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Khushboo of Gulzar
Poet,
script writer, lyricist. Film director Gulzar, aka Sampuran
Singh, is one of the most versatile artistes to leave his mark
on cinema as well as literature. Winner of five National
Awards and 17 Filmfare trophies besides the Sahitya Akademi
Award and the Padma Bhushan, he opens up in an exclusive
interview with V. Gangadhar
 Inside
‘Boskyana’, Gulzar’s bungalow at Pali Hill, a Mumbai
suburb, the two dogs, ‘Pali’ the big bulldog, and
‘Kalia’ the smaller one, were friendly and frolicsome.
Gulzar’s daughter Meghna had dropped in for a late lunch,
and Gulzar himself, appeared in his book-lined study munching
some snacks. "Like most Punjabis, I do not have a regular
lunch," he explained. "But something to munch is
always welcome." For more than two hours, spread over two
sessions, we sat in the study and sipping lemon-flavoured tea,
talked about politics, Indo-Pak relations, cinema, Mumbai and
life in general.
There seems
to be a feeling of overwhelming friendship for the Pakistani
visitors at Chandigarh and the rest of Punjab.
This is a joyous
moment. These feelings had been there always but now they are
out. I am very happy that people have opened their homes to
their friends from across the border, restaurants are offering
free food and snacks to them and beauty parlours are providing
free service. Close ties between different communities had
existed before Partition and that are being renewed now.
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The poet then and now
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Have the
wounds of Partition finally healed?
The hatred and
madness were brought about by politicians. No one thought
there would be so much of uprooting of families. When this
happened, all the madness began. In 1905, the British
partitioned Bengal but the bond could not be broken. The
Partition of 1947 was the rape of the nation but people from
both sides longed to see their former homes. Cricket has given
them this opportunity. Visitors from Pakistan must be allowed
to travel all over India. It were the politicians from both
sides who closed the gates, not the people. Despite many wars,
history does not teach hatred for any nation. Remember the
words of Jonathan Swift, Burn everything that comes from
England except its coal and people.
Strange that
those left untouched by Partition, like the Shiv Sena, should
protest against any contacts with Pakistan?
Such groups in
both the nations organise protests to draw political mileage,
incite people on religious issues to whip up fear psychosis.
People on both sides of Punjab speak the same language, eat
the same food, follow the same culture. Though politicians
have tried to be spoilsports, we can’t prevent cultural
exchanges.
I have heard so
many Pakistani friends say, ‘We came to India to watch your
films’. Mohanjedaro belonged to both India and Pakistan. Do
you know that Pakistan has a film magazine similar to our Stardust?
Pakistan historian Rashid Malik recently pointed out that
though Gautam Buddha was born in Nepal, his influence spread
far and wide. Similarly, Sikhism may be a part of India, but
Guru Nanak belongs to the entire humanity.
When Manmohan
Singh became the PM, it was stated that the Sikhs will finally
forgive the Congress for Operation Bluestar and the massacre
after the assassination of Indira Gandhi.
The President or
the Prime Minister belonging to a minority community really
does not solve national problems. Every political party tries
to exploit the minority card. Forgiveness should happen on its
own, not because X or Y becomes the national leader. Punjabis
are large-hearted, emotional people; they get hurt easily and
also forgive easily.
Forgiveness of
the Congress is left to the people. It is not easy to forgive
or forget an occasion when thousands were killed only because
of their religion, No politics was involved here. But
forgiveness is part of history. Yet, history takes note of
such happenings. From the 1970s, the minorities have lived
under the shadow of fear psychosis. There cannot be real
secularism under such circumstances. |
