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Journalism of Courage
NEW DELHI, JULY 10: In many of his films, famous thespian Dilip Kumar has had the pleasure of asking politicians to wait outside his room and await his call. Indeed, several noted scenes revolve around Dilip’s flying dialogues in such moments.
Real life, though, is proving a little different. And so the actor waits. In Le Meridien’s Presidential Suite on the 19th floor. Waits to make a tough decision based entirely on Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee’s wisdom. The 1996 Nishan-e-Imtiaz conferred on him by Pakistan has now turned into an anti-Dilip Kumar propaganda war unleashed by the Shiv Sena.
To return it or not is the question. One which Vajpayee is supposed to answer for Dilip. It’s been three days since the actor fired off a letter to the PM and till this evening there was no word. At 4 p.m. today, the PM was to meet him but then “some Planning Commission meeting came up”.
And as Dilip waits for the PM, journalists wait for Dilip and securitymen wait for journalists. It’s a nice virtuouscircle of waiting. “But I’m not the kind to wait for eternity. Another day and I’m off”, says Dilip as one finally settles down for a chat with the actor who gave thousands of glorious hours to millions of people around the world with his talent.
But at 77, life is cruel. Is he a patriot or is he not? Why doesn’t he return the award while we are fighting the enemy in Kargil? Bal Thackeray is posing the questions and some others have picked up the theme. “Mr Thackeray can’t do without me. He is very fond of me. Whenever something comes up, he says I’m a Pakistani. Thackeray thought I was behind the Fire controversy though I haven’t even seen the film. That was Shabana’s problem, I only helped in arranging the lawyer.
“Even in this (the Nishan-e-Imtiaz award), Thackeray thinks I’m a Pakistani. I can’t decipher it, when he meets me he is cordial and affectionate. But I think he hates my Pakistani connection. The fact that I was born there (in Peshawar). But that can’t be undone. I’m proud becausePeshawar was in India. My father had business in Delhi and Calcutta,” Dilip says. At 77, it’s tough to be unidimensional. Everything has a perspective and sarcasm is gentle.
“It’s the politicians who draw the lines. They are the authors of the script. Nawaz Sharif there and we here. All in the name of Kashmir. What did we or they do for Kashmir. Two generations have been wasted. I cannot visit my birthplace without a visa or a passport. I am a citizen of an alien land (for Pakistan). And after 65 years, I have to prove my loyalty to Mr Thackeray here. That is the tragedy of our age.
“We are fast losing out on character and secularism. Look at the huge void between what we say and what we do. They (Shiv Sena) are judging me like I’m a hardened criminal just out of jail. There is a Sena overlord in occupation there (Mumbai) my friend. The Shiv Sena is ruling there and the BJP is playing second fiddle to them. The government itself is scared of the Sena. Their allies are also scared of them. And if Ileave you in the streets there, you will also be scared,” the veteran symbol of Indian cinema says of Mumbai.
And what of the Kargil conflict which brought the Nishan-e-Imtiaz roaring back into the front pages. “Kargil is a sad and unexpected tragedy. Young people are giving their lives here and there (Pakistan) too. This is not a war of the people. We have a government here, they have one there. All these sacrifices could’ve been avoided.
“The bitterness they have created over such a barren land will take years to get over. And then they will say we must play cricket, wave a flag, drive a bus. All right, I agree, when people are dying, it’s not nice to play cricket. Even marriages should be stopped till peace returns. We must ask the people of Kashmir what they want.
“There are so many Hindus in Jammu. What is a party of Hindutva doing for the Hindus without water or medicines. This century was wretched. In the next century, hopefully, people who treat people as people, who will not erect walls andwho will draw on humanism in religion will find a way. Goodness, peace, gentleness, this is the profound essence of any religion.“It is these mechanics of religion who have taken spirituality out of religion. After all everybody wants to be decent and humane. Our children go to schools and colleges. They’re friendly with each other. I don’t think they need indoctrination of religion without compassion.”
On Kashmir, Dilip sees only two ways out. “Either we exercise forethought and utilise perception to get at commonsense. Or we continue to pay the price we are paying. We can definitely come together on Kashmir. Not in a matter of territories but in terms of sanity and peace. All this has nothing to do with the award (Nishan-e-Imtiaz).”
There’s some more heartburn. On the film industry. “The ethos has changed. There are new directors, new people. I don’t expect them to stand up for any cause. It is business-like and they don’t waste time on useless issues (like Dilip’s problems over his award). This isthe utilitarian age, the age of the computer. What use am I? I’m not even a colleague.
“The Sena controls everything. The labour is the Sena labour. there is also a Sena Artists Association. Yes, I do think of leaving Mumbai.” What about the award. “Let me meet the PM. Then I’ll see. Kis karvat se oont baithe. Daaye baithe yaa baaye baithe.” Oh well, another day, another wait.
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