Copyright@shravancharitymission
By Kamlesh Tripathi
By Kamlesh Tripathi
NAWAZUDDIN
SIDDIQUI HAS EVERY RIGHT TO ACT IN RAMLILA
By stopping Nawazuddin Siddiqui in
Muzaffarnagar, from playing the role of Maaricha, uncle of Ravan, in the local Ramlila,
after 20 years, Shiv Sena has stood out like a thorn in the society. Ramlila is
a famous play enacted each year, all over India and even abroad. Let me for a
moment juxtapose Muzaffarnagar with Lucknow on Ramlila. Both have been holding it since ages. Where, Lucknow is even more famous. For a lot of Muslim actors take
part in Ramlila, and at times they even go on and on with their acting, even when
they are keeping Rozas during Ramzan, if it happens to fall
in the same month.
This intermingling is the ultimate beauty, of one and only
one—India. We are no deep state, but the biggest democracy of the world. Where,
Ramlila, Dushera, Durga Puja and Diwali are our tall, widespread, cultural and festive
totem-poles. Ramlila is therefore our Indian-ness. That belongs, to we Indians,
and not Hindus alone. Nawazuddin is our own son. Rather the worthy son of
Muzaffarnagar, and now even of India, who entertains us through his movies. He was
born and brought up in Muzaffarnagar. So, Shiv Sena cannot just snatch away the
colourful memories of his childhood by not allowing him to act in his home
theatre 20 years later. He is free to visit his childhood the way he wants in
his own city. Muzaffarnagar is amassed in him, so you just can’t dig it out
like that. Shiv Sena needs to understand this. And, last but not the least, you
just can’t seize hold of any Indian’s Indian-ness, by just citing his religion.
Read my book 'Aadab Lucknow ... fond memories' on the culture of Hindu-Muslim amity. Download from amazon.com and Barnes and Noble.
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