The Khan household’s inter-religious celebrations form part of a broader, inclusive outlook—a philosophy Salim attributes to his upbringing in Indore as the son of a high-ranking police officer. His father’s role, reaching as high as DIG of the city, placed the family in a neighbourhood where Hindu families lived in homes he had built, forging bonds through everyday life and shared festivities. This upbringing instilled in Salim a deep respect for customs beyond his own faith.
Salim’s marriage to Salma, herself from a Hindu background, reinforced this ethos, shaping a family culture where no festival takes precedence over another. Whether partaking in Lakshmi puja during Diwali, sharing sweets during Holi, offering prayers at Eid, or exchanging gifts on Christmas, the Khan family practices secular celebration as a lived value.
The inclusion of Ganesh Chaturthi holds particular resonance. Salim emphasised the sincerity behind this tradition, stating it is not a modern affectation but a legacy passed down from his father’s generation. Their Ganpati celebrations, performed with devotional fervour, underscore the blend of cultural harmony that guides the family ethos.
Dietary choices also reflect this respect. Salim revealed that his family has never consumed beef—a long-standing practice motivated not by religious injunction alone, but as a gesture of reverence and cultural sensitivity. He pointed out that this restraint originated in Indore, driven by the conviction that cow’s milk carries a symbolic sanctity, akin to a mother’s nourishment, and stands as a reminder of the need to honour the beliefs of others.
This viewpoint has drawn attention in light of Salim’s emerging role as a public advocate of diversity. His reflections come amid growing scrutiny of cultural appropriation and secular practices. Some critics have questioned whether such celebrations dilute the boundaries of faith; Salim insists the opposite is true. He sees inclusive traditions as proof of unity, not erasure of identity.
Salim also speaks of his personal engagement with religious texts from both his own and other traditions, citing a deep study of the Mahabharat alongside his knowledge of Islamic scriptures. Claiming familiarity with both, he describes himself as something of an “authority” on the epic, a label he uses to evoke his lifelong interest rather than scholarly pretension.
The Khan family’s approach offers a narrative of core values deeply embedded in domestic life, not performative gestures. Their religious harmony flows from generational continuity in Indore, reinforced through family bonds and interfaith partnership, unmarred by rhetoric.
Salim’s recollections, marked by specific details of upbringing, marriage, and family practice, articulate a coherent worldview: one in which festival calendars overlap, customs intermingle, and devotion is a shared experience. Their rituals are not a claim to universality, but an affirmation of coexistence. The stories he recounts defy categorisation, insisting instead on a complex, lived pluralism that both honours difference and bridges it.