BJP leaders have objected to Booker Prize winner Banu Mushtaq, a Muslim, being invited to open the traditional Mysuru Dasara celebrations which take place atop the Chamundi hills, where the shrine of Goddess Chamundeshwari is located. On the face of it, the objection may have some validity as a religious gathering requires adherence to the prescribed norms and rituals which a person of another faith may not be able to perform.
In this context, one may note that in the armed forces, the Commanding Officer of a battalion, for instance, no matter of which faith, leads the traditional religious ceremony of that particular unit, be it the Gorkhas, Sikhs, Marathas, whatever. What does that imply? It means that any person in a constitutional post, be it in the armed forces or a civilian organisation, represents all religions, not just his or her own. The responsibility transcends denominational identity and acknowledges spirituality common to all creeds.
The question in the present controversy is whether a distinguished writer, artiste, thinker or philosopher also acquires this ‘constitutional’ status. Traditionally, Hindu religious and festive occasions have been inclusive in not just providing a role to members of other communities but also honouring them in many ways. A good example is that of Bharat Ratna awardee Ustad Bismillah Khan, who regularly played the shehnai at the Kashi Vishwanath Temple in Varanasi on a regular basis, as also other Hindu shrines. There are many other examples of such syncretism in temples across the country.
There is, therefore, no religious or traditional exclusion of Muslims from Hindu festivals in the general sense. In fact, taking part can be a problem for those belonging to certain sects in Islam, but not in some others. Shias and Sufis, for instance, have been more accommodative and inclusive even regarding their own places of worship.
So, the question is not whether a Muslim can play an important role in the Mysuru Dasara celebrations, but whether the particular choice of person has attained the required level of spiritual transcendence to qualify. So, if there are going to be objections about Banu Mushtaq’s participation, it should not be about her general religious identity. At the same time, however, there are many aspects to the controversy which may be political, but that is for the people of Karnataka to work out. Hopefully, a consensus will be reached that satisfies all concerned.
