India fighting terror with the help of composite culture
At a seminar in Mumbai social activists, educationalists, politicians and experts from across the globe discussed India's response to terror. The day long seminar was held on 1st March, Sunday at the Taj, the site of the 26/11 terrorist attack.
THE CALL for a balanced approach to life in our highly terror-prone world came at a seminar on composite culture on Sunday at Mumbai’s Taj Palace Hotel, the site of the 26/11 massacre just over a year ago. Organised by Urdutahzeebdotnet of London based NRI Ajit Singh, the event was marked by highly emotional, thought provoking and divergent opinions both from the invited panel of speakers and the floor. The opening speaker, Dr. P.S. Pasricha, former DIG, Police, Maharashtra set the ball rolling by reminding all present that demolishing a Babri Masjid or a temple or pursuing the Khalistani agenda in the name of religion are anathema to all true faiths.
Maulana Madni of Deoband and true inheritor of pre-partition Deobandi tradition brought out the stark reality of rampant prejudice and perception through a child’s pointer to his mother. On seeing the bearded Maulana’s figure with head covered with a white topi the child simply exclaimed: “There goes Bin-Laden.” But despite such perception, emotionally hurtful in the extreme, the Maulana said every time he came back from abroad, he felt from the core of his heart that India remains “the best country for Muslims.” Discrimination and injustice is not merely against Muslims, but is so against other sections of the society too. And he recalled his interaction with former Pakistani President Musharraf whom he told the General “Indian Muslims do not need your help or advice. Clear your own house first”. And Madni Sahib advised a fellow Muslim from the floor who had suffered discrimination at the hands of a passport control officer at an airport on arrival in India not to lose sight of the fact that India remains “the best country for Muslims” despite the odd provocation. To a question about his identity whether he was a Muslim first or an Indian first, Madni Sahib replied: “My Hindustani and Muslim identities are like my two eyes. Which eye can I destroy? I am just a Hindustani Muslim,” part of the Mushtarq or composite culture of India.
Bringing the European experience to the Indian sub-continent, Baroness Emma Nicholson of Britain recalled her report on Kashmir in the European Parliament which “underlines the common heritage shared by India and Pakistan, exemplified in the ancient culture of Jammu and Kashmir; (which) recognizes and values the pluralism, multiculturalism and multi-faith nature and secular traditions of the peoples of Jammu and Kashmir, which have been kept alive.”
“Those who think that they are the absolute owners of the truth are the founders of the heaviest block against dialogue,” she pointed out.
The emergence of a new Europe after the Second World War was made possible only through debate and dialogue. While each side in any conflict has the right to be different, it has also the duty to make it a “whole and complete”, said the Baroness.
Illustrating the Mushtarq or composite culture theme through the world of poetry from Amir Khusro to Wali Gujrat, Mirza Ghalib and Imam-i-Hind Allama Iqbal, Professor Ali Ahmed Fatmi of Allahabad University, chose Firaq Gorakhpuri’s words: “Kafiley aatey gaye, Hindustan banta gaya (Hindustan flourished as travellers pour in).”
Veteran Journalist and Loksatta Editor Kumar Ketkar, who presided over the second half of the composite culture day at the Taj, feared that the message of peace in Indo-Pak affairs or the light at the end of the Indo-Pak tunnel looked more that of a fast train running toward a head on collision rather than a signal of peace. He saw terrorism not just an Indo-Pak problem but that of the wider world. He also saw it not just today’s problem but one that has a large footprint from the past. Terrorism does not happen suddenly. There is always a conspiracy behind it. Political conspiracy is just one element of it, there is the Narco terrorism and mafia terrorism besides the distortions introduced by the media.
Shabana Azmi, film actor and victim of media distortions, gave a forceful answer to those who questioned her identity as a Muslim and an Indian. Answering a questioner who brought up the old controversy about her alleged remark on being unable to rent a house in Mumbai because of her being a Muslim, she once again clarified that the operative part of her remarks on discrimination had been edited out by the television channel and repeated by some newspapers. She had not said that she had been refused accommodation in a Hindu locality because of her religion. Her Muslim identity was only one part of her total identity which includes her identity as a woman, film actor, parliamentarian, social activist, and a Hindustani, she said. Her anguished clarification drew fervent support from Editor Kumar Ketkar who branded parts of the media as a ‘monster’ colluding with certain political forces and mafia magnates against progressive personalities and ideas.
The day-long event at the Taj also witnessed a touching remembrance of Mumbai’s two heroes - Police chief Vijay Salaskar and the General Manager Taj Hotel, Karam Bir Singh Kang. Salaskar lost his life in the line of duty during 26/11 and Karam Bir Kang lost his wife and kids while he continued to assist in the rescue operations at the Taj Hotel. Mementos were presented in their honour to Mrs. Sunita Salaskar for her husband’s sacrifice and to a Taj representative who accepted it on behalf of . Kang.
Later, the composite culture spirit transferred to a musical venue in the evening where singer Jagjit Singh again touched the heartstrings of people with his soulful renderings. Yet again he posed the question “Who can I call the murderer and who can I call the Massiah?” With another heart stopper, he appealed: “It is a long and hot journey but come along if you can (Safar mein dhoop to hogi/Agar tum chal sako to chalo)”.
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