Bollywood and the Indian Muslims

By Syed Ali Mujtaba

Bollywood mirrors India, so goes the saying. If any one wants to see the real face of India, all one has to do is to randomly pick up few flicks of a decade and see the changes taking place in India over a period of time. In this context the representation of Muslims is something interesting to focus at as this succulently portray the changing face of the community since independence of the country.

Muslim characters in the Bollywood movies have witnessed a sanguine change over the time scale. From being Badshas, Nawabs and aristocrats they are reduced to tramps and gun totting Jehadis on the Hindi screen now. The gradual but systematic erosion of the Muslim characters in the Bollywood films silently tells the story how Muslims have fallen places in the Indian society. Ironically some of the shining names of the community today are related with the Indian entertainment industry.

The movies in fifties and sixties portrayed Muslim characters mostly as Kings, Nawabs or Feudal lords. Films like Shah Jahan, Mumtaz Mahal, Anarkali, Mughal-e- Azam, Mere Mehboob, Bahu Begam, Chadvin Ka Chand were all mainstream movies. With refined language and soul rendering music, these movies depicted the rich cultural tradition of the Indian Muslims. Such movies scaled the charts of popularity with Muslims as central character testifies that the entire nation accepted them as an integral part of the Indian society. The key was Muslims were a thriving community in India.

However, as we move to seventies, a distinct change in the characterization of the Muslims started emerging in the Bollywood films. The characters though for some time continued to remain aristocratic were pushed towards hedonist pursuits. The indolent Nawabs chewing betel nuts and splurging their money on the natuch girls characterized Bollywood Muslims. Mere Huzoor, Pakeezah, Umaro Jaan are few movies for illustration.

Seventies was also an era of parallel cinema. Movies like Elan and Salim Langde Pe Mat Ro critiqued the aimlessness of the lower middle class Muslim youth. Garam Hawa was another fine movie that grippingly captured the human tragedy of India’s Partition.

In the mainstream cinema, two movies stand out in the seventies. They are Nikah and Bazzar. A Muslim social melodrama, Nikah was rich in content but negative in message that Muslims male divorce at will pronouncing the word "talaq" three times, leaving their spouse in a helpless situation. Baazar on the other hand highlighted the real life story, how poverty stricken Muslim parents in Hyderabad married off their under aged daughters to the old Arabs. Both these movies had high dose of Muslim social milieu but subtly attempted to "differentiate" Muslims in the Indian society.

The important development in the seventies was that Muslim characters were being pushed to the margin in the three-hour time slot, claiming just fifteen minutes of fame on the silver screen. Zohora Bai in Muqaddar Ka Sikander and Rahim Chacha in Sholay are classical examples.

During this genre, Muslim men were shown wearing Aligarh cut Sherwani, chewing betel nut and reciting Iqbal or Ghalib's poetry at the drop of their cap. The women would either dress in Burqa (veil) or wear heavy Lehngas and Ghagras with jarring makeup on their faces. The old ladies or Ammi jans were either seen offering prayers or chewing beetle nut with much aplomb. Such caricatures, the moment appeared on the screen, audience knew that its time for a Qawwali, Mujra or Ghazal. Muslim culture became synonym with Qawwalis and Mujras.

Another interesting development in late seventies and eighties was the portrayal Mumbai's underworld characters mostly Muslims in Bollywood films. Although, they did not bore Muslim names on screen, the spectators knew who the protagonist was in the real life. The Muslim characters since then also stated becoming negative in Bollywood movies. Smugglers wearing Arab robe puffing cigar, carrying briefcases became a common sight since in the eighties. This trend became more direct in late eighties and nineties. Movies like Ghulam-e -Mustafa and Angar could be cited as examples.

If Bollywood was to be believed normal Muslims were becoming extinct in India. With a cap here and rosary there, Muslims at best could be accommodated for tokenism in Bollywood films. No wonder they were shown offering prayers or singing Qawallis at religious tombs where hero or heroine would come with their wish list.

Parallel to all this there was also some halfhearted attempts made to address the issue of Hindu- Muslim communal divide through Bollywood films. The sixties song 'Tu Hindu banega na Musalman Banega, Insan ki Aulad hai Insan Bega' was powerful narrative for such a theme. Several movies that preached communal harmony like Iman Dharam and Krantiveer were spread over the decades.

