The cancer of communalism and bigotry in South Asia continues to haunt us. These days, the Muslims are once again a subject of intense, though not always fair, scrutiny in India: their loyalties are being questioned and many are potential terrorists if not already abettors of violence. The post 9/11 world has contributed to the demonising of the Muslim identity and history to surreal heights.
The recent bomb blasts in Delhi have placed the communal discourse on the front pages. The invaders and violent Muslims have done it again. A friend called me from Delhi and narrated the profiling that takes place at marketplaces and how the gulf between different communities is widening.
There was a time, not in the ancient past, when in Delhi the greatest of Urdu poets Mirza Ghalib (1796-1869) lived in an age when Hindus and Muslims shared common saints, dargahs and even popular gods and goddesses. Written accounts of this age – the mid to late 19th century – relate how intimate co-exitence of “Mussalmans” and “Hindoos” had led to a relative amalgamation of customs among the common people. And poets like Ghalib could see the commonalities of spiritual streams:
In the Kaaba I will play the shankh (conch shell)
In the temple I have draped the ahraam (Muslim robe)
The verse above delineates the Sufi concept of fana (or dissolution of the self in divine reality) and the unity articulated by the ancient Indian texts such as the Vedanta. Sufis were to elaborate this as the wahdat-al-wajood (Unity of Being) philosophy.
Ghalib’s vision of a secular man and society were therefore largely shaped by the crystallisation of a centuries’ long evolution of co-existence, of a culture that was inclusive and beyond the rigidities imposed by clergies. When still in his teens, Ghalib moved to Delhi from Agra. A proud descendant of Turkish ancestors, Ghalib was a phenomenal mind and a poet gifted with boundless imagination. Through his life he suffered financial insecurities that made him look for patronage first at the Mughal Court and later from the British Government. However, his poetic imagination blossomed and his mastery over the craft and soul of Urdu ghazal is universally acknowledged.
Persian is no longer an accessible language for most readers in India and Pakistan. Ghalib was proud of his Persian verse. This is why the discovery of a lesser known Persian mathnavi (a long rhymed poem), Chiragh-e-Dair (the temple lamp), has left me amazed at the range of his vision and the integrity of his intellect. Ghalib’s modern Indian biographer, Pavan Varma, has produced a competent English translation of this Persian mathnavi in Ghalib: the Man and the Times . Translations never do justice to the originals, but the grandeur of Ghalib’s thought process has not been lost in this translation.
May Heaven keep the grandeur of Benaras
Arbour of this meadow of joy;
For oft returning souls – their journey’s end.
In this weary Temple land of the world,
Safe from the whirlwind of Time,
Benaras is forever Spring.
This poem was written when Ghalib broke his journey to Calcutta at Benaras. Benaras, or Varanasi, is a revered site in Hinduism, believed to be where time originated. Varanasi is also sacred in the Buddhist scriptures, as well as in the great Hindu epic of Mahabharata . Dotted with ancient temples and ghats , the embankments along the river Ganges have attracted millions of pilgrims for centuries. Ghalib’s journey to Calcutta was made with the intent to petition the British authorities for the resumption of his royal pension, which had ended with the Mughal rule in India. Ghalib resided in Benaras for a month or so and imbibed the temporal and spiritual beauties of this ancient city.
The masnavi in a symbolic way cites Kashi as Kaabaa-e-Hindustan, something that clerics in India and Pakistan would not tolerate in the 21st century.
The Kaaba of Hind;
This conch blowers dell;
Its icons and idols are made of the Light,
That once flashed on Mount Sinai.
These radiant idolations naids,
Set the pious Brahmins afire, when their faces glow
Like moving lamps…on the Ganges banks.
It is incredible that a Muslim poet who prided himself on his Turkic ancestry and invoked the “warrior” past in his day-to-day conversation (through his letters) could compare the divine light at Mount Sinai to the lamps at Benaras. This is a poem of extraordinary beauty, of cultural grace that romanticises Ganga (Ganges River), Kashi (another name for Benaras) and their magnificence through a unique set of images:
Morning and Moonrise,
My lady Kashi,
Picks up the Ganga mirror
To see her gracious beauty,
Glimmer and shine.
