Secular Soulmates

About the Book

India, Pakistan and Bangladesh constituted one country until they got their independence from Britain in 1947. Towards the end of their struggle they demanded that once they achieve their independence they want to be separated based on their faiths. The leaders couldn’t agree that could live peacefully once they controlled their own destiny. The British eventually negotiated a deal where Hindu majority will live in India and Muslim majority will live in East and West Pakistan. East Pakistan will later separate from Pakistan to become Bangladesh. Before this partition between India and Pakistan there were boundless stories about how Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs, Christians and other various religious factions lived harmoniously for centuries. When the independence was achieved somehow this harmony evaporated, and a minority of extremists on all sides were successful in inflaming the hatred towards each other. Millions of people were killed, displaced and lives destroyed at the time of the partition. The impact of this destruction never completely dissipated and some sectors on both sides still would not leave it alone. This book tries to capture the harmonious era in which the Hindus and Muslims lived side by side like good neighbors, shared their meals, participated in the ups and downs of their lives and even religious activities. They didn’t feel the need of proving to each other whose religion was superior. Anul Shetty and Salim Sultan were friends from that era. They went to the same elementary school together when they were children. They separated in their adolescence like most children do. But when they accidentally met again after nearly half a century they became inseparable. Their bond became stronger after each day. That bond did not disappear after Anul Shetty died. His soul was always present in the hearts of his beloved daughter Manesh and his friend Salim Sultan. Both of them will let not the other forget the presence of Anul’s soul. When Manesh and Salim’s long lost son Ashok eventually get together and fall in love, that’s when the circle is complete. That is when Anul’s soul could Rest In Peace.

About the Author

Hanif Mike Karim emigrated from Pakistan to the United States in 1971. He was the National Table Tennis champion and No 1 player in the country for two years. He was also the Captain of the National Team that participated in the World Championship in Munich, Germany. He is a former U.S. National Champion in the over 60 division. He has worked in the films such as Two Brothers, The Holy Man, Drugs & Chocolates, Cerebrum and The Psychic. He was the Executive producer, creator/writer and played multiple roles in Two Brothers which won several awards. He is currently Co-Producing a feature film based on his book “Where is Sophia”, http://www.whereissophia.net/. The title of the film is also the same “Where is Sophia”, http://www.whereissophia.com. He recently finished another book by the name of “Secular Soulmates”, http://www.secularsoulmates.com. He did voice over work in Rambo III and has worked in theater as well. He did his MBA in Los Angeles and retired from U.S federal government, where he worked in the law enforcement area for the Department of Justice. He has his own website http://www.hanifkarim.com/ He lives in the canyon area north of Los Angeles and enjoys writing, meditation, and biking. He has also returned to the table tennis circuit as a senior player.