Most people discussing Islam in South Asia these days seem to have the wrong examples. Examples like that sad politician from sadder Uttar Pradesh breaking decades of parliamentary protocol and his own states history of cultural bonhomie between communities to walk out during Vande Mataram in the closing session of parliament. There is another Islam which we from the east are the inheritors of, a Islam we knew, loved and grew up with. The Islam for instance of Bangladeshs Rezwana Chowdhury Bonna, the middle class Muslim girl whose father adored Tagores poetry, and so it was that became one of the greatest singers of Rabindrasangeet in the world - winning not just the Sangeet Samman Puroshkar but also the Ananda Sangeet Puroshkar as the finest Rabindrasangeet singer. Here she leads an international choir in singing Tagores universal prayer song: youtube/watch?v=i97xZxooTFc. This is why we shall never agree that a particular ultra-conservative Arabia-inspired Islam that divides is natural in the subcontinent. That argument goes against everything we have seen and believed in and most importantly loved.
Posted on: Thu, 14 Nov 2013 04:04:13 +0000
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