We live in juvenile times when non-issues are blown out of proportion. The latest in the list is whether to chant Bharat Mata Ki Jai or not. It all started when BJP’s national executive sought to make the chant obligatory, provoking ill-informed reactions, tongue-in-cheek remarks and blatant insinuations. In a rare display of bipartisan solidarity, the Maharashtra legislature suspended Waris Pathan, an MIM MLA, for refusing to join the chant. His party chief Akbaruddin Owaisi, the quintessential divisive politician, called chanting of Bharat Mata Ki Jai as unconstitutional and dared BJP to make him commit this sin. Javed Akhtar, however, was quick to teach him a few lessons in the Constitution. Joining the fray, the Islamic seminary of Darul-Uloom, backed by Jamat-e-Islami Hind, issued a fatwa directing Muslims not to hail Bharat Mata because Hindus defined it as a goddess and worshipping goddess was un-Islamic. Mercifully, it stopped short of exhorting the faithfuls to shout Allah-o-Akbar to counter Bharat Mata ki Jai.
The reaction from a section of Hindus was equally maddening. They proclaimed that those who refused to hail Mother India were not nationalists and should better leave for Pakistan. Surely, they knew that it was wishful thinking. Unable to take a grip over his emotions, young Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis vowed to lay down his office if he could not make people chant BMKJ. The irrepressible Baba Ramdev came up with a cleverly crafted formulation, which actually meant nothing. He regretted living in a country where rule of law existed, denying him the licence to behead those who refused to chant BMKJ.
The perennial cynics picked up the gauntlet where mavericks left. A columnist insisted on chanting ‘Sunny Leone Ki Jai’ and even disputed the gender of Bharat Mata. A socialite-turned-author got worried of flunking the patriotism test and wondered whether a new police force would be raised to track her if she missed singing the chorus and sent to gallows. Poor thing. She also could not understand why PM Narendra Modi wasted his time in governing a country instead of engaging her in a discussion on this issue. A commentator who churns books with amazing regularity counselled Sonia Gandhi to seize the prevailing political confusion to emerge as the real Bharat Mata. The unkindest cut came from a Twitter buff who requested Owaisi to address Bharat as ‘Ammi’ if he abhorred the expression ‘Mata’.
The hoopla over this non-issue shows how ‘intolerant’ we are of others’ views. Most Hindus treat Bharat as ‘Mata’ because it procreates food, water and forests, shelters human beings, animals and birds and bears their sins. Having seen her suffer centuries of depredation, they feel proud and possessive of her, particularly now when she looks healthy and radiant. Why grudge them if they want to hail her? Rationalists, however, may find Bharat as an amorphous land mass surrounding by seas, mountains and grudging neighbours. Others may believe that the slogan was designed to coalesce different communities and instil in them a sense of nationalism against the British rule and now that India is free, it is no longer necessary. The Communists may prefer to hail Bharat as fatherland on the Soviet or Chinese analogy. Obsessed by their exclusionary ideas, Muslims may smell religious persecution in the chant. Really shows how funny Indians can be in their diversity. So far so good.
The problem arose when usual suspects began ranting lies that there was a BJP move to make the chant obligatory, notwithstanding RSS chief’s unambiguous disclaimer. The Supreme Court was yet to make the chant binding. A bill had also not been moved in Parliament to make it compulsory. Government of India was still to notify religious holiday for Bharat Mata. And, VHP was nowhere near raising her temple on disputed ruins.
So where does the fear come from? Obviously from those who have to protest about everything. If a suave politician can make fun of Bhagat Singh, a professor can speak of balkanising India, Kashmiri separatists can raise Pakistan Zindabad slogans, PhD scholars can express their gratitude to terrorists and criminals in public and a politician can describe his Prime Minister as an ISI agent, what is wrong if Sakshis and Ramdevs demand hailing Mother India? Till Indians are made swiftly and legally accountable for what they speak, we have to stay tuned for more abuses and provocations, however worthy the cause may be. The wisdom perhaps lies in following 95 per cent Indians who care a damn for these polemics.
amarbhushan@hotmail.com
Bhushan is a former special secretary, R&AW