The movie Bombay in 1995 redefined the contours of the characterization of the Muslims in Bollywood films. Set in the backdrop of 1993 Mumbai bomb blast, this movie had strong message for communal harmony even as it showed the protagonist a Muslim girl, eloping with a Hindu boy. This was a watershed of sorts as it also depicted the changing face of the Indian society.

Bollywood since eighties also herald a whole arsenal of unexamined prepositions about Muslims and their religion. Islam means Jihad, Muslim means terrorists. Roja was the climactic film in the eighties that depicted the ideological conflict between the nationalist victim and the jehadi terrorist. It opened the floodgate for a number of flicks with much louder in such tone and tenure. Sarfarosh, Maa Tujhe Salam, Pukar, Gadar, Fiza, Mission Kashmir, Border, LOC and the latest Faana all forms the long list of such Bollywood potpourris

With the political agenda coloring the Bolywood, the portrayal of the Muslims characters too metamorphosed since nineties. There developed a symbiotic relationship between Kashmir- Pakistan and Muslims. The villain was shown mouthing slogans against India, fighting for the cause of Kashmir. All the henchmen were gun totting bearded guys, wearing salwar-kamiz with a scarf over the shoulders. They were shown with blood shot eyes bursting at the seams with irrational anger. In contrast, the "boss" would be dressed in typical priest attire, a skullcap and a rosary in hand. He would first mouth some Arabic words and then demonstrate his senseless itch to destroy India. In an unflinching commitment to Jehad, he would soberly deliver the punch line; "Jehad Zaroori hai."

In the mad rush to have the cash registers ringing, Bollywood movies started creating imaginary Muslim images to the frightening level. The audience unwittingly was forced to share the overloaded perspective of the filmmaker. If Bollywood movies are to be believed, all Muslims are anti national and their faith was an extremist ideology.

To say that cinema in India is mere escapist entertainment would be a poor understanding of the wonder that's India. It's a staple diet in the country on which every Indian thrives, a passion that has no diminishing returns.

Bollywood might be coming good in reaching out to the world but when it comes to creating Muslims on screen its closed to a dangerous time warp. Cinematic subtleties, community's sensitivity and societal realism are all thrown overboard. What quickly lapped up is, dirty stereotypes and reckless cliche while sketching Muslim characters.

According to Bollywood movies that are currently made, Indian Muslim doesn't go to office, they don't smile and their career graph does not follow the usual arch of human endeavor. Such factious images of Muslims inadvertently have started sounding real in the contemporary life. Before such blinkered vision could sync into the people's mindset, this dangerous development needs to be checked. More movies should be made with Muslim characters that are positive in their narration. This would not only instill confidence in the Muslim community but also take the entire nation on the path of peace and harmony.

If Hindi cinema means wholesome entertainment, it has to break away from its cliche presentations of Muslims on screen. Indian Muslims are normal human beings. They attend office, listen to music, drink coffee, read newspapers, laugh and cut jokes. They are reasoning thinking achieving and even failing human being. They are much part of the mainstream Indian society as anyone else. Their religious identity is only a part of their consciousness that others come across only by their names. Their aspirations are the same as any average Indian.

A middle class Muslim family wants to have his own dream house, marry off their daughter to a nice loving family, give highest education to the son, so that he immediately finds a job and support them in their old age. These are the Indian family values, which are common to all irrespective of religious leanings. And it's around these vales that Bollywood cast its magical spells, selling dreams, aspirations to the teeming millions and in the process making pots of money.

However Bollywood seems to have limitations on churning out a few slick films with Muslim as its central characters that has all the trappings of a blockbuster. The reasoning is even though Muslim identity remains paramount in Indian cinema, no one likes to disturb the apple cart of set formulas that Bollywood mindlessly follow while making movies. The political and social context of the country too makes such idea a risky proposition to sell.

