BENGALURU: December 6 is a special day for Indians as it marks both the death anniversary of Dr Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar and the demolition of Babri Masjid, commented International Booker Prize winner Banu Mushtaq, who is also a lawyer and activist, delivering the keynote address at the 14th edition of the Bangalore Literature Festival (BLF) at Freedom Park in Bengaluru on Saturday.
“On the one hand, it is Dr Ambedkar’s day of ‘parinirvana’. His thoughts and principles went on to become the law of the land and moral values. Liberty, equality and brotherhood are not only the trinity of the Constitution but the very reason for every individual’s mental and physical discipline. It reminds us that these three should become a part of the moral process in our lives and society.
This day also reminds us of the demolition of Babri Masjid which hurt the sentiments of many people. It forces us to rethink our actions.
India lost its principle of pluralism on the day of Babri Masjid demolition. It is essential for us to not only see history from the point of destruction or pain it caused, but also think of what moral values we should build among people.”
‘Dark parts of history should not weaken us’
International Booker Prize winner Banu Mushtaq said, “Although the two incidents are different from each other and occurred on the same day (December 6), they reflect the importance of creating a value-based society. Dr Ambedkar said there is no equality without brotherhood, and quite a few incidents in history prove that in the absence of brotherhood, the origin of democracy disappears. December 6 is the day that sends a message to our collective consciousness that we must walk the path of humanity, pluralism, equality and brotherhood.
The dark parts of history should not weaken us, but they must remind us to guard the lights carefully.” Emphasising on the subject, ‘Being Banu, Being Bandaya’, she said, “It feels like standing in front of a mirror that reflects not just one woman but the entire history of dissent, voices of women who taught me to be brave, the streets that taught me justice and the language that taught me mercy.
Bandaya is not a label, shouting or screaming. It is an inheritance and responsibility. I was not a born writer, but I was born between stories that were wrapped in the soil of Hassan. My words in the stories that I have written were not shaped by comfort, but by cross-examination in courtrooms, contradictions and people who walked in my chambers whose stories were filled with dreams and dignity. Writing is not an indulgence but an ethical necessity.”
Banu said, “There were very few women in the Bandaya movement, including me and Sara Aboobacker. Though I was working with the Dalit Sangharsha Samithi, a feminist movement and farmers’ organisation, it wasn’t easy for me to break the barriers because I was a daughter-in-law of a muthavalli and a granddaughter of a qazi of a mosque.
There were all sorts of religious forces. My relatives and friends were astonished to see me going in these processions raising slogans and getting detained by the police. Despite all the odds, I continued what I was doing. The male members of my family, including my father, husband and brother, supported me.”