Hindu-Muslim [The tale of tails]
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Kazi Nazrul Islam
[written in the context of Hindu-Muslim riot in Calcutta in 1926]
Translated by: Mohammad Omar Farooq [2/17/2000]
One day I was having a conversation with gurudev Rabindranath [1] about the Hindu-Muslim issue. Gurudev commented: You see, one can sever the tail that is outside, but who can sever the tail that is inside?
Whenever I think about the Hindu-Muslim issue, again and again, I remember that comment of gurudev. I also feel the curiosity as to how did this tail evolve or grow? What is its origin? It also occurs to me that those who grow tails - inside or outside, they become animals. Those tailed animals whose ferocity or cruelty is obvious through their "horny" display, one does not have to be as much concerned about them. There is much more reason to be afraid of those animals whose ferocity or viciousness is inside - not revealed as horns growing from their head. Hornless tiger or bear type animals are more ferocious - really much much more - than horned cow or ox. In this sense, human beings are more akin to the group of hornless tigers-bears. However, it's a relief that the tail of tiger-bear is outside. Otherwise if both tail and horn were inside, how much more ferocious or vicious they might have been, one can't realize it unless they see the mutual slaughtering or mayhem of Hindu-Muslim.
Anyway, the question I raised was where is the origin of this inside tail. I reckon that the origin is in Tiki (tuft) and Dari (beard). The birthplace of this inner tail must be Tiki-pur and Dari-stan. [2] What a primitive (adim) and overpowering propensity of human being to be like animals! Their sadness about not being able to grow tail has found a remedial consolation in growing Tiki-Dari.
When they discovered something like Tiki-Dari as a substitute of tail, what a jubilation must have transpired in the animal-realm of human mind!
This is how the universal relation of humanity has been transformed into adversity/animosity by raising walls after walls. One can live with the truth of religion, but it is the books of laws/codes that have become so overbearing that people have revolted against it in different period. One shouldn't have difficulty tolerating Hinduhood (hindutto) or Muslimhood (musalmanotto), but Tiki-tto/Dari-tto [3] is intolerable because those seem to engender lot of animosity and friction. Having Tiki is not essential to being a Hindu, it might be pedantry. Similarly, Dari is not essential to being a Muslim, it's mullatto. These two brands of hair-bunches have caused so much hair-pulling. Today's squabble is also between pundit and mullah, not between Hindu-Muslim. The mace of Narayan [4] and sword of Allah won't have problem, because they are the same, and weapon in the hand of someone does not strike the other hand of the same person. He is pronoun (shorbonam), all names have merged in Him. In all this fight and squabble it is comforting that Allah or Narayan is neither Hindu or Muslim. He has no Dari or Tiki. Absolutely "clean"! I am so upset about this Tiki-Dari because these seem to be reminders to human beings that I am different, you are different. These outwardly marks make humanity forget her eternal blood relation.
No avatar or prophet ever said that I have come for the Hindu, I have come for the Muslim, I have come for the Christian. They all said, we have come for humanity - like light, for everyone. Yet, the devotees of Krishna uttered: Krishna is Hindu's; the devotees of Muhammad proclaimed, Muhammad is Muslim's, the disciples of the Christ said, Christ in Christian's. Krishna-Muhammad-Christ became communal property, and all these squabbles center on this property rights. People don't squabble about light, they do about cow or goat. I vividly remember, we used to argue about the sun. One would say that the sun over this neighborhood is bigger; another would say that the sun over their neighborhood is bigger. We had such firm faith that separate sun rises over each neighborhood. The squabble about God is quite similar. One is saying, our Allah; the other is saying, our Hari. As if, the Creator is like cow-goat. And the charge of settling such matters is on the shoulder of Justice Sir Abdul Rahim, Pundit Madan Mohon Malobbyo, etc. One easily can see the outcomes by visiting the wards of the Medical College (full of wounded bodies).
While walking by the bank of river, when I see a man is drowning, the innate human heart does not afford a moment to think whether the drowning man is Hindu or Muslim. That a man is drowning is the biggest concern: he dives into the river. If a Hindu rescues the man and discovers that he is a Muslim, or a Muslim rescues the man and discovers that he is a Hindu, his gratification is not compromised. His mind says, "I have saved a human being, like me."
But what are we observing today? When stabbed Khairu fell to the ground, and Halim went to pick him up, the members of elite Hindu community rushed, "man, what are you doing? You are picking up a Mocholman? [5] Let him die!" They did not recognize the beardless Halim that he is a Muslim. Khairu mia had beard! When stabbed Bhujali Singh fell to the ground, the situation of Shoshodhar Babu with Turkish-cut beard is not much different.
Human beings have now become animals, forgotten their eternal bond. The tails of animals have found place on top of their heads - all over their faces. They are beating up loongi or dhuti [7]; Tiki or Dari. Is there no end of this fight of ignorants over these outer symbols?
Would human beings be so blind that Shuniti Babu would become the secretary of Hindu-shobha and Mujibar Rahman the president of Tanzeem-Tabligh?
While walking on the street, I saw an ox that has lost its tail. Parallelly I observed that on the head of my very liberal friend, who has visited England, a sizeable Tiki has grown.
It appeared to me that animals are losing their tails and human beings are growing.
[Nazrul Rochonaboli, Vol. 1, pp. 883-884, 1996]
- Gurudev: Master
- Pur or stan is like ville as suffix in Pleasantville.
- -tto is like suffix hood in Mullahood.
- God in Hinduism
- Muslim
- Loongi (common lower body dress for Muslims of South Asia); Dhuti (common lower body dress for Hindus).