What ever may be the limitations for the Bollywood to cast Muslims as its central character, the fact remains that the day, the King Khans Indian cinema would give blockbusters like Dil wale Dulhaniya Le Jaenge, or Aap Ke Hain Kuan not as "Raj","Vijay" or "Ajay" but as Shahrukh, Aamir or Salman, Bollywood that day may come to an age!

[photos credits: Bollywood poster by Jerry; woman in burqa by Trishan Panch]

India Grappling with Million Mutinies now

By Syed Ali Mujtaba

How safe are Indians in India is a pet subject of discussion all over the country. There is a total unanimity that the fear and insecurity looms large on every one’s psyche, and each one is vulnerable to any unsavory incident waiting to happen, no mater where one is living in the country.

These fears are not unfounded, as India remains a theater of million mutinies now. The U.S. National Counter Terrorism Center says that India was the site of more than 12 percent of all terrorists attacks worldwide in 2005. It is home to more terrorism-related fatalities than any other nation except Iraq.

There is little doubt that internal security is a major concern of every Indian. There are basically four flash points that are cause of major security concerns. They are problems in the northeast, J&K issue, leftist violence and communal riots. However, the government of the day instead of find a lasting solution of them prefer to absorb its shocks without caring that each day India continues bleed because them.

Northeast region in ferment

The seven northeastern states separated by the ‘chicken’s neck,’ with rest of India have been in ferment for over half a century now. The area is prone to tribal friction and home to number of religious and cultural conflicts. Successive governments have treated this region with utter neglect. The problem gets compounded because the region is wedged between Bangladesh, Bhutan, China and Myanmar. The shifting demography too has its bearing on the region. Their cumulative effect gives rise to rebel groups whose demand range from autonomy to independence.

The ‘Delhi Durbar’ treats the problems in the northeast as a regional bushfire. There is massive deployment of the Indian army, para-military forces besides state police in each of the seven states. The security forces regularly trouble the common people suspecting them having links with the ultras. The militant groups also regularly harass the common man through extortions and kidnappings. There is a parallel administration in every state and the popular perception is while India reins in the day, the militants’ rule in the night.

Even though there seem to be no end to the bloodletting in the northeast region of India, hopes are being built on having soft borders with Myanmar and China. It’s said that this would connect the northeast region with the Southeast Asia and bring peace and prosperity to the region. For the people of northeast region, it’s like ‘Waiting for Goddard.’

Jammu and Kashmir on boil

Jammu and Kashmir has been the focal point of a territorial dispute involving India and Pakistan dating back to 1947. New Delhi has been grappling with this problem with little success. It has neither able to wean away the people of the state to obey its rule, nor it has effectively checked Pakistan’s extensive support networks in its administered areas.

Since the late 1980s, the state has become infested with a number of militant groups that seeks the region’s independence from India. New Delhi accuses Islamabad of using these insurgent groups to wage a proxy war in its territory.

In this tug of war between India and Pakistan the people of Jammu and Kashmir are the main suffers. Their life, liberty and dignity are constantly put on stake. They are most prone to become victims of the militancy related activity happening on daily basis in the state. Off late, the people in other parts of the country are also feeling the heat of the Kashmir problem. This is especially since the ultras have started hitting at the soft targets deep inside India. According to an estimate, nearly two-thirds of all terrorists’ related fatalities that occur in India are related to groups espousing the cause of Kashmir.

All this does not move those sitting in the mandarin of power in New Delhi. Keeping countrymen permanently insecure and let India internally bleed seems to be better option for the ‘Delhi Durbar.’

Peoples War is on

The problem posed by the ultra left or the revolutionary communists is another major issue that is disturbing the internal security arrangements in India. There are ten states infested by the ultra left violence. The leftist have a perceptible influence over large areas in some of the states where they run "people's courts," prosecute individuals deemed as "class enemies" or "caste oppressors."

Human Rights Watch estimates some 10,000-armed militias are members of the left ultra organizations. The U.S. State Department report says that ultra left terror activity "is growing in sophistication and lethality and may pose a significant long-term challenge to the Indian government."

The left problem is essentially rooted in the underdevelopment and linked to agrarian issues of the country. The government refuses to go deep into the problem and handle this issue in a holistic manner. It only comes up with some tokenism like land reforms, developmental activities, help organizing vigilante groups to oppose the leftist guirellas, but all this seems to have little impact on the ground. The ultra left violence is making the internal security situation of the country to become grim each day. India as a result continues to be wounded every now and then.

