[Reader-list] (Imagi)nation without the Muslims?‏

[Rakesh Iyer]

Dear Lalit (and all)

I agree with your assertion that this issue could have been raised earlier
as well, but then India is a country where certain issues are raised long
after they have faded into oblivion.

An example is Jodha Akbar. In Rajasthan, this movie was not allowed to be
released by some organizations claiming themselves to be the spokespersons
of the Rajputs. They objected to the fact that there was no wife of Akbar
named as 'Jodha', but infact a daughter-in-law of Akbar named 'Jodha'.
Ironically, when Mughal-e-Azam was made way back with Prithviraj Kapoor and
Dilip Kumar (not to forget Madhubala), Akbar's wife was named Jodha. Then
nobody had raised a controversy. Now, everyone suddenly remembers these
things.

Having said that, the outlook you have portrayed on the issue is
nationalistic, whereas the one previously posted points to a sense of
alienation, segregation and stupidity in some sense. Being nationalistic
doesn't really help, for it just tries to prove that nation should be first
rather than its individuals, as if development of a nation doesn't mean
development of its' natives.

For example, everytime Congress has announced some policy of minorities, our
right wing friends are there to denounce it as 'pseudo-secularism' and
'minority appeasement'. In other words, they want to prove that all
development activities are being undertaken for the Muslims, and none for
the majority community, i.e. , the Hindus. This is pure rubbish on two
counts. One, if Muslims are being developed, of course it means development
of the country in a sense is also taking place, for after all, aren't these
Indian Muslims (going by nationalistic standards). Secondly, appeasement
doesn't mean to please someone, but to please someone just for the sake of
pleasing. And hence, Muslims are not really getting development. All they
are getting is some fake attention for the sake of their votes.

As far as the previous mail was concerned, I think the issue of green colour
is fine, but it may be too early to portray it as being alienated just
because Gulshan Bawra wanted it or others wanted it. There are certain
qualities in an individual which give way to these words, without him/her
noticing anything about it. Also, as the nationalistic ideals had been
seeped in at least among the upper classes, they may have become public
through this manner. That doesn't necessarily mean they are bad, or that
they are communal.

Regards

Rakesh