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India is seeing a complete destruction of its ideals: Danseuse Mallika Sarabhai
“If this be our culture may it perish at once. If this be our sanskriti, may apocalypse come now.”: Mallika Sarabhai
Tuesday 17 January 2023, by
India is seeing a complete destruction of its ideals: Danseuse Mallika Sarabhai
Speaking at a literature festival in Kolkatta, Sarabhai, known for her outspoken views, commented on the militarisation of a great faith, Hinduism
Sabrangindia
16 Jan 2023
India is seeing a complete destruction of its ideals: Danseuse Mallika Sarabhai
Kolkata: Eminent classical dancer and cultural activist Mallika Sarabhai has spoken up against the “complete destruction of ideals” in the country, also stating ‘Hindutva’ is being shoved down the throat of people in the name of Hinduism.
Hinduism is actually all about asking questions, the 68-year old Padma Bhushan awardee said during a recent session about her life, career and initiation into the world of dance, at the concluding day of the Apeejay Kolkata Literary Festival here on Sunday. “What I am witnessing around today completely decimates me… Never had I thought there will be complete destruction of our ideals in India, and so many people blinded by the glory of advertisement and brand-building,” she said.
“It is so nice coming to Kolkata and actually seeing (people) of different religions living side by side... which I don’t see in a similar way in Gujarat, in Ahmedabad, where ghettoisation seems to be so complete,” Sarabhai said.
She claimed that many of her friends are in jail, facing trial for asking questions, apparently referring to the arrests of some rights activists in recent times. "Hinduism is all about asking questions, as manifested in our scriptures. Unfortunately, it is Hinduism in the form of Hindutva that is quoted to us and shoved (down the throat of people),” the noted dancer said.
Sarabhai, who had portrayed Draupadi in Peter Brook’s play ‘The Mahabharata’ to great acclaim in the 1980s, apart from acting in solo theatrical works ‘Shakti: The Power of Women’ and co-directing ‘Women with Broken Wings’, said Bengal is among the few states where pluralism still exists in society.
“Kolkata has always given me more love than any other part of the world”.
Woman BJP leader reacts
BJP leader Roopa Ganguly, reacting to Malika Sarabhai’s strong criticisms about the narrowing down of political Hinduism. said Hinduism is not a religion, but a way of life that is connected to nature. Hindutva is a Hindi word and Hinduism is a globally known English word. That is the only difference between the two expressions, Ganguly, a former Rajya Sabha MP, said.
“About the ghettoisation comments, shall I ask her (Sarabhai) to go through the population chart of Gujarat and (charts) of all parts of India. As she specifically mentioned Gujarat, I would ask her to check how many people engaged in diamond cutting live there?
“Many of them are from Domjur in West Bengal and they are living peacefully in Surat.
°°°
“If this be our culture may it perish at once. If this be our sanskriti, may apocalypse come now.”: Mallika Sarabhai
30 Jun 2017
What sanskriti? If this be our culture may it perish at once.
Image Courtesy: Times of India
Mallika Sarabhai
“If this be our culture may it perish at once. If this be our sanskriti, may apocalypse come now.”
I live in a time that I could never have imagined. I live among people I could never have thought could be. I live in a space that leaves me wordless. Bestial? No, animals don’t behave like this. Barbaric? Even the Berbers had codes of conduct. How shall I describe the depravity of the spirit that leads us into becoming lynch mobs, condoned, in our indifference and silence, by all of us. What culture are we harping on preserving? What sanskriti? If this be our culture may it perish at once. If this be our sanskriti, may apocalypse come now.
It was ’enough’ after the first death. What can we do but scream soundlessly at where we stand? And incite a trillion screams till we regain our senses.
Geetanjali Shree
“Words fail. Our protest must not!”
That sections within our society can be so insanely intolerant and so unabashedly cruel is alarming enough. Even more alarming is the impunity with which these murderous public outrages are perpetrated, an ominous confirmation that they are allowed, even encouraged, by people in authority. We do not even have the consolation that these sections constitute a lunatic fringe. They are getting centrestage. These murderous acts and the instincts leading to them will be suicidal. Words fail. Our protest must not!
Mandakranta Sen
“The train carried India from light to utter darkness.”
The ill-fated journey was on 22nd June 2017, just a few days before sacred Eid. Ill fate? Whose ill fate? Ill fate of a young boy of 16 and his family? Yes, of course, but more than that, it’s the grave ill fate of us, of all Indians. The train was travelling from one place to another. It was travelling from life to death, from peace to violence, from fellow feeling to intolerance, from love to hatred. The train carried India from light to utter darkness.
We all know what happened. The murderers needed just a fabricated excuse or nothing at all. The four brothers, including Junaid who died in the attack, were carrying new clothing for the family. Apparently, the killers ‘accused’ them of carrying beef and attacked them. We have been going through this dark phase for quite some time now, and we must see the end of it NOW.
Courtesy: Indian Cultural Forum