Later in the mathnavi, the poet questions a “pristine seer” who knows the “secrets” of whirling time: “Sir, you will perceive/ That goodness and faith, fidelity and love/Have all departed from the sorry land…/Brother fights brother./Unity and federation are undermined./ Despite these ominous signs/ Why has doomsday not come?”
The seer rather poignantly points towards Kashi and smiling gently tells the restive poet that the “Architect,” is fond of Kashi’s edifice that is the source of all colour in life; and He would not like it to “perish and fall.” And the pride of Benaras soars to an eminence, “untouched by the wings of thought.” This was not the first or the last poem to be inspired by the ambiance of Benaras but for a Muslim poet to compose it was phenomenal. I wonder if today such lyricism and cultural inclusiveness is even remotely achievable by any poet of the subcontinent.
Admittedly Ghalib’s unconventional views were not fully shared by many Muslims. However, if there was lack of tolerance, it would have been impossible for Ghalib to loudly proclaim his views and retain the immense following in Delhi and outside.
Pavan Varma, the translator and biographer, further tells us: “In a time of fundamental discordance with his views, it may not have been possible for a Hindu, Munshi Hargopal Tufta to become Ghalib’s foremost Shagird [pupil] and closest friend. Not would it have been possible for Ghalib to declare another Hindu – Shivji Ram Brahman – to be like a son to him; or for the Mughal emperor of his age, Bahadur Shah Zafar, to appoint a Hindu convert to Christianity – Dr. Chaman Lal as his personal physician.”
Such times can only be imagined like the long-lost tales from a Never-never-land. This is an age of terror, profiling and fracturing of what was created by a millennium of cultural accords and understanding.
And there is no Ghalib to inspire and reclaim the music of human coexistence.
Raza Rumi is a regular writer and blogs at RazaRumi.com. This article was first published at The Friday Times.
Photo: Banaras Ghats
There will always be miscreants, misinformed and mischief-makers.
But like in class if there are few students who are not behaving, the purpose of class and school get defeated .. but still the idea of school and that class prevails… the other students pass and get ahead in life to make a career and a mark.
similiarly in this Fight of pessimisim and optimism . … we should hold the hand of optimism.. we should see the brighter side… i know the it takes a bigger heart to ignore even the worst truth … but still … one has to be larger than life.. one has to show that “We are Together” .. one has to show more examples of goodness than evilness …
When we complain about communalism .. we are showing one figure at the wrong which is inflicted but in that process there are four fingures which are towards us. What are these four fingures ???
– do we celebrate the good time together
– do we come and go on marriages, birth and death together
– do we help each other in business partnership and upliftment
– do we foucs on art, literature, architecture,
And I will say yes to most of the above point.
But they dont come in news,, they dont get publicity .. because they are taken for granted.
In my town there is temple and a mosque with one common wall… Just imagine .. but it will not get publicity .. we are victim of media .. we are victim of falsehood …..
Be optimist … If few hunderd are suffering .. millions are thriving too….
if india goes to moon thiss month .. all of us go as well.
if india got the nuclear deal last month .. all of us got as well.
let celebrate togther .. lets mourn together…
I will say that dont point one fingure towards the wrong inflicted on us … Try to see that we didnt do enough to propogate the goods also.
Like one article has surfaced for one wrong incident, or may be injustice .. but where are the articles for thousands of incidence which are happening daily which act as collusion forces between all of us who are indian.
And think about it .. there are jains, sikhs, buddhist, parisis ,,, they dont find “communalism” to be issue ..
lets do the promotion of the goods.
lets promote the optimisim and not pessimism.
The worst is behind us … we have the onus spreading the goodness and willingess to be greater in times to comes.
We should not have the words in dictionary which causes strife and tensions… lets bring more articles on the forum .. where we celebrated Guruparb, Christmas, Diwali, Holi together …. and that will be fitting reply..
