Known as the Renaissance man by Bengal’s intellectuals, Soumitra Chatterjee’s legacy extends beyond his acting career. With a lifelong commitment to Marxist and Communist politics, he was an outspoken critic of the Hindutva forces, and lamented the erosion of secular, diverse cultural fabric of the country. His last signed letter, which he wrote for the Ganashakti’s Durga Puja edition, is a testimony to how he remained vocal about his politics, and against the hate and violence propagated by the Hindu-right.
Following are excerpts from an edited translation of the Bangla original which appeared in 2020 Durga Puja edition of Ganashakti.
The world we knew
I often think of my childhood friend Benu these days. In these troubled times, his face returns to me, floating before my eyes. We lived in the same neighbourhood in Krishnanagar. Benu – Benu Rahman – was my Fazlukaka’s son. Benu was more Hindu than Hindus. I would get irritated because he followed so many of those rules and rituals. And he would say to me, “Pulu, you should follow some of these,” but I would scold him.
I also think about Rupchand jethu (Rupchand Tapadar). I didn’t meet him when I went home for the pujo vacation. What a scolding I got when he found out!! Rupchand jethu was a Christian.
That was the world we knew.
What is this darkness in the country I know? And will it ever be able to come out of this darkness? I do not know if I will ever see, once again, the country I knew.
When elders visited our home, I would touch their feet. It made no difference whether they were Hindus or Muslims or Christians. Yes, I had heard the word ‘communalism’ as a child, but it didn’t really make an impression on my mind. Why? The situation, the environment for the word to be significant was not there. The riots of ’46 had no effect in any part of Nadiya. Not in Krishnanagar either. But now? I truly feel despondent about where we are now. What is this darkness in the country I know? And will it ever be able to come out of this darkness? I do not know if I will ever see, once again, the country I knew.
On Ram Mandir, Babri Masjid, and the Saffronisation of politics
I am surprised that the man who was in power in Gujarat during the horrific riots of 2002 is now the man on the throne of India. The people of India are tolerating him and his party.
I am surprised that the man who was in power in Gujarat during the horrific riots of 2002 is now the man on the throne of India. The people of India are tolerating him and his party. They are being re-elected. Perhaps people can’t see a powerful alternative. Or they are unable to understand the toxic nature of this politics.
During this pandemic, many people are getting infected, so many are dying. In a word, this is intolerable. But politics in the name of Rama continues in the midst of all this.
The funny thing is, since childhood, we all know the Rama in whose name they want to build a temple. For hundreds and thousands of years, Rama has lived in a space of love and inspiration. Tell me, the Rama who went to live in the forest to carry out the promise made by his father – would he live in a grand temple? Of course, carrying out his father’s words, living in the forest – these are only stories. But our values are shaped by them. They become the symbols of our values. But where are these values now? We are actually letting go of our culture.
During this pandemic, many people are getting infected, so many are dying. In a word, this is intolerable. But politics in the name of Rama continues in the midst of all this.
The funny thing is, since childhood, we all know the Rama in whose name they want to build a temple. For hundreds and thousands of years, Rama has lived in a space of love and inspiration. Tell me, the Rama who went to live in the forest to carry out the promise made by his father – would he live in a grand temple? Of course, carrying out his father’s words, living in the forest – these are only stories. But our values are shaped by them. They become the symbols of our values. But where are these values now? We are actually letting go of our culture.
If anyone can be an alternative, it is the Left.
If anyone can be an alternative, it is the Left. But where is their steadfastness? Are they inspiring belief in people’s hearts? When I face these questions, I feel despondent. I don’t know where this country is going to end up. The Right is gaining in strength all across the world. We see many forms of injustice – which cannot take place unless the authorities keep their eyes shut. My question is – how do we change this?
Religion has some sort of an influence over all sections of people in all countries. But religious fundamentalism is high in India, Pakistan, and Saudi Arabia. It is very difficult to explain to someone from Saudi Arabia that being a Muslim isn’t all there is to life. In India too, only a few people can understand what secularism is. Most of them don’t want to understand. Because Rama holds a position of sentiment and love for everyone, the Hindutva forces use him for their communal agenda. They think that no one will object if Rama is used for political purposes. Because the majority thinks that Rama is our own. In 1992, the demolition of the Babri Masjid took place in an organised manner. Where were the political parties who could stop them? I will keep asking this question. Words are not enough. Are they able to bring people together under their flag?
In our country today, we have gau-sevak and gau-rakhshak. We hear that the cure for Covid is cow urine, or that the virus will disappear if we bang plates and light candles. And then we hear claims that India is a great and powerful nation!
We were provided with the real image of India in our school textbooks. Many draw parallels between contemporary India and Hitler’s Germany. But I can never make such a comparison. At least Germany was an industrialised nation while we are ruled by businessmen. How can there be a comparison? They needed to conquer the world so that they could sell their wares. But their actions were so abhorrent that the people of the world rejected them. In our country today, we have gau-sevak and gau-rakhshak. We hear that the cure for Covid is cow urine, or that the virus will disappear if we bang plates and light candles. And then we hear claims that India is a great and powerful nation!
…
I can’t express in words the anger I feel when I see the drama about eating beef. Where else can you get such high protein for such low prices? People around the world eat beef. Most important, who is anyone to decide what others can and cannot eat? A Hindu might object to eating beef.
religion and politics are being cleverly mixed to produce fundamentalism
But why should that objection be imposed on someone else? Dictating other people’s food habits – is this the level to which we have descended. Muslims are being murdered in the name of eating beef. We have not seen this before in India – we saw India at a time when even our school textbooks told us what this nation is built on.
In conclusion, I want to say that religion and politics are being cleverly mixed to produce fundamentalism. Who loves Rama and who loves Rahim should not even be an issue. Again, this is why I feel that only the Left can be an alternative to all this.
