Every person has the eternal right to express themselves whether that is through speech, writing or any form of expression or even non expression. In different contexts these maybe classified as creative or non creative, productive or non productive. It is what defines the humanity: the freedom to express emotions, thoughts, ideas....To locate ideas of expression on certain section in this case writers\artists is narrowing\biasing the idea. If the person on the street has to take responsibility of what he\she speaks (which is an expression of freedom) then a writer is no different. A writer doesn’t have any special right. There are some beautiful people who write some amazing things that open our senses to new possibility, to new vision, a connection to surrounding... Invariably there is compassion and consideration to the context.
That doesn’t mean one cannot express darker side of life or even sheer nonsense. Any person (that may include writer as much as a shopkeeper) has every right to express. But with expressing comes responsibility. Salman Rushdie is a writer whom most people have heard about but very few have read. Ideally a writer’s writing should be discussed than the writer. But i guess we live in a world where writers crave for attention and Salman Rushdie is not at all an exception. Indeed our man is found walloping in exceptionally trivial on a regular basis. He is a celebrity that Indian media would love to appropriate. It ofcourse helps the case that he also happens to be very much appreciated in west. It adds to what they say ‘gravitas’ to the case for ‘freedom’ as it gives an international angle.
This blogger happens to be few who have read 3 or 4 of Rushdie’s books. Most of his writings are fun to read but some tirelessly looped. I need to add here that i find it extremely difficult to read thick books, one main reason is i really cannot keep the book down unless i finish it. That severely plays into my routine and upset my schedule. Indeed like writing reading may also need more than interest to sustain, it can be a luxury. Thick books happened to me because i generally finished my money a week before the next salary so for about a week i was stuck in my room. This was quite a regular feature during 1997-99. I am not complaining i read some marvellous writers from Dostovosky to Rohinton Mistry (it wouldn’t be out of place to compare Mistry with Rushdie, as people and the way they choose to respond to situations).
One wonders what is the reason for rather sudden and uncalled for protest against Salman Rushdie now. Considering that he has been freely visiting the country without much problem all these years. What has happened now? It really is intriguing; this looks like a clear case of manipulation. First i thought it’s about ‘Literary fest’ exaggeration. Has it got to do with the election in UP? I seriously doubt. I am thinking and thinking presto it’s the Crude woman again!! Smarting in the sidelines plotting for bigger lick has been raison de entre for these people. Some search in the net reveals that a movie is to be released (it’s based on the book by Rushdie). Now this is where crude woman and her PR is working overtime. Crude woman as wonderful Indian Muslim brand is rarely outdated, there never is such a thing called great opportunity. This manipulation is worth it. The messier it gets better for them, indeed if Rushdie is killed “suhaanallah” what a lucky break. So why are they (they meaning ZK Bose and Crude woman) not to be seen with protesting chatterbox?!!! “lohaa abhi garam nahi hai” says ZK Bose. “pahunche hue log semi final nahi kelthe. Hum log seedha final kelthe hai” says Crude Woman. It’s clear they expect this protest to take vicious turn as they release the movie (which i am told finds no takers and staring rather bleakly at pretentious film festival route to manufactured acclaim and eventual home video nightmare). Crude Woman has lot to gain if turns ugly. The wonderful Indian muslim (and that too a woman) is amazing opening, never mind whether people suffer (indeed Rushdie is another murga readied for biryani). More than a year back ZK Bose was asking people to be calm before Babri verdict...it got me really concerned since when these people ask you for calm you need to be careful, later i gathered our man was positioning for Rajya sabha).
A writer or an artist is no different from common people. Indeed every life is equally creative or less creative. The fact that if a person writes therefore they have more right on freedom, may work in west, but in Indian context it smacks of arrogance. Indian narration points -rather firmly- to neo Brahmin construct. If a common person has no right (frankly in Indian context the fellow never really had any right) to spite against any person or community without a contested rationale or a context then what right has a fiction writer to blatantly abuse, in this case irrationally out of context, a non fictional reality. I don’t think that is magical realism.
This blogger is fully aware of dangers of fundamentalist forces, the fringe elements that constantly seek to diminish our world. Freedom of expression is a significant aspect that defines civilized society, as much as responsible behaviour. As much as i am aware that events like Formula One is a blatant mockery on common people’s sensibilities, it diminishes our sensitivity to surrounding. Hoopla about ‘freedom of expression’ cannot hide crude class biases.
A scribble from my pad...
Blessing
A damselfly’s connection with infinite
is difficult to hide
endowed with subtlest blessing
disclosed in hasty presences.
