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The Iftar “Partying”! Firoz Bakht Ahmed
Capital's Iftar parties have fallen into a rut — the president’s and the vice president’s iftars have taken place while Sonia and Shiela Dikshit’s have to be round the corner. There are so many of them that it is difficult to tell as to who was first one to break the ice this year! That Ramzan is the party time is the impression created in most minds when one sees umpteen stalls selling snacks, kebabs, sevaiyans, halim, pakodas etc. Sure, iftar is the time to savour all these delicacies, a rozedar waits impatiently after having abstained from eatables and drinks for the whole day. But there are even bigger iftar stalls selling the political ideology for buying votes for the elections that can erupt any moment! Almost all the political hawks, big and small together, jump in the bandwagon throwing iftar parties trying to portray their special love and affection for the cajoled and beleaguered Muslim community. What is very interesting is that most of the invitees and the invited ones are non-Muslims and the few Muslims who are a part of it, are the ones who never observe fasting. The only ones not left out are those who strictly observe fasting! However, the real fast observing people prefer breaking their fasts at home. Mufti Mukarram Ahmed, Imam of the Shahi Fatehpuri Masjid, Delhi and a pious rozedar, hates the politicization of iftar and points out that more than 90 per cent people at such iftars do not observe fast. Besides, fast is nullified if the iftar material is bought from money on account of bribes and therefore wants that this must stop. Truly, as Ramzan, the ninth month according to the Islamic calendar and happens to be the most pious month as it was during this month that the holy Quran was revealed to the last Prophet, Hazrat Mohammed there is no room in it for lies, hypocrisy and politics. What is hurting is that the iftar tokenism is indulged not only by those who see Muslim minority as a bunch of illiterate and ghettoized electorates who would be pleased with these iftar parties only to be their potential vote-bank! Far more ironic it becomes when one sees these iftar sessions held by those who see the Muslim community as the punching bag. The B.J.P. that leaves no stone unturned in proving that Indian Muslims are anti-national, seek to mellow away the animosity by throwing big designer iftar parties and menus. I remember the iftar at the Hyderabad House by the ex-Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee in 1998 — an occasion that seemed to implore the Muslim community to wash away the Babri Masjid imbroglio and its aftermath. It is believed that these iftar parties had began some time in 1975 after the Turkman Gate riots during the Emergency. Late Inder Mohan, the PUCL activist used to tell me that in order to appease the angry Muslims of Delhi, at the behest of Hemvati Nandan Bahuguna, Late Mrs.Indira Gandhi started these iftar parties. In fact it was from that day onwards that the tradition of iftar diplomacy began. In first of these iftar parties, the people invited included a selective gathering of the foreign ambassadors and diplomats, top politicians, celebrities from the fields of media, sports, film, business etc. In today's iftars we find that tradition has given way to designer decorations and the mian bhais of Delhi's glitterati! The food too has been adapted to various tastes with Punjabi being in the driver's seat – Amritsari fish amidst sheermal and Mutton Qorma. For the culinary challenged, it is time to relish the joys of palate. But, as is perhaps evident from the current trend of political iftars, the translation seems to be snowballing from one iftar party to another. After Congress, every party has arranged political iftars "religiously". Basically roza is a religious ritual and there are certain tenets to be followed as far as roza iftar is concerned. Though no dishes are specified like the ones at the political iftars, the real iftar activity is rather simple as a wholesome meal consisting of kachalu (fruit mixture), pakodas, dates, water etc. Since Islam believes in sharing, it is recommended that iftar be shared with the members of the family, friends and more so with the not so privileged. By indulging in iftar diplomacy, the politicians make a mockery of this otherwise very solemn and dignified rite. In one of the B.J.P. iftar parties last year at Ashok Road, the moment the time of breaking the fast approached, thousands of people (bearded and un-bearded) fell on the eatables and within seconds there was nothing for the poor rozedar (one who fasts). As that wasn't sufficient, to the chagrin of the party president, there was complete lack of civic sense. Once the feasting was over, it appeared that the place was trampled over by animals. Maulana Abdul Hameed Rehmani, the Ahl-e-Hadees scholar, states that iftar is thoroughly a religious and personal activity and that it should not be interfered in a political manner that mocks at iftar. But Maulana Jameel llyasi, president of the All India Imams’ Association, is of the view that such iftars are socially viable as people belonging to various backgrounds warmheartedly feast with each other. At least for meeting certain political ends, these iftars are quite useful. Some years ago, Hyderabad House was booked for HD Deve Gowda's first iftar party as the Prime Minister. Preparations began well in advance as a menu of standard iftar dishes was prepared. But Mr Gowda's men struck down a few non-vegetarian items to include the humble farmer's favourites — sambar, dosa and bisi beli bhat. Some regular iftar buffs eagerly wait for this holy month and the most sought-after iftar invitations for them are of the President, Prime Minister, Defence Minister, Railways Minister, HRD Minister and the Home Minister. Various approaches and resources are found so that an invitation is pocketed. The presence of certain political celebrities becomes the barometer of the popularity of a certain Minister. Besides, for that regular iftar buff, it is the most handy opportunity to score over his opponents that he is a man of connections to be present there. For the last couple of years that iftar session is considered a run away success in the Congress Party where Sonia Gandhi spends more time. Once during the tenure of PV Narasimha Rao as the Prime Minister when Sonia attended the iftar dinner of Arjun Singh for 15 minutes, it was considered a tactical victory for his camp. But their spirits dampened when Sonia spent 30 minutes at the iftar of Mr. Rao. Similar is the case in the BJP. Their iftar success is measured when Atal Behari Vajpayee and Advani attend them. Besides, in Mumbai, Bala Sahib Thackeray commands the same respect in his circles as Sonia in Congress. (The author is a social and political commentator and the grandnephew of Maulana Azad) | |
For
the pious, the month of Ramzan has no room for lies, deceit, hypocrisy
and politics and yet in the name of the pious rozedars, iftars are held
in the national capital to gain some political and social mileage. While
the real fast observing people prefer breaking their fasts with the
humble meal consisting of kachalu (fruit mixture), pakodas, dates, water
etc. the politicians lay lavish tables to sell their political ideology.
