The
less we know, the easier it is to assume our identity. It is much easier to perceive ourselves as
Indian or Pakistani or Hindu or Muslim than to understand the complex range of
crucibles and forges which gave shape to most people’s identities on the planet
called the earth. The more we know, the
more ridiculous re-conversions and identity arrogations become.
Who
was an Indian before India became an independent republic? How did the Indian become a Hindu, a Muslim, a
Sikh, or whatever? What about the
increasing number of agnostics and atheists in the country? What about other identities which may be more
important to certain individuals such as feminists, environmentalists, or even Maoists?
If
I travel back in time and see the entire history of my ancestors, what will my
identity be? Will I see myself as a
person whose helpless ancestor was forced to convert (or re-convert) to some
religion by an emperor or his/her given situation?
Why
should any one particular religion be the
religion of a country when even its staple foods may have their origins in some
alien soil?
Take
potato, for example. India’s ubiquitous aloo which is an inevitable presence in
most Indian foods ranging from the aloo paratha to the masala dosa, from the
simple samosa to the snobbish cutlet.
Just six hundred years ago, potato was unheard of in India.
The
potato, just like tomato – another common food item in our country today,
originated in South America and was brought to Europe by Spanish
conquerors. K T Acharya, food historian,
estimates that tomatoes were adopted by Indian cooking only as late as 1880s,
if not later. Potatoes were grown in
India around the time of Akbar’s reign, but were seen as culinary novelties even
a century-and-a-half later, according to the British records.
Should
we ask potatoes and tomatoes to leave India since they were not originally
Indian? Or should we convert them into
Indianness? Should we apply some genetic
engineering and produce Hindu potatoes and Hindu tomatoes?
Centuries
ago people came to India for trade and other purposes. They brought their culture as well as various
goods. Some of them brought their
religions too. A few of them married the
women of the country and settled down in what is today India. There is Greek blood and Arab blood in the
Indian veins. There is a whole range of
European influence in the country’s history and culture. Can we just them wish them all away? How much re-conversion will we pretend to
carry out?
I
dream of a time when people rise above narrow identities and dividing lines and
perceive themselves as inhabitants of the planet called the earth.
PS. Thanks to Sidin Vadukut whose book, The Sceptical Patriot, threw in me the spark for this post.
I had a colleague who mentioned that his forefathers move to India about 1000 years ago from xyz country. I told him he is wrong, his forefathers moved to Earth from Ocean a few billion years ago... :) Beat that :)
ReplyDeleteThe advaita of our Upanishads also teaches us the same thing: non-dualism. But we now choose what's politically convenient
DeleteOh, How can you write about potato? I love potato, I hope they don't read your post and decide to banish potato from India. Or worse, convert it into something inedible. :P
ReplyDeleteEarlier, I used to think nationalism is a virtue. Now, I'm not sure I about it.
I was in love with potatoes from the time I was a child so much so that they used to give me all the potatoes in the chicken stew :)
Delete