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Lady Nadira Naipaul's query to Deputy Prime Minister L K Advani that "why must Indian Muslims be expected to have Ram and Sita in their hearts" continues to stir senior BJP leaders. Though Mr Advani at the time steered clear of any controversy on the issue and perhaps Lady Nadira was satisfied with the former's reply during the Pravasi Bharatiya meet, Pondichery Lt Governor K R Malkani has written a two-page letter to her, beginning with a counter query -- "Why not"?
He puts forward a detailed argument explaining to Lady Nadira why he thinks his argument on the issue was correct. "Ram and Krishna are Indian heroes, who were turned into Gods. Indian Muslims may not see them as gods, but why can't they see them as their heroes."
Quoting the Prophet of Islam, Mr Malkani says "even the Prophet said he got cool breezes from India. Why should Indian Muslims see only garam hawa (hot wind) in India? It is about time Muslims in Indian subcontinent looked within and stopped seeing Islam as anti-Hinduism."
He says, "We need to heed Jalal Lucknavi." Lucknavi quotes are likely to create a fresh controversy on the issue - Aa Gaye Suay Haram Waaiz ke Bahkane Se Hum, Warna Razzi Hum Se Tha Butkhana Se Hum (Misled by the preacher, we resorted to the mosques, but otherwise we were at peace with the temples and the temples were at peace with us). "Even Iqbal, the alleged propounder of Pakistan had said Hai Ram Ke Wajud Pe Hindustan Ko Naaz Ahl-e-Nazar Samajthe hain Us-se Imam-e-Hind (India is proud of Ram, men of insight view him as prophet of India).
"Ram rose in India. But even Muslims in Indonedia adore him. Muslim Iran adores its pre-Islamic heroes like Rustam and Sohrab. Why should Muslims in India behave otherwise," Mr Malkani wrote. Mr Malkani did not forget Lady Nadira's words which she had said in 1991 while escorting a team of Indian journalists from Lahore to Islamabad. "I requested you to show us the graves of Jehangir and Noorjehan on the other side of Ravi. And You had said there is nothing to see there except some pigeon droppings. When I wondered why the royal graves were neglected, you had said, Pakistan was not able to decide whether Jehangir was Indian or Pakistani. I hope our Muslim brethren in India also have not lodged themselves on the same Pakistani horns of the dilemma," he said.
Two paragraphs of a book The Indus Saga, written by Aitzaz Ahsan, former leader of opposition in Pakistan Senate, comes in handy for Mr Malkani. Quotes from the book say, "Many Pakistani scholors and writers in their zeal to justify Partition and without seeking primordial of the process, yet with a passion for eschewing all that was Indian, chose to trace their country's cultural linkages. In denying the Indian, they denied the Indus."
"Indra and Vedas, Krishna and Mahabharata
are to be shunned as if they would pollute the minds of the youth, as if
Islamic faith is itself vulnerable to such influences with which it has
co-existed for centuries and not been overcome", the quote says.
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