Javed sees no Deewar in Indo-Pak relations

Poetic politics and political poetry have respectively been a part of the political and literary traditions of the country. Noted poet, lyricist, scriptwriter, and social activist Javed Akhtar represents the class of the politically conscious icons who are worried about "depleting secular ethos of the country," critical of the "rising fundamentalism" and are ardent advocates of "equity, social justice, democratic values and peace." Akhtar was in Ahmedabad for a recitation session at Natrani.

He says, "Fundamentalism always has some vested interest behind it. In the name of religion or faith certain privileged sections wish to maintain a status quo so that their position and power remains unchallenged." According to him, all groups like the RSS and VHP in India, the Taliban in Afghanistan and the military regime in Pakistan have personal interest in their "monopolistic claims to nationalist ideology." He says that there are other larger issues like poverty, education and health which must be addressed by politicos.

Mr. Akhtar, who accompanied the delegation to the famous Lahore trip, is still hopeful for better ties with Pakistan. He says. "Kargil was ugly and depressing, Lahore declaration failed but we must not give up hope." He says that rationalist and sensible men on both the sides of the border must think about development. He believes that in developing nations like India and Pakistan where evils like illiteracy are on a rise, defense expenditure must be "checked and controlled." According to him, an average Pakistani does not want conflict with India, but such people have been sidelined in their own regimes.

Critical of the tilt of India's foreign policy towards the US, he says that CIA funded and aided the mushrooming of fundamentalism in Pakistan and Afghanistan. "Mercenaries that are an offshoot of such a growth have made life hell in Kashmir," he adds. He points out, "Pakistan has been a puppet regime with the US, and the latter never supported us in our stand on Kashmir, despite that we are going on our knees to join hands with them."

He admits his concern about the decline of Urdu poetry and attributes it to the political and economic reasons.

He says, " A language nas its own culture, but it does not have any religion, caste or creed associated with it. Urdu was essentially embodied in the culture of Lucknow, Delhi, and several parts of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar and the larger Hindi belt." He says that for political reasons Urdu was associated with Muslims, which was however a part of the "larger hdian cultural fabric." Thus language was given a religious title which elicited "an official, political and subsequently social neglect" for the language. Moreover he says, "Language does not survive on its literature but on its economic utility."

Republished from Asian Age