Free, but not fair

Islam is by no means the only religion which gives its founder greater respect than God. It is equally true of other religions as well, writes Khushwant Singh.

Islam is by no means the only religion which gives its founder greater respect than God. It is equally true of other religions as well. However, in Islam, drawing images of the Prophet is considered blasphemy and punished as a crime. The Sunnis are more particular about it than the Shias. In Shiite Iran one can see pictures of Imam Hussain, who they revere as much as the Prophet, on hoardings alongside roads. But even the Iranians refrain from creating images of Hazrat Mohammad. Hence it is understandable that Sunni Muslims all over the world were deeply hurt and outraged by Danish and Norwegian paper carrying caricatures of their Prophet. There is a well-known adage 'Ba khuda diwaana basho, ba Mohammed hoshiar!' (Of God say anything you like/ Do not care. But of Mohammad be careful, beware!)

HT Image

Evidently neither the stupid editors of these Scandinavian papers nor the cartoonists were aware of the Muslim sensibilities in this matter. That, despite the sizeable communities of Muslim emigrants in their countries. Neither the Danish nor the Norwegian governments felt they should haul up the perpetrators, that they be arrested or punished because that would amount to curbing freedom of the press.

So irate mobs of Muslims attacked their embassies and called for boycott of Danish and Norwegian products. But much as I sympathise with the Muslim point of view that no one has the right to hurt a community's religious sentiments, there is no justification for protestors to damage public property. Instead, go to embassies and deliver thousands of letters of protest. When forwarded to the PM, the press will report it. They will make them ashamed of what was allowed to be done in the name of freedom of press.

Charitable popularity

A person does not have to be rich to give some of what he earns or owns to those less fortunate than himself. All religions laud charity as a virtue. Jesus Christ emphasised the need to give without making a show about it. "Let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth." Prophet Mohammad made zakaat (charity) one of the five pillars of Islam. He gave top priority to helping needy widows and orphans. Kabir assured us that giving away a little does not reduce wealth. Chidia chonch bhar ley gayee/ nadi na ghatio neer/ Daan diye dhan naa ghatey/ Kah gaye bhakt Kabir (A sparrow takes a beakful from the river/ The river loses nothing by it/ By giving, nothing is lost to the river/ So says Bhakt Kabir.) Sikh scriptures put the same in two lines: Khat ghaal kichh hatthon dey/ Nanak raah pachhaney sey (He who earns, spends and gives some away/ Says Nanak, he has found the right way).

The life of N.P. Thareja of New Delhi illustrates my theme. Born in Mianwali (Pakistan) he worked in a bank in Pakistan, then in India. He retired as Assistant GM of State Bank of India in 1985, after 40 years of service. He did not look for another job but wanted to something for others. He did not have the means to do it on his own. So, with a few friends, he set up the Human Care Charitable Trust. Today it successfully runs free dispensaries in Gurgaon and Delhi.

I asked Thareja to join my mehfil on Basant Panchami. But when I got his biodata, I realised he would be a misfit. He is deeply religious, gets up at 3 am, prays and meditates, is a teetotaller and vegetarian. He also dabbles in astrology, palmistry and numerology. Most of my regulars are agnostics, languor-bibbers and make fun of astrologers.

Poor Thareja was set upon by my guests for being irrational. He held his ground by conceding that astrology and palmistry were therapy for people unsure of themselves. But after some time, I saw my women guests sit at Thareja's feet and asked him to read their palms. Far from being a misfit, Thareja was the star attraction of the mehfil.

Hammer and sickle

Indian Communists are on a grill,

Though vanquished they're arguing still.

The Left has sunk the deepest into hypocrisy.

Anti-poor, anti-people, anti-nation, to the Congress they call,

But do not withdraw their support and let the UPA government fall.

The Congress has now gauged their might,

They may bark but cannot bite.

But this dram of the absurd is due to their states' elections woes,

Strange! At the Centre they are friends, in the states foes.

By criticising EC's K.J. Rao, they have conceded their defeat,

Oh! Like Bihar fair and fair elections in Bengal he may repeat.

(Courtesy M.G. Kapahy, Delhi)

Watch your words

There is no harm in being/A bachelor, as long as your father wasn't one/A bird, as long as it's not prefixed with 'jail'/A cow, as long as it is not suffixed with 'pat'/Wind, as long as you have not been broken.

(Contributed by Rajeshwari Singh, Delhi)