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Salman Rushdie is a British writer who was born in India. He is a world famous modern English writer. His novel “Midnight’s Children” had revolutionized the world of English literature. However, one of his books, “Santatic Verses,” is considered blasphemous by the Muslims across the world. For his views, which have been bravely expressed in this book, Rushdie had to face hard criticism and a fatwa to his life. Following this, many Muslim countries had banned his entry. But all this happened a long time ago. However, the incident did not die a natural death and people’s; especially, mullahs’ minds are filled with hatred for Rushdie. This was recently exhibited in Agra City, where a few mullahs protested against Rushdie who had gone there to see and admire the world-famous Taj Mahal. They demanded the administration to send him back from where he had come. This incident is rather ironical in many ways and brings shame to the so-called secular Indian society. First, Rushdie was protested against visiting a beautiful monument, which was built by an open-minded, culture-loving and great Mogul Emperor, Shah Jahan. In his times, Shah Jahan had promoted the Mogul culture, which is basically a fine amalgamation of the preexisting Hindu culture and the Persian culture, which Moguls had brought. Apart from his buildings, Shah Jahan is also known for promoting good books. He had patronized world famous writers in his Court. He promoted the writing of many religious and non-religious, which are basically books of poetry and drama, books. He continued the recording of official Mogul history. He took personal interest in carrying out the works of translation of famous Hindu books such as Vedas and Puranas, which have been actually written in Sanskrit and Hindi, into Persian, Urdu and Arabic languages. He praised both Hindu and Muslim writers of his times. However, when today’s so-called mullahs condemn Rushdie’s visit to this world-famous monument, does it not come out of this protest that they have not at all understood the great Emperor’s mentality and deeds? It could be a topic of research that how can they stop anyone, leave behind Rushdie, from visiting this monument as its builder had secular thoughts and the Government of India has kept it open for all against an entry ticket. Their protest is a hollow symbol of their weak hold over the facts, historical as well as current. They are rather sheep, who are brought to a place by the sheepherder to eat the grass, as in eating the grass they do not apply their thoughts and judgment. Similarly, mullahs have forgotten to distinguish what is right and what is wrong. The mullahs have lost the power of judgment. They did not even think of what the Indian Constitution says regarding the freedom of expression, which is a fundamental right of every citizen and this also holds true to whosoever visits our country. When we as a society claim that Rushdie’s roots lay deep in our country and when we claim our share of pride in the awards and accolades that he has won until date, does it not become our responsibility to back him in facing the fire of protest from all over the world? Whatever views he had in past regarding a particular matter, and whatever many governments of the world countries may have done in this regard, in our country, this does not become a case strong enough to prevent him from visiting the monument, the Taj Mahal or any other in that case. Therefore, mullahs’ protest has put them in weak position and does not hold good for them as well as the country. In today’s situation, it is a prerequisite that we should give ourselves and others space and room to express own thoughts and get out of one another’s way and let ourselves also have a silently admiring look at this symbol of love, i.e. the Taj Mahal.
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