Lets bring more articles where we attended the marriages, death, birth of our neighbours .. and that will bring the solution.
The onus is on us .. the intellegentia and the torch bearer of tomorrow ..
finally,
–> Lets talk about hope and optimism and leave the pessimism to hate-mongers …..
–> I will choose not be to communal even if my brother get killed in a communal violence …
I will still tell my child that love thy neighbour.. I will even lie to him than to say him the truth.. because that lie will serve more purpose than the truth .. which may be be really just an illusion.
This is the challenge …….. can we live upto it?
In many ways, instead of going ahead Indians have moved backwards.
If Kabir were alive today, the kind of poetry he wrote, would have prompted mullahs to issue fatwas against him and VHP/RSS to call for nation wide bundh.
The ancient city
flows with the river divine
It speaks of sins forgiven
and hymns forgotten
lost souls lament at its shores
while those awakened flow towards their final abode……
Media: — I believe media is one of the worst thing happening to all of us.
In old days .. it was rumours spread by some xyz .. that will cause surprises or havoc etc etc .. but in modern days .. its Aaaj Tak .. Karan Thapar .. etc etc .. who have taken over the grand task of spreading “half-truth” and “rumours”.
I was going through latest interview of Arundhati Roy at IBN Live .. And I agree with her when she says “Media-Police” Collusion .. and “Libreal-Middle-Class” not responding in positive manner.
It seems that in 1980′s .. “Mayapuri” used to provide the Gossip related to the Cinema Stars .. And it use to all bizzare stories which were obviously not true and were mean to just sell the magazine.
Now a days internet has become one of “crazy source” .. for instance number of dead in a train accident will be reported widely different in different websites .. thats simply unfathomable.
But Now its matter of Human, Our Culture, Our Civilzation, Our Peace .. We cant leave to hands of “Newpaper-Sellers” .. or the “Rumour Factories” …. Something need to be done.
Arundhati called for CBI Inquiry into the police reports released releated to recent arrest and findings .. I agree with her.. They should come up if only they have solid facts … Police should work hard to get the proofs then to release the reports … I find it surprising that media is not doing a responsible Job and playing with Our Nation.
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After reading Asif Mirza comment .. I agree with him.
I wish I was a billionarie .. I would have immediately launched a “TV CHANNEL” to promote the Unity and positive message of each and every moment of harmony we cherish …
I mean .. Its just so untrue to say that there is wide lack of harmony ..
The new TV Channel will have regular programs related with “Rahim”, “Kabir”, “GuruNanak”, “SufiSaints”, “Vivekanand”, “Dayanand Sarasawati”, etc etc
The new Channel will have programs related with life of the stars of Nation:
“SatyaJit RAy”, “Bimal Roy”, “Irfan Pathan”, “Azahruddin”, “Dr APJ Abdul Kalam”, “Maulan Abul Kalam Azad”, “Subash Chandra Bose”, “Lala Lajpat Rai”, “Shabana Azmi”, “Dr Zakir Hussain”,
etc etc ..
I believe we can have enough programmes to cover for 5 years without repetetion.
The new Channel will have panel of expert from all states and all communities, expressing their views and solutions and reforms for current socio-cultural issues.
Also cultural programmes from literature work like “Mushairaya”, “Kavi Samellan”, classical dances — Kuchipuddi, Bharatnatyam, etc etc.
The revenue from new Channel will promote Social Activites like Orphanage, Helping Poor below poverty line, “spreading the cause of mass education related to importance of education … family planning … upliftment of society etc .. etc …
The channel will NOT be rumour-spreading .. or news-channel .. or current affairs ..
It will deal exclusively with upliftment of society, depicting,promoting the positiveness in the society.
In 1980′s doordarshan use to have many similarities with above pro-forma.. but in later years(1990′s) .. the explosion of channels have left the viewers watching sop-operas, “sas-bahu” stuff, movies (repeating 100 times) … era of 5 breaks in 30 minutes programme …
We should not live in illusion and rumour world.. Media has a duty towards society which its not doing and in intense competetion of provide quick-reports its providing .. half-truth and rubbish cheap stuff …
A channel for the sole cause of nation .. or may be upliftment of Doordarshan itself should serve greater purpose.
