“Kalaa
to hamesha aazad hai.”
Raja Ravi Verma firmly states in a
scene, while having a word with some of the Congress leaders. He simply means
whether or not this country gains independence, nothing can confine his art.
Soon after his nonchalant statement, his artistic brilliance is targeted and
ensnared. Religious fundamentalists join together and bring Raja Ravi Verma
before the court by filing legal complaints against him on the grounds of-
offending religious sentiments and manifesting vulgarity and promiscuity. He is
assaulted on numerous occasions and is also beaten up. They pelt him with
stones and also set his printing press ablaze. In spite of all this, the court
stands unyielded in the favour of the independence- the artistic independence!
This tale, set at the end of the 19th
century in Aamchi Mumbai, unfolds itself in Ketan Mehta’s much awaited release
of the film ‘Rangrasiya’. The peculiar irony here that citing the reasons of
the ‘profane nude scenes which will hurt the religious sentiments’, the Censor
Board held back its release for nearly 6 years. At last, the film was able to
make its way to the cinema halls in November. While watching the film, I
couldn’t help but get reminded of M. F. Hussain repeatedly. Hurting religious
sentiments, exhibiting vulgarity were the one and the same reasons that M. F.
Hussain was accused of, though M. F. Hussain was marked by misfortune. Unlike
Raja Ravi Verma, the point in the history that he was born in, was not
conducive to serve him proper justice. To add to the misery, M. F. Hussain was
Muslim by religion. Hussain’s effigies were burnt in protest, rallies were organized.
Vanity and peremptory religion was highly glorified and at the end of the day,
the art was handcuffed and sent behind the bars. The more unfortunate
occurrence was Hussain’s disinclination to fight for his art. He fled the
country. No different were the people, who too were unwilling to fight for him,
moreover to congeal and fight for the freedom of expression. No one went
against those people, who dared to strangle the free art. The reason for it, is
the non-existent liberalness and acceptance. It also lacks wisdom that diversity
is an opportunity to grow and widen your perspective. If so and so person makes
a painting, or makes a film, or writes a book and I find some of it
objectionable, I go completely neurotic, gather around the people with the same
thought and conviction and create mayhem by vandalizing, committing arsons,
sending threats, just to ensure a legal ban on that particular
painting-film-book? What sort of mentality is this? Despotism? Subjugation?
Many people aren’t aware of what exactly
forbearance is. It is understood that there is tolerance in forbearance but the
concept doesn’t cease at that point. ‘Don’t get fooled while I bear it, you
will pay the price when the time comes’ is not part of it. Acceptance is the
first step towards forbearance. In it, two types of acceptances are expected-
first is other people can have a different set of beliefs, which by the way
they do have and second is they have the right to express that opinion through
many or any of the media i.e. speech, graphic art, motion picture, writing,
theatre, performing arts etc. No development can be achieved towards being
forbearing unless these two are accepted. The moment they are, the contribution
of the ‘bearing’ falls in its own place. There are no hard feelings.
We’re at a juncture of establishing a civilized
culture followed by colonization and living in wild. Till the end of the 20th
century, civilized culture was celebrated and prospered. From now onwards, man
should start to evolve towards being a global human. Some would deduce being a
global human is to embrace globalization. Many interpret this as westernization/
westernization of the entire world. I do not suggest that. Some would also
argue that becoming homogeneous is being global. I don’t mean to address that
either. Homogeneity, westernization or westernization is fatal for the extreme,
yet stunning diversity this world has. According to me, being the global human,
being broad minded can be paired to forbearance. I see global lifestyle as
different ethnicities and societies living together harmoniously by preserving
the mélange, having respect for each other, drawing inspirations and learning
from one another. For making this happen, forbearance among one another cannot
be superseded. As said by the French philosopher Voltaire, ‘I do not agree with
what you have to say but I will defend to the death your right to say it.’ This one quote is the paradigm for the
creation of a wise democratic society in the modern world.
There are 3 reasons behind articulating
this here. First is - the disturbance caused after the recent release of Vishal
Bhardwaj’s magnificent feature ‘Haider’. Second reason is - aforementioned film
‘Rangrasiya’. and the third reason is - today (16th November) is International
Day of Tolerance. United Nations have announced this day to be celebrated as
the International Day of Tolerance. Prejudice is rising to power day after day,
dwindling in wisdom. Some die while protesting against such insular groups,
while some simply join them. Some dense ignorants are elected as their leaders,
minting and shepherding the flocks. Looking at all this, the mind harks back to
the verses dating back to 57 years by Sahir Ludhianvi, in the film ‘Pyaasa’-
Yeh mehlon, yeh takhton, yeh taajon ki
duniya
Yeh insaan ke dushman samaajon ki duniya
Yeh daulat key bhookhey rawajon ki
duniya
Yeh duniya agar mil bhi jaaye to kya hai
Yeh duniya agar mil bhi jaaye to kya hai
Jala do isey, phoonk daalo yeh duniya
Mere saamne se hata lo yeh duniya
Tumhari hai tum hi sambhalo yeh duniya
Yeh duniya agar mil bhi jaye to kya hai
[This world of places, thrones and
crowns,
This world of societies that resint
humanity,
This world of those hungry for
(material) wealth,
What is this world, even if I get it?
Burn it, smoke away this world!
move this world away from me!
It is yours, you nurture this world!]
The lines naturally take the train of
thought to the verses by Piyush Mishra in ‘Gulaal’.
But Piyush Mishra doesn’t retort to burn the world down like Sahir Ludhianvi..
On the contrary, suggests that this world is volatile, often in flames by petty
reasons and needs to be taken care of well in advance, which is positive.
Jaisi bachi hai, waisi ki waisi, bacha
lo ye duniya
Apna samajh ke apno ki jaisi utha lo ye
duniya
Chhitput si baaton mein jalne lagegi,
sambhalo yeh duniya
Kat-pit ke raaton mein palne lagegi,
sambhalo yeh duniya…
[Save this world, whatever is remaining
in here, as it is,
Think of it as your own, and pick it up
(in your arms, to protect it),
(else) it'll start burning in
small-unimportant things, save this world,
it'll be cut-bruised-beaten and will be
living in nights (dark times), save this world]
-Translated by Madhuwanti Vaidya
(Original Marathi article was published in Maharashtra Times of 16th November 2014)
(Original Marathi article was published in Maharashtra Times of 16th November 2014)
