Build Bridges Not Fences

Its really disturbing to learn that in many parts of Mumbai,from Pedder Road right upto Khar,some societies are restricting members of certain communities for buying, renting or leasing apartments or flats in their society. Now the danger of this sort of ghettoisation of peoples and communities is that,not only does it breed an attitude of "us & them" but also makes a community more vulnerable to attack during riots while making them the focus of terrorists planning attacks too. Social Psychology teaches us that such isolation works only to increase rather than remove social prejudices.
There are however reasons when a community may need to restrict membership,like in the case of the Parsis whose numbers are dwindling drastically and they are striving hard to maintain their identity,religion and traditions and also foster a sense of brotherhood within their community. The Supreme Court has therefore allowed such restrictions. On the whole,however,this attitude is not to be encouraged and we have to work to educate people on the dangers of fragmentation in our already troubled and strife torn world.