In short Our generation is repeaing the fruits of lot of struggle and sacrifices of earlier generation… I am not against modernization .. but in the race, this generation should not forget the due duty its suppose to do .. to do its part of struggle and sacrifices … so that the next generation can be proud of us.
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I wish you would intervene, in the debates that are going on on my blog at the moment. Please consider this a request.
Here are the relevant links to the posts: http://mumbaigirl.wordpress.com/2008/10/21/on-faith-ii/
and the latest psot (not leaving it as a link as this comment might go into spam).
Wow..Great thoughts from Indian..I agree 100%..Its hihg time we kick out all opportunists and leechers from of our community and have a life in peace and harmony.Media needs to be rgulated,its all gossips and half true news..I don’t know which source to refer for ‘REAL’ news and know the truth..
@Nimmy:
Its the responsibility of the viewer to judge the Real News.
Viewer in this sense is like a “Judge”. To start with a Viewer must be totally impartial in his mind. And Viewer must have access to the story from all the parties and not just one party. Once he has heard the case from all the concerned party (*) “directly” (*) … Then viewer can make a judgement of the “Real News”
Now what “directly” means?
Directly means that .. its the “story from horses’s mouth”.. that is directly from the person concerned.
For example … There is fight between two person.. One can not judge what went wrong and why they are fighting by asking someone on the other side of the street or a passer by .. or a bookseller next door… This will probably never gives real news but will give rumours or “half-truth” at the best.
To know the truth.. you have call both the parties. And have their story told from their own mouth .. (without force or intervention) … Then you can cross question them to skim the unwanted elements and extract the missing pieces .. then only you can come to know the “Real News”.
A “Real news” normally will be backed by lot of solid ground, proofs, and “real stuff” and not just rumours.
Another fallacy I will like to mention here is likes of Mr Karan Thapar..
Try to watch any or next program of him .. He will “put the words” in other person’s mouth….
That means .. he will not let the other person speak his mind… But he will put his own thought and seek for yes/no response or try to manipulate what he (karan) want to interpret..
Now .. this is classic case … of a lawyer twisting the testimony of the person .. in front of the judge …
Classic example is interview with Zardari and Shivraj Patil (you can watch them on youtube or IbnLive website) .. Even though these two folks are saying .. but Karan is not letting them say what they want to say .. instead he is twisting and putting his own version ..
So finding “Real News” is not easy task .. and that is one of the reason the Government Version of any event is very restrictive .. because they have to back it up.. For example number of people dead in say a riot… Government will always have less figure quoted.. Why? Because .. Until they find a human body .. they dont increase the counter .. While .. the “Rumours Makers” will give some approximate figures ..
For “Real News” one should try to avoid the opinion based articles and news channels and sparkling heading and titles ..which are not close to reality . or one or two snapshots of horredous events .. they are very quickly taken by masses and they can be misled.
Another factor is try to stick to reputed sources .. because reputed sources try keep reputation and refrain from the rumours ..
But never trust to begin with .. have a very critical view, impartial view, question the news …. before making an opinion..
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Mirza Asadullah Khan ‘Ghalib’, poured in wine to douse the fire of grief in his heart and the outpours of his heart intoxicated his admirers then and even now!The mystic clothed in a long coat and a tall cap, reached giddy heights and looked down on the smallness of man and his preferences and prejudices!He leapt over barriers of race, religion, region and the like.He saw Kaaba in Benares
and called for the universal faith.His philosophy of intense suffering becomes one’s therapy has carved out an exclusive niche for him!His mind underwent much suffering but it could not affect the purity and essential goodness of his heart!No doubt, he continues to be the unmatched Emperor of urdu ghazal even today!
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Where can I get the original Urdu text for this poem. I am a student of Urdu in Banaras from the US. I would like to read it!