Q - 25.
How do you express your
creativity [ write, paint, act or make films or in other forms] ?
A - 25.
Ans: I write, act, draw, sing, dance and
make films
Q - 26
Do you share your
Creations with your family and community?
A - 26.
Ans: YES
Q - 27.
What are the reactions of
your family and community about your Creative Expressions?
A - 27.
Ans: They all feel very proud and they
appreciate it very much.
Q - 28.
Did you experience
emotional and social problems because of your Creative Personality and
Lifestyle?
A - 28.
YES sometimes because we are extra
sensitive.
Q - 29.
How do you cope with those emotional and social
problems?
A - 29.
Respecting others and trying to understand
the differences. Sometimes people are just ignorant and we just ignore
them.
Thank
you for sharing your philosophy and lifestyle.
- Name : Jawed Akhter
- Age: Young for ever
- Place of Birth: Hyderabad, Sindh.
- Present Address: Toronto, Canada