Real “Father of Nation” is Moghal Emperor Akbar; Mohammed Ali Jinnah was nationalist leader, Gandhiji turned him communal: Justice Markandey Katju’s special interview with Siasat Urdu Daily’s reporter Mohammed Mubashiruddin Khurram

Hyderabad: If there is any real “Father of Nation” for India, he is Moghal Emperor, Jalaluddin Mohammed Akbar who in his regime took practical steps to promote secularism and Ganga-Jamuna civilization for the sake of the interests of the country whereas Gandhiji whom India considers to be the “Father of Nation” played an important role in promoting caste politics.

India needs a new revolution for its modern construction which can only be expected by the younger generation since it has a feeling that every individual of society is a human being whereas the poison of communalism spread in the country has kept the majority community and minority community apart from each other.

The poison spread by the politicians started its tradition since 1857 when Indian struggle for freedom started. The British Imperialism divided the Hindus and the Muslims on the basis of religion and started spreading hatred. These thoughts were expressed by Justice Markandey Katju while giving a special interview to Siasat. During the course of his interview, he told that the country has been completely destroyed and there is no system in the country which is intact. In such a situation, revolution is the only means which could save the system of this country. Any reforms or amendments are no longer capable of saving the country which has completely been ruined. It can’t be saved through white washing or repairs. It is destined to collapse. Justice Markandey Katju told that the parliamentary system of the country has completely been destroyed.

If a review of the country is made for the past 10-15 years, it would become clear that during the UPA regime when Congress was in power, BJP was in opposition, it did not allow the Govt. to function. Now that NDA Govt. led by BJP is in power, Congress is disrupting the proceedings of the Parliament. In such a situation, the solution to these issues becomes impossible. Everyone is observing these situations for the past 12 years. He also told that people are losing credibility in the parliamentary system of this country. This situation prevails in the judiciary also. The delay in the process of imparting justice has started vanishing the credibility of the judiciary. Added to it, the evil of corruption has crept into judiciary. Admitting the political intervention in judiciary, Justice Katju told that there are many precedents of it. He pointed out that when the confidence in democracy, judiciary and bureaucracy ceases, the only choice of revolution remains.

If the records of UNICEF are reviewed, it would be known that every third child in India is suffering from malnutrition. In this context by seeing the deteriorating Indian economy and rising prices, it could also be said that there is no possibility of reform in the country’s situation.

Justice Markandey Katju categorically told that barring a few politicians, he hates all and it is a fact that this country has been eaten away by the termites of politicians. In the present context, it can be said with certainly that, very soon an era would come in which people’s courts would pronounce judgments to hang the politicians and they would be hanged at public places. Such of the politicians who are devoid of public welfare and interest and are involved in grabbing money to please capitalistic system, would be hanged.

Justice Katju further told that such of the politicians who are desirous of sustaining their power through casteism and communalism, would very soon face public wrath. He told that the country can’t develop through communal tensions. He heavily criticized Narendra Modi and said that he says something and does something else. He asked Modi whether he has any control over his MPs like Yogi Adityanath or Sadhavi Parachi. He termed them fake and spurious and claimed that they not only spread hatred but also promote hostility among communities.

During the interview, Justice Katju termed the present political situation of the country very deplorable and tragic which is dangerous for the future of this country. He pointed out that India is at such a crossroad from where the path does not lead to progress but destruction.

Justice Katju claimed that during the initial phase of the freedom struggle, Mohammed Ali Jinnah was a nationalist leader and in fact Gandhiji turned him communal. He further told that the pages of history are the proof that Jinnah had raised objection to Gandhiji’s style of addressing and the ideology which he was promoting. The same situation would have prevailed then. These days, the leaders of majority and minority communities are making an attempt to overtake one another in promoting religious hatred. In the same manner, Mr. Jinnah might have tried to supersede Gandhiji in promoting his own ideology of religious hatred contrary to Gandhiji’s philosophy. He termed Pakistan as an imaginary State and claimed that when the wall erected between East and West Germany could be dismantled, why can’t the boundaries between India and Pakistan be wiped out?

