A secular Agenda

The withdrawal of the Vidya Bharati document has come as a major relief. Murli Manohar Joshi's concept of education is immensely disturbi...

The withdrawal of the Vidya Bharati document has come as a major relief. Murli Manohar Joshi8217;s concept of education is immensely disturbing and deserves the severest bashing possible. The present government8217;s attempt to saffronise innocent young minds stinks uncomfortably of the old Soviet and Chinese re-education and re-indoctrination programmes. As the BJP8217;s frightening agenda of Hindutva8217; slowly reveals itself, I found myself grappling with questions which seemed to elude answers.

I have my old and loved friend, Ainee Apa8217; 8212; Qurutulain Hyder to the world 8212; to thank for unwittingly providing a salve to my soul, and even hope for the composite culture of this country. The only culture that this country has ever had and, Mr Joshi, what this country is all about. Joshis may come and Joshis may go, but some truths are eternal.

Ainee Apa8217;s truths came to me via her recently published River of Fire, the English translation of the original Urdu magnum opus, Aag Ka Dariya. Although an autographed copy of the original has remained a treasured mememto for years, I could never get down to reading the hundreds of pages in Urdu. Ainee Apa8217;s novel in English makes such compelling reading that even though the bijli went off, I did not put the book down until the candles burnt out.

Ever since Aag Ka Dariya was first published in 1959, Ainee Apa 8212; then in her twenties 8212; has remained among the greats of Urdu literature. I have grown up feeding on the legend of Qurutulain Hyder and even have a cousin named after her. Over the years, I have taken several admirers from the world over to her doorstep. Admirers for whom a visit to Delhi is incomplete without salaaming8217; the erudite author who has skillfully recorded the Indian ethos. During my visits to Pakistan, a countless number of people asked me to convey their respects to the lady they never knew, but who they still hailed as a literary goddess. I recall a member of Benazir8217;s cabinet asking me to invite Ainee Apa to Pakistan, saying, 8220;Un se kahiye hum bichhe jaate hain, sirf woh hamaare upar se guzar jaaien8221;. Tell her we are dying for her to visit us.

Would Kali for Women, the publishers of the translated work, please send a copy to Murli Manohar Joshi, L. K. Advani and other members of the BJP cabinet. They could well do with an immediate course in learning that one8217;s religion has no relevance in defining Indianess. The book should also be made compulsory reading, not just in educational institutions, but also in the RSS shakhas. Like Ainee Apa, I am an Indian and a Muslim, and like most of our community, have never felt any dichotomy in being both. We are what we are and do not need the Advanis and the Joshi to redefine what India and Indians are all about. What one just cannot understand is how a 700-million strong majority can ever feel threatened by its minority communities.

The BJP8217;s brand of Hindutva is completely unacceptable. It is just as disturbing as Pakistan8217;s Shariat Bill. Hinduism is as much in danger in India as Islam is in Pakistan. Despite being a Muslim and married to a Pakistani, I could never live in the Muslim-majority Pakistan. After a few weeks of stay there, I would actually yearn to see a turbaned Sardar and took great comfort when I spotted one on my return at Delhi airport.

I find security on the sight of turbans, dhotis and saris; in the sound of kirtans, qawaalis and carols. It is the only life I know. My close circle of friends include the Sikh dancer Navtej Singh, who could be described as a Tamil Vaishnav; Rani Jetmalani, who son8217;s name is Ali Hussain, and the Mizo tribal Parthe, who moves around with mainstream ease. Speaking for myself, I will give the Maulvi8217;s discourse a skip anytime for the Sufiana Kalaam of Shubha Mudgal. Mr Joshi, are you listening? And, more important, are you learning?