Why troll for a Lord Krishna painting with 'Eid moon' — and a show of harmony?
This Ramzan saw many different types of iftars. They were all aimed at promoting unity, harmony and spreading the message of the spirit the holy month stands for — of peace, goodwill, purging impurities within ourselves and, above all, sharing and caring. We organised and attended interfaith iftars or distributed food outside hospitals, shelters and old-age homes.
Social media was full of photographs of such events held across India — from Delhi to Lucknow, to Hyderabad, to Bihar, to several other cities.
War over metaphors
On June 10, an iftar was organised at a scenic rooftop restaurant in Shahjahanabad (Old Delhi) overlooking the historic Jama Masjid — a fast for Muslim unity. This was in response to an alleged fatwa that Sunnis (a Muslim sect) should not break their fast with Shias (the other major Muslim sect).
The fatwa, like many others before it, turned out to be fake. It was a product of social media mischief but the organisers of the iftar for Muslim unity decided to go ahead with it anyway as it was a great way to not only meet but also promote unity and harmony.
I too was present at the iftar bright and early because unity and harmony are close to my heart. Just like many others from all walks of life, myriad sects and religions, I had been invited there and asked to speak.
And we all spoke from our convictions and experiences. So while I spoke of the need for Hindu-Muslim, Shia-Sunni unity and social and gender equality, writer Damini Yadav recounted a story told to her by her father — which I tweeted out:
This was on June 15, the day before Eid, and it seemed as if I had put my hand right into a hornet’s nest. The kind of abuse that had been let loose was unprecedented.
On Monday, June 18, journalist and anchor Arfa Khanum who, too, had attended the iftar, posted a reply on her friend Damini’s behalf. She said that these are idioms and metaphors used to describe situations and experiences and have always been in use, so there was no need for Twitterati to get agitated.
She used the example of a much quoted Hadith of the Prophet which says that even if you have to travel to China to gain knowledge, you must do it. It doesn’t mean that people would indeed start running off to China — it is just a metaphor for striving in the pursuit of knowledge.
According to her, idioms, metaphors, similies, sayings et al add to the beauty of the language. But beauty can’t be seen or appreciated by those who are full of negativity.
As I was talking to her, she said, “Kuchh logo’n ki fitrat hoti hai kiap unhe oongli se chand dikhaane ki koshish kijiye to ve aapki oongli par hi atak kar rah jaate hain. Wo bhi is shikayet ke saath ki aapne humein oongli ki kaise!”
“It is in the nature of some to complain - if you try to show them the moon by pointing a finger at it - how dare you show me your finger! They are stuck at your finger."
This immediately brings to mind the social media furore over a painting captioned “Krishna shows the Eid Moon to Muslim companions”.
I had first come across this work of art in 2014, when Dipanker Deb had asked me to write the foreword for his book, Muslim Devotees of Lord Krsna.
A year later, on Eid, I found the painting on Pinterest and shared it. As can be seen from the replies, I had then received congratulatory messages like “Eid Mubarak”, among other festive greetings.
I posted it in 2016 and 2017 too, and received the usual festive responses.
This year, the image was posted by many as Prof Harbans Mukhia shared it on his Facebook page on June 15 with a heartwarming message:
"Wishing everyone lots of cheer on this day of Eid.
The accompanying reproduction of an 18th century Rajasthan miniature depicting Lord Krishna and his brother Balram sighting the Eid moon and pointing it out to a group of Muslim men and women.
Is this the India we have lost? Well, lately India has started reasserting itself in defiance of the assaults on it. Hope lives.
Let Eid give strength to this hope."
Many of his online followers shared it with messages of their own — all aimed at promoting harmony.
This triggered a storm that I am still trying to get around — with reactions very similar to the analogy used by Damini Yadav.
Since most of my social media feed and articles are based on syncretism and showcasing India’s pluralistic culture, I was the usual suspect and in the eye of the storm. Various anonymous and named Twitter handles set off a volley of abuse, accusing me of malafide intent.
For what? Saying that ours has been a syncretic culture? I have always been a Lord Krishna devotee and share the daily painting made by Keshav on my social media timelines, so for me there was nothing more beautiful than this image.
A friend said, “Even if it’s not 'original', isn't it a great idea?”
I was accused of having an agenda. That I gladly accept as I do have a very clear agenda: of not letting hate rule us and to keep writing of our multicultural, gloriously plural heritage based on my readings and research.
The painting was a subject of great interest and in a conversation on Twitter, writer Hindol Sengupta and I discussed that the very Mughal-like bearded old man (whose appearance led to all the confusion) was probably Nand Lal, the father of Lord Krishna.
It seemed possible to me, so I wondered:
Hindol Sengupta responded politely, saying:
My answer was: “True. Till we don't have a source, it's everyone's theory. Hope we find it before next Eid.”
Fortunately, we have the answer much before the next festive occasion. I found it on the Facebook timeline of writer Jaya Bhattacharji Rose who, in turn, had got it from publisher Indu Chandrashekhar with the caveat, “Please also forward this to other friends who may be sharing the image with wrong details.”
Responding to a question by painter Gulam Mohammed Sheikh, acclaimed art historian BN Goswamy said, “The pointing towards the moon in the sky by #Krishna and Balarama seems to be from an obscure passage, possibly in chapter 28 of the tenth skandha, where Krishna, after rescuing Nanda from Varuna who had seized him and taken him to his dominions, leads him and other kinsmen, using his powers of illusion, to a vision of his domains… There, after the rescue, the text says, Krishna ‘manifested to the cowherds his own realm’ which is beyond the range of tamas… One cannot be certain, however; it is not unlikely that the episode occurs more fully in some other rescension of the Purana and not the one generally in circulation. I have no idea where the present folio is. If it can be located, surely one will find a text on verso, like on other folios of the same series.”
Jaya put it up in a blog post so that it was easier to share.
I immediately tweeted to Sengupta saying that his guess was right:
He then responded, saying:
Later, news website Alt News too did a story quoting my quest for the source of the painting — and its truth.
But abuse, for me, continues to pour in on Twitter.
I am left wondering if these are paid trolls or brainwashed individuals who can’t see beyond their prejudices.
If they are the former, I am glad to have done my bit for employment generation; clearly, their siwain this Eid was definitely on me.
But we should examine where we are headed as a people. When voices are sought to be drowned, when civility has been thrown out of the window, when promotion of communal harmony is seen as a crime, it is time to sit up and introspect.
It is not a healthy sign for a democracy and should worry anyone who loves India.
I have learnt to ignore this abuse and carry on regardless, but it is time for the sensible folk on the social media to speak up against this alarming trend — it is time for the silent majority to speak up.
Not just on social media, but in our homes, offices, clubs, parks and public spaces.
- Bol ki lab aazad hain tere
- Bol zaban ab tak teri hai
- Tera sutwan jism hai tera
- Bol ki jaan ab tak teri hai
- (Speak, for your lips are free;
- Speak, for your tongue is still yours;
- Your body is frail but it is still yours;
- Speak, for you still have life left in you.)
- — Faiz Ahmed Faiz
Also read: Is Lord Krishanji a womaniser? Read Ismat Chughtai's letter