​UMRAO JAAN

Khanum jaan(Shaukat Kaifi, or 'Shabana Azmi ki mumma', as Lila Jha once called her) is the 'Madam' of one of the finest brothels in Lucknow. Assisting her is middle aged Husseini (Dina Pathak). What follows is one of those 'all in a day's work' kind of conversation between them where they discuss how depraved the times have become.
खानम जान: अब उस दिन का ही ज़िकर लो! सुल्तान बेगम ने अपने मीयाँ को एक लौंडी से बात करते देख लिया। सुना है उसे सीकचीयों से दाग दाग कर मार डाला।
हुसैनी: हाय, हाय, हाय! क़यामत के दिन मुँह काला होगा एसी बीवियों का।
And then it dawns upon you - once you're done laughing - how slimy a creature prejudice can be. As Shakal from Shaan would say 'बड़ा अजीब जानवर है ये'। अजीब indeed! Because very seldom does this जानवर make an entrance through the designated doorways of indoctrination. More often than not, it will simply slide in through the crevices created by company, environment, and of course, personal gain.
Here's hoping for an 'independence' from prejudice.