Community – Asit Kumarr Modi urges Indians to put unity above caste, religion and language

Community –Asit Kumarr Modi, the producer of the popular television sitcom ‘Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah’, has spoken about the growing social divisions he believes are being created around religion, caste and language. He said people should place their identity as Indians before such differences and make greater efforts to live peacefully with one another.

Modi raises concern over social divisions

In an interview with IANS, Modi reflected on the questions people often ask when they meet someone for the first time. According to him, conversations can quickly turn toward a person’s religion, caste, community or language instead of focusing on their shared identity as citizens of the same country.

He said that identifying oneself as an Indian first could help reduce these divisions and encourage people from different backgrounds to live together with greater understanding. For Modi, national identity should provide common ground even when individuals have different beliefs, traditions or opinions.

Memories of Mumbai shaped his outlook

Modi also recalled growing up in Mumbai’s chawl communities, where residents often shared a close relationship with their neighbours. He mentioned areas such as Bhuleshwar, Kalbadevi and Dadar, where families lived in compact homes and community interaction was a regular part of everyday life.

He said that during his childhood, neighbours were often treated almost like members of the same family. The limited space in chawls naturally brought people closer and created an environment where residents depended on and looked out for one another.

Modi also recalled that he remains in touch with some of the neighbours he knew when he was only six or seven years old. He connected those long-lasting relationships with the sense of community he experienced while growing up.

Community living teaches people to adjust

According to Modi, living closely with others teaches people to compromise, understand different personalities and overlook minor disagreements. He described these lessons as particularly valuable in today’s society, where people can become increasingly disconnected from those living around them.

He believes community living encourages individuals to understand that peaceful coexistence requires patience and consideration. Differences, he suggested, do not necessarily have to become reasons for conflict.

A call for kindness in everyday life

Modi also emphasized the importance of simple gestures such as greeting neighbours warmly, celebrating festivals together and forgiving small mistakes. He used the character Jethalal from ‘Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah’ as an example while explaining how people can choose forgiveness and affection over constant disagreements.

He further pointed out that modern apartment living has changed the way many people interact. In some cases, residents may not even know the people living next door. He also stressed the importance of treating security guards, lift operators and other service workers with courtesy and gratitude.

Show’s message has inspired communities

Modi said the central idea of people from different backgrounds living together has also resonated with viewers of ‘Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah’. He claimed that some communities have drawn inspiration from the show’s message while developing residential colonies based on similar principles.

He recalled being invited to visit a colony in Rajkot where residents had adopted this spirit of community living. For Modi, such examples demonstrate that entertainment can encourage positive conversations about society beyond the television screen.

Peaceful coexistence remains the larger message

Modi concluded by stressing that disagreements are a natural part of society, but they do not need to result in hostility. He urged people to focus on finding ways to coexist peacefully despite differences in opinion, background or beliefs.

His comments underline a broader message about neighbourly relationships, mutual respect and shared responsibility, while recalling the close-knit community life that shaped his own childhood in Mumbai.