Communal bloodletting continues

Hindu Muslim communal riots are a regular feature in independent India. The communal riots are the result of deep-rooted indoctrination of mind nurtured by the political and religious leadership to manipulate the ballet box democracy. The entire society has been fed upon the staple diet of animosity where communities are forced to see themselves in terms of imagined identities of “we and they.� The feudal nature of Indian society coupled with cutthroat competition in every sphere of activity also adds fuel to the fire.

The government of the day remains immune to look deep into this issue. Even sixty years after independence the government is unable to plug the sources that foments religious trouble. There is hardly any effort being made to strengthen the citizenship rights. Practically there is nothing done to deter those indulging in communal violence. There is no secular platform in India on which communities could interact freely and address each other’s concerns. Since the communalists are above law, they continue to preach hate and organize communal orgy in the country. The repeated outburst of the communal riots is one of the major reasons of the internal security concerns in the country.

Triggers of Terrorism

The failure of the government to address the above four major issues is prime cause of the deteriorating internal security in India. Centered on these four issues, there are scores of rebel groups operating in the country.

There are not less than 30 odd rebel groups in the northeast espousing the separatist agenda. In an attempt to bend the government to accept their demands the militants are targeting the civilians and damaging the infrastructure of the region. So far more than 50,000 lives have been lost in this carnival of rebellion that is on since 1947 in the northeast of India.

The story of Jammu and Kashmir is no different where several militant groups are up in arms against India. The Indian security agencies are equally determined not to give them a free run. In this cross fire between militants’ and security forces, the innocent’s blood is being shed each day in Kashmir. The direct fall out of the terrorist’s menace related to Kashmir has now come to affect the lives of people in other parts of the country. No one knows in this country when this problem will come to an end.

The ultra left violence is the handiwork of the Communist Party of India(Maoist) that was formed in 2004 after the merger of the Maoist Communist Centre, Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist) and Peoples War Group. The ultra left violence so far has claimed umpteen numbers of lives in the country. People living in rural areas are totally unsafe due this ongoing ‘Peoples War.’ The internal security of the country is in disarray due to this armed rebellion.

In a multi cultural and religious society like India, the right wing Hindu organizations collectively called “Sangh Privar� that strives to establish the supremacy of Hindu religion and subservience of other religious groups is the main the fountainhead of the Hindu Muslim problem in the country. The government is unable to muster enough courage to pass hate laws to check their activities due to the Hindu backlash. On the other hand, Muslims constantly hit by the communal politics particularly since 1990s are forced to choose between counting their dead or to organize a revenge squad to silence this trend. There are reports of one or two organizations of misguided Muslim youth advocating violence may have sprung up in the country and if corrective measures are not taken to check the communal divide, the strains on internal security would be farfetched.

Conclusion

In the ongoing debate over the handling of the internal security the general consensus is that Indians have a higher level of tolerance than any country in the world with respect to the violence that’s germinated within the country.

The security agencies in their limited role are performing their duties well but their old institutions are incapable to cope up with the new pressures. The magnitude of the problem is far beyond their realm activity and they really cannot be blamed for the country’s ills.

The politicians are the real villains of the deteriorating internal security situation because due to fear of angering their constituencies or to placate them, they turn a blind eye to such nefarious activities.

Its no secret that the “Delhi Durbar� has been using the agencies and arms of the state to run rival gangs that would be tasked with killing other insurgents, but in the process would also kill innocent people as well. Such tactics have been effective in the past and continued to be practiced till this date with impunity.

There is little doubt that the democracy allows the right to dissent but at the same time it is unable to find a way to accommodate them in the broader framework of one country. Indian state has to get out of its mindset of the custodians of the state power and look at the problem from below. The narrow and rigid nationalistic attitude has done little good to the country.

Finally even as the “Delhi durbar� continues to remain engaged in perpetual shadow boxing, tackling its mutinies now, many more seems to be seething below the surface. The tale of ‘million mutinies now,’ thus remains unending in India.