In recent times, the Indian intellectual elite has been cribbing about rising religious intolerance and the lack of freedom of expression in this country. Yet, the institutions they run often discriminate on the basis of caste and creed
The world’s largest free literature festival, the Zee Jaipur literature Festival, came to a close recently, without running into any major scandal. Although some controversy crept in, it made little impact. Film-maker Karan Johar sarcastically said that the freedom of expression in this country was a joke and democracy, an even bigger joke. He also tried to fuel the ‘intolerance’ debate by saying that it was difficult to say one’s mann ki baat in this country. By criticising India’s freedom of expression, Mr Johar has made a mockery of himself.
It was only due to the freedom of expression which the Constitution guarantees to every citizen of this country, that Mr Johar had the courage to say that democracy was a “joke”. Some say that artistes are emotional creatures, but Mr Johar appeared to be childish. Perhaps, some people who came to this planet with a silver spoon in their mouth will never appreciate the essence of democracy.
Also, Mr Johar’s jibe adds substance to the perception that celebrities willingly rake up controversy when they have a film or a book to release. They know that public memory is short and, therefore, they make controversial comments without worrying about the consequences. It’s only when Mr Johar’s biography was to be released, that he realised that there has been a rise in intolerance and that our democracy is a joke. Actor Shah Rukh Khan too expressed his views on intolerance just before the release of his filmDilwale.
However, when a section of people gave a call to boycott his film, Mr Khan said thatDilwale was not just his baby but a collaborative effort. The fact is that film stars think that controversy ensures instant success for their films or books.
Some actors have also talked about leave this country, due to rising intolerance, but they forget that it is this country and its people who gave them immense love and affection. Their films incurred huge profit in this very country because people watch them irrespective of which religion they belong to.
But, if stars create controversy for their own benefit, what about those who support the starsIJ By supporting the controversial statements of film stars about intolerance, these people damage the image of the country. Thankfully, the social fabric of this country is strong enough not be ruined by stray controversial statements.
A look at the history of Sahitya Akademi award will expose the true face of the so-called champions of secularism in India. For the past six decades, the Sahitya Akademi award has not been given to a single Muslim or Dalit writing in Hindi — until last year when writer Ram Darash Mishra was felicitated.
The Sahitya Akademi needs major changes with regard to its awards-selection process. Changes are also required in the Sahitya Akademi rules for selecting the general council. What we are analysing is the credibility of Marxist writers who entered the Sahitya Akademi in the early 1970s and got prominence after supporting the Emergency imposed by Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.
The Sahitya Akademi started honouring writers in 1955, and the first award for Hindi literature was given to Makhanlal Chaturvedi. For the last 60 years, however, the Akademi did not find any Muslim or Dalit writer, who writes in Hindi, for this prestigious award. This shows the communal face of the institution.
literature does not differentiate on the basis of caste, creed and community, but when for a period of six decades, one community is kept at the fence, question arises about the motive of such institutions. There is a long and distinguished list of Muslim writers who wrote and are still writing in Hindi. Their work is par excellence.
That they still haven’t been felicitated is by the design of the Marxist writers who are at the helm of affairs at the Sahitya Akademi. Those were the days of ‘tolerance’ and in those tolerant days, no Muslim writers were rewarded by the Sahitya Akademi. In fact, Marxist writers always present themselves as champions of secularism and pretended to fight for the Muslim cause, but when the time comes to recognise the minority community, they are nowhere to be seen.
If we see the list of coordinators of the Hindi language at the Sahitya Akademi, most of them are from one school of thought: Marxism. Hence, it was mostly other Marxist writers who were rewarded and others sidelined.
In the late 1980s, casteism also entered the Akademi and took control of the Hindi language segment. Today, the Sahitya Akademi is a place where saudebaazi is common. Once a member of the Akademi was fighting for the Hindi convenor’s post. Another senior writer too wanted to contest. The latter was persuaded to withdraw his candidature and promised an Akademi award instead — though eventually that too was never given to him! When awards are given on the basis of ideology, caste and religion, how can one expect deserving candidates to make the cutIJ
(The writer is a television journalist with IBN7)