The writer is a journalist with Scroll.in in Delhi. He is a Multani from Lucknow, who finds himself trapped in the Republic of South Delhi. He tweets @DilliDurAst
I understand your anger about Pakistan. Terrorism is indeed an issue and Mumbai has seen its gravest implications. But do you realise that even Pakistan has complaints with India, which you and I may not think are valid, but these mutual misunderstandings are not going to be resolved by vandalising the Mumbai Press Club when the Mekaal Hasan Band is addressing a news conference there, announcing a tie-up with three Indian musicians for their next album. When 20 members of your party did that on February 4, thankfully, the police acted in time and took them away.
Their act, presumably sanctioned and definitely not reprimanded by you, showed them and all Pakistanis the worst face of India, as much as you want to see only the worst face of Pakistan. Your problem is that for you, a Pakistani guitarist called Mekaal Hasan and a flautist called Muhammad Ahsan Papu aren’t guitarist and flautist. For you, they have just one identity, the one defined by their passport.
The reasonable argument I am offering to you is to listen online to their 2010 album, Saptak, or at least, its most famous number, Chal Bulleya. In this song, Baba Bulleh Shah wants to go to that place where everyone is blind enough to not recognise caste, race or family name. In our times, Bulleh Shah would have added nationality. India and Pakistan are not such places, but could we try to make them so in our hearts?
The next one, Bandeya, is a warning: only good deeds prevail, here and in the hereafter. Understanding the power of this message is not easy for us, which is why we need music. In the next number, Ranjha, Heer’s pining for the beloved Ranjha is so great that she decides to become Ranjha. Love needs effacement of the self — hatred, on the other hand, is so easy to nurse. Such is the message with which the Mekaal Hasan Band came to your city and you gave them hate. Imagine, if you had reciprocated their message, what could not be possible in this world? In the next number, Jhok Ranjhan, the lover has to travel to the place of the beloved but wants company for the journey. Alas, Heer has to go alone. Jhok Ranjhan is by Shah Hussain, a great 16th-century Sufi mystic. The next one is by a contemporary poet. It’s called Sanwal, in which the poet’s voice wants the lost lover to hear her wailing. In Bhageshwari, the poet wonders how she can win the beloved’s heart, how can she plead so that he responds?
These could be the voices of those who want peace between Pakistan and India and I’m sorry to say, Mr Thackeray, yours is on the wrong side of the fence.
You don’t desire peace because you are weak. You desire peace from a position of strength. Weakness is when you tear up placards in the Mumbai Press Club and shout slogans.
Such weakness gives rise to the kind of suffering and violence we saw during Partition, about which Amrita Pritam’s poem, Aj Aakhaan Waris Shah Nu (Today I invoke Waris Shah) is the last in that album. Pritam implores the 18th-century Punjabi sufi Waris Shah to speak from his grave, to add a new page to his book of love, to arise and see the state of Punjab, corpses strewn on the fields, the Chenab flowing with blood. Thackeray saab, listen to Amrita Pritam’s and Baba Bulleh Shah’s words. You won’t believe how much you will rise in your own estimation.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 14th, 2014.
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COMMENTS (22)
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@gp65
You never shy away from showing what you really are. The author did mention that the police took them away but you in your response to Parvez have the temerity to say that the author didn't mention it. And then, as is your habit, try to drag Pakistan into it and highlight the negatives. You actually cannot tolerate anyone suggesting something negative about even the most vile creatures of India for that is your brand of patriotism.
@Parvez: What this author has failed to mention is that Sena did not get away with their shennagian. The activists that tried violence are arrested and the right of any artiste in India to collaborate with any artiste in Pakistan has been reaffirmed. The arrests did not spark any protests or youm-e-sog or any such thing. No one cared.
The people who really need to hear the Bulleh Shah songs are Mekaal Hassan's intolerant compatriots.
@ Mr. Shivam Vij.
Words of Bulleh Shah and Waris Shah contained in the Mekaal Hasan Band album should first be seen to damp down the murderous violence that Mr. Mekaal Hasan’s fellow Muslims in Pakistan face daily before being applied to damping down the petty vandalism related violence by Hindu’s in India. Till then both the Mekaal Hasan Band and the Album should stay out of India.
@Author
It was commendable effort to reach fanatics on both sides of divide. it is unfortunate that people are still carrying the burden of history, but efforts should be put from artists, intellectuals and scholars to put aside this burden and move ahead. People who are criticizing forget the title and content of the article. It is about love, love, and love. This is the message that mystics have been delivering for centuries. Good read, Keep it coming Shivam and thanks.