Justice Katju informed that in Italy also, the people had put an end to the political boundaries and preferred unity. This history could be emulated for India and Pakistan also. Since there still exists cultural and linguistic integration between the people of both the countries and they hate the atmosphere of war.

Referring to Dadri incident, Justic Katju commented that the effects of poison spread through the communal incidents of Ballabgarh, Muzaffar Nagar, Dadri etc. He said that during the past 15 months won’t be subsided easily. In order to come out of these effects, awareness should be created among the people and they should be apprised of the facts. It is, therefore, essential for the intellectuals of society to show the right path to people without allowing them to fall prey to the politics of religion and casteism since the betterment and sustenance of the country depends on the welfare of people.
While expressing these thought, he recited Kabir’s couplet transforming it into a parody which is as follows:

Speak the dialect which evokes war
Let the Hindus and the Muslims be killed, establish your power.

The situation of the present politicians is exactly similar to it. It is, therefore, the responsibility of the people to rise to protect our country. In the same manner, the responsible citizens should mobilize people to change the present situation and also to mould their minds. Certainly, it is very difficult and time consuming task. We should initiate this movement taking a lesson from the past even if it is delayed. In order to achieve this objective, it is not enough to express our sentiments. This kind of revolution might demand blood also.

Expressing his opinion on the independence of India gained in 1947, Justice Katju told that in fact, it was an event to pave way for the American Imperialism to enter India. In the 2nd World War, America supported the British Imperialism since it saw its vested interests. America had entered into an agreement with Britain for its commercial and other interests to end its possession from India under this agreement. Both the countries are looting India even today. The objective of declaring Independence to Pakistan was to promote arms trade. He further told that there are several evidences of implanting the seeds of communalism by the British Imperialism in India which are available in the records of Parliament, how the Viceroy of India used to incite the Hindu Pandits and Muslim Ulema.

Justice Katju told that the seed of communalism has now grown into a gigantic tree that its only remedy is to uproot it. This remedy could be implemented only by the revolutionary people. Citing the examples of the revolutions of various countries, Justice Katju said that whenever there was any revolution, warlike situation was created. This country may also have to face warlike situation. Not only this, if the history of any revolution is studied, it would be known that no revolution was brought about through Satyagrah, Dharna, meetings or rallies. All the revolutions are generally martial in nature.

Replying to the question on the national anthem of India written by Rabindranth Tagore, it is presumed that it was composed to welcome the visit of the 5th Viceroy to India but 25 years later, Tagore contradicted it which does not bear a grain of truth. Tagore was nurtured by the British who had supported him to get Nobel Prize.

He further told that many Muslim rulers ruled India which includes Emperor Jalaluddin Mohammed Akbar, Tiger of Mysore, Tipu Sultan, Nizam of Deccan who had given importance to all the religions in order to keep the people happy. Despite being Muslims, they gave financial grants to temples officially.

Referring to the letter of Tipu Sultan, Justice Katju said that Tipu Sultan had written to the Pandits of his state, stating that their presence in the state was auspicious. In the same manner, all the religions were respected in Asifiya Dynasty. Emperor Jalaluddin Akbar took concrete steps for the promotion of the ideology of secularism and communal harmony.

Expressing his affection for Urdu Language, Justice Katju said that in fact Urdu has been the language of India but it was mostly appreciated in the South India. He further told that there was a time when major poets used to compose poem in this language but Urdu got Mirza Ghalib also included in the list of famous poets whereas Ghalib used to give importance to Persian and he composed many of his works in Persian. Justice Katju pointed out that Wali Dakhani promoted Urdu poetry. His love for Urdu poetry has become the symbol of love and affection. Politicians divided religions and labeled Hindi as the language of the Hindus and Urdu as the language of the Muslims. Its tragedy is that everyone speaks Hindustani but only the writers are well acquainted with the sweetness of Urdu.

He informed that the ruling class of South India patronized Urdu language as a result of which, this language got developed on a grand scale. Reflecting on the present situation of India, he recited a couplet of Mirza Ghalib and explained it too:

Hai Mojzan ek Khulzum-e-Khoon kash yahi ho
Aata hai abhi dekhiye kya kya mera aage.

[There is a sea of blood rushing, alas it should be like this. Let us see what else comes before me]

–Siasat News