Khans and Manto

November 27, 2015.

In high school and college, Dakhi collected pix of Shah Rukh Khan; still owns the collection; SRK is still her hero; has not missed SRK films. Ganesh manages first show, first day of every Amir Khan film. Both drool over Salman Khan with Rama tagging along; Rama's friend has seen Bhajrangi Bhaijan of Salman thrice; Rishikesh Hari delights in A.R. Rehman music. They do not dislike Muslims. Recently, tripping Leh and Ladakh, Ganesh threw an unkind remark at an old Muslim gentleman at a dargah; felt bad; after walking the dargah, he went back to the old man and apologised. 'Hum log itne kharab nahin hain, beta (We are not that bad, son),' said he offering a packet of Kashmir apples. Hindustani music is large parts Muslim ustads. At most Hindu marriages, Ustad Bismillah Khan shenais with none caring to appreciate. There is a darga on Eksar Road to which many Hindus offer chadars. Yet we dislike Muslims; unwant each other. Not been able to understand. It was there much before Independence and haunts us so in 2015. Me born in unquiet times of 1946; continue to be in unhappy times of 2015. Tired. Breathed first air of Hindu-Muslim hatred in 1963 at St. Xavier's College, Calcutta; walked into college one morning; bumped into hefty crowds of Malabar Special Police, billetted inside the College, brought in to stub riots. Since then, there has been no let up. Perhaps, never will be....Faiz Ahmed Faiz writes: 'This mottled dawn/This night-bitten morning/No, this is not the morning/We had set out in search of.' Possibly, times to read Mottled Dawn and Selected Stories by Saadat Hasan Manto. An in brief item: Mishtake: 'Ripping the belly cleanly, the knife moved in a straight line down the midriff, in the process slashing the cord which held the man's pyjamas in place. The man with the knife took one look and exclaimed regretfully,'Oh no!...Mishtake.'  Khalid Hasan in an Introduction to Saadat Hasan Manto; Selected Stories, writes: 'Eventually, it was Bombay where his heart was set and where he settled down. His love affair with Bombay was to last throughout his life, though he left the city twice, once only briefly in 1941 but for good the second time, after Partition in 1947.' Manto is quiet on why he left Bombay....his wife Safia is reported to have told Brij Premi, a Manto biographer,' He was always treated unjustly by everyone. The truth is that he had no intention of leaving India, but a few months before Partition, Filmistan handed him a notice of termination and that, believe me, broke his heart.' Manto, M.F. Husain, Salman Rushdie....will there be more...will India be a loaf of torn bread ...India not anymore India. Just cannot be as India owns the largest number of Muslims. Kerala never has had a riot...hope there still is.