One way traffic?

Does Bapu, after nearly six decades of Independence, get to see only this? India has never seemed uglier, yet in paradox, the will of so many people exudes such good energy. Take the first big function of ICCR under its new dispensation, last week. They celebrated Sufi master Maulana Jalaluddin Rumi’s 798th birth anniversary with great elan, invoking the mission of another Maulana, Abul Kalam Azad, who was our first education minister. While Muzaffar Ali’s film on Rumi was too loosely impressionistic to have an impact, despite the intense cameo by his son Murad, it was Afghan ambassador Masood Khalili, who stole the show with his moving Farsi recitation of a few Rumi verses. In fact, ICCR showed great delicacy of feeling by inviting the ambassadors of the ‘Rumi’ countries to the event: Afghanistan (Rumi was born in Balkh), Iran (where he lived and worked) and Turkey (he is buried in Konya). And Pakistan, in hearty acknowledgement of when it was part of the Hind traversed by such 13th century mystics.

But alas, the thought intrudes: must it always be the ‘Hindu’ burden to be open-minded and inclusive? Can you see any Islamic nation today inviting our temple arts with honour and respect, to perform in their countries? Rumi’s verses are universal in spirit. Now how about living up to them in letter?

This column is sometimes accused of being “divisive”. But is it an Indian journalist’s dharma to purvey soothing syrup or to ask the awkward questions, while having positive goals? Bapu bore blows, wounds and jail for the sake of “children yet unborn”. Given the price paid for Independence, given how good our national life might have been, does it not behove us to dispense with the obnoxious cliche of public posture and ask a few stern questions? For one, isn’t it high time the media stopped giving those two-bit “men of religion” who have done nothing in their lives a chance to rail against little Sania, who has worked so hard and done us proud? And shouldn’t Hindus continue to resist the influence of closed ideas and stay open-minded? Isn’t that our own, old covenant with God?