LUCKNOW: First published in 1932, reprinted more than 20 times since then and acclaimed as a world classic, Madhushala, written by Bollywood superstar Amitabh Bachchan’s father Harivansh Rai Bachchan, beloved of Hindi litterateurs, has suddenly become a topic of controversy created by a section of Muslim ulema, but not the intelligentsia, in Uttar Pradesh.
The ‘critics’ are objecting to just a few lines in Madhushala, though they are all praise for the classic.
Lucknow Shaher Qazi Maulana Abdul Irfan Mia Firangi Mahli has issued a fatwa saying that Muslims should not read the book because there are a few lines that go against the Islamic edicts.
He said that to link liquor, in any way, with Muslims was against Islam and must not be allowed, in a frivolous way, to become a routine matter of entertainment even if that forms a part of a great literary creation. He said Muslims must not read the “objectionable couplets/ lines”.
There are innumerable lines in the classic that may apparently be objectionable to both Hindus and Muslims.
However, the Muslim intelligentsia has been quick to denounce the ulema move and reaffirm the uniqueness of the classic, which “actually gave a modern masterpiece to not only Hindi but also to world literature”, according to renowned poet Khushbir Sing Shaad.
“Madhushala is an eight decades old creation. More than 50 times Harivanshji had recited the poem. And even Amitabhji has recited portions of it on different occasions. Why the objections now,” he asked.
When pointed out that even Ghalib had written about liquor in many of his couplets and asked the reason for such a controversy over Madhushala now , Maulana Abdul Irfan said, “a mistake is a mistake, Ghalib or whoever”.
Shaad said if anyone could read poet Kabir, one could forget Ghalib and still have the same respect for both Muslim and Hindu religions.
Shaad said the fatwa has been issued to gain popularity when the need of the hour was to look for ways to unite all communities in the country.
