Javed Akhtar Questions Owaisi, Debunks Myths and Calls for Reform in Kolkata
The Bollywood screen writer discusses the importance of secularism, addresses the root of population myth- economy and stresses upon the need to combat both religious extremism and Islamophobia
Kolkata: Renowned screen writer, lyricist and poet Javed Akhtar, known for his sharp intellect and reformist views, shared his candid opinion on the Muslim community and its clerics at a private gathering in Kolkata. He provocatively questioned why a reformer like Raja Ram Mohan Roy wasn’t born into a Muslim society.
On a rainy Saturday, the stage was set for an engaging two-hour-long tête-à-tête with the legendary Javed Akhtar. The session, hosted by CPM leaders and husband-wife duo Saira Shah and Dr Fuad Halim, promised a deep dive into the thoughts of the iconic writer.
When Ghazala Yasmin, a professor, brought up Sir Sayyed Ahmed Khan, Akhtar quickly pointed out that Khan was not in favor of women’s education.
Ghazala, while stressing upon the need for reform in the community, asked Akhtar what he thinks about Islamophobia. He responded, “There are brainwashed non-Muslims, both in India and abroad. This includes both educated and illiterate people. But there are also right-wing Muslims who are giving support to the RSS.”
Questioned Owaisi
Akhtar then questioned Asaduddin Owaisi’s remarks. He mentioned, “When Rajat Sharma asked Owaisi, who is a sharp person, on his show Aap Ki Adalat about my statement that India is secular because of secular Hindus, Owaisi answered, ‘No, it is secular because of the Constitution.’ But who made the Constitution? It is not a divine book. It was made by secular Hindus.”
The former Rajya Sabha MP continued, “In the same show, at one point, Owaisi was asked about Narendra Modi, and he quickly said there was no use talking about him, as he could not host an iftar party for 10 years. But my question is, did you light a lamp on Diwali?”
Earlier, Akhtar criticized Personal Law, noting that it denies daughters and sisters a share in agricultural land and labeled it a fraud. Progressive Muslim Imran Zaki expressed his desire to see the Uniform Civil Code implemented.
In response to a query from a self-identified feminist, ‘atheist’ Akhtar asserted that there is no Jannat, Jahannam, or Punar Janam. He argued that humans are not as special as commonly believed. Just as animals like chickens or goats do not experience a second birth, neither do humans. Being born as humans is unique, and once our ‘fuse’ is diffused, everything ends
Debunking the Polygamy and population Myth
Akhtar also debunked the myth that polygamy leads to more children. “In my entire life, I have not met a single Muslim with four wives. I have rarely encountered someone with three wives. Yes, I have seen many cases where a man has two wives, but this is true for both Hindus and Muslims,” he stated.
Moreover, it is a myth that having more wives means having more children. If this were true, then Middle East, where polygamy is prevalent, would not have had a lower population and would not need to take in so many immigrants. In Kerala, where both Muslims and Christians are present, data does not suggest higher birth rates. The number of children is directly linked to the economic condition of a family. Higher-income groups have fewer children, while lower-income groups have more, regardless of religious affiliation,” he reasoned.
Akhtar also mentioned that he has been called a kafir by Muslim clerics, received death threats, and faced three cases filed against him by the RSS.
Despite a 120-minute-long conversation, neither the gathering nor the legendary writer addressed the atrocities against Indian Muslims, such as regular lynchings or the economic boycott of the largest minority. This raises questions about whether the renowned writer of the ’70s is out of touch with ‘New India’ or does not recognize the core issues.
With the politicization of religion at its peak, eNewsroom asked Akhtar what is more important: dealing with reforms in religion or opposing Islamophobia. “Both will go together,” he quipped.
But don’t you feel that a community that makes up less than 20 percent of the country’s population is scrutinized more than it deserves? Before he could answer, more fans surrounded him for photographs.
Yesterday, around 1200 people braved heavy rain in the streets of Kolkata, demanding that the Government of India stops arming Israel. However, there was no mention of the ongoing genocide in Palestine.