Very correct and dispassionately argued. Just a few days ago we had intellectual Indians including Mr.Rajmohan Gandhi at the Karachi Literature Festival and they spoke on various topics including politics and were warmly welcomed and listened to by the public.........but then the sensible know there are nut-cases everywhere the sad part is when sensible people bend arguments to cover what simply should be condemned.
@Author.
Notwithstanding the need to use forceful methods that can be faulted owing to inability of Pakistani artistes to grasp the unambiguous message that they are not welcome in India, the Shiv Sena’s sentiment is faultless.
Meanwhile I for one will be exercising my right under the Indian Constitution to not buy an album or for that matter any product that benefits Pakistan’s economy nor will I buy a product that proselytises for a religion not my own.
@3rdRockFromTheSun: Interesting comment. One could state the same, when has India ever shown any genuine interest in reconciling with Pakistan? With India all negotiations are conditional and the number of times they have broken down because of "unprovoked" acts by "pakistani's" is shocking. Instead of understanding that non-state actors are at play, and pushing for peace, India calls off the talks. Non-state actors must be laughing at how easy it is for them to breakdown any peace talks. Additionally, if you think that India hasn't been responsible for creating a mess in Pakistan to suit their own strategic interests, you need to have a rethink.
Even Mumbai's media don't give him this much importance.....!!!! Seriously? A blog for him on Pakistani news site? Go through Mumbai Mirror, Mid Day or HT, you won't find any article like that. Not because we're afraid, because we just. don't. care. My god! Hindu phobia?
Shivam Vij - Isn't it stupid to write an open letter to someone who in all probability does not or would never read this newspaper? It's true that an open letter is for an audience at large as well, but then it's illogical to use a medium that would never reach out to the target audience.
@Ali Tanoli: Agreed
@3rdRockFromTheSun: (and I am a ‘marathi’ guy!) . No Sir. Marathi is a Language. You are Marathi Speaking MAHARASHTRIAN. MAHARASHRATRA even accepts Non-Marathi speaking Maharashtrians and we have Hindi speaking Maharashtrians, Gujarati Speaking Maharashrians, Bengali, Punjabi. Tamil, Telegu, Kannada, Malayali etc. etc. I do not support the Shiv Sena but allow me to assure you that the Marathi Speaking Maharashtrian are generally speaking a Tolerant People. Me tar non-Marathi Speaking Maharashtrian Hotey! . Cheers
I do not know anything about Mr Thackeray, but I wish more politicians would move into political areas and tear-up placards. Most politicians, that I am aware of, are docile creatures who just attend so that they can be remunerated and eventually pick up a pension the size of which the average person can only dream about.
@3rockthesun, U cant sir because whole wolrd does there busniss with non state actors i mean it and u can look it what state agencies do....
Beautifull understanding sir may god bless u. jaye baba bulle shah.
Shiv Sena is fringe group which tries and often succeeds in punching much above its weight. Their tactics of vandalism, violence and intimidation is quite well known here in India and most of us don't approve of either the party or their ideologies. Having said that even in the same party with new blood there has been new beginning in some aspects. They also realise that the youth of India don't associate much with this kind of political propaganda aided by hooliganism and hence there are some signs of change. I am hopeful in next 5-10 years there will be some changes that will become quite evident with the way they do politics. I am not saying anti pakistani feelings will go away completely but ugly scenes such as the above will be a rarity if not completely abandoned. Given ofcourse terrorist activities like 26/11 are not repeated and the culprits of that carnage are brought to book.
vij..i second every word you wrote here, but it seems to me that it will be a futile attempt as many. Pakistan also has same kind of people, and same kind of mentality that thrives on anti-india propaganda. Actually that's what they feed on.
I guess we should let them do, what they want to do. and just ignore it. ignorance is the best answer to them...
@Author - I don't like Uddhav and his ilk as much as you don't (and I am a 'marathi' guy!) - but I stand with him on his opposition to these 'Peace Initiatives' that get one nowhere! There are so many Pakistani singers / actors / actresses that have been welcomed with open arms by Bollywood for many years - has that softened the attitude on the other side?
India has been turning the proverbial 'other cheek' for long, but so far has only received slaps on both. Name one tangible item that has moved closer to resolution. I am all for India Pakistan peace - but only if that desire is shown at the other end too. Time and again, 'non-state' actors from there have created death and destruction on the Indian side.
I think enough is enough. Let Pakistan show us the will, resolve and actions to get out of their current self created mess, then we'll talk.
Mr Vij is taking on Udhav only - and only - because he's aligned with BJP. If, like his cousin Raj, he was aligned with Congress, there would not have been a boo heard about it from this author.