ग़ालिब को भारत रत्न देने को लेकर जस्टिस काटजू और करन थापर के बीच पत्राचार

: क्रिकेटरों और फिल्म स्टारों को भारत रत्न देने जैसी मांग करने वाले लोग घटिया सांस्कृतिक चेतना वाले हैं- जस्टिस काटजू :  पहला पत्र करना थापर द्वारा जस्टिस काटजू को और दूसरा पत्र जस्टिस काटजू द्वारा करन थापर को जवाब…. : Hi Justice Katju, I am all for supporting urdu and never – and, indeed, have never – insulted my culture but my point was about posthumous awards and not urdu. I think there are better and more effective ways of honouring and encouraging urdu than giving a Bharat Ratna to Ghalib. It's like giving one to Gandhi, Tagore or even, dare I say it, Lord Rama. Anyway, how are you? I hope you're well and enjoying the cold?
         
Warm regards,
Karan Thapar

Dear Karan

Mirza Ghalib no doubt died over a century ago, but your culture, of which Urdu is a vital part (whether you are aware of it or not) is still alive. And Ghalib is one of  the foremost representatives of that culture. Perhaps if you had some idea of Urdu, and particularly of Ghalib, you would not have made that remark which you made. You had told me that your ancestors were very proficient in Urdu. Punjabis have been some of the most proficient persons in Urdu. May I suggest that you go on the website kgfindia.co and read my articles 'What is Urdu ' and 'Great injustice to Urdu in India '. Perhaps after reading them you may change your view. And never insult your culture.

What is wrong in a posthumous award ? Ghalib is a modern figure, not a legendary figure like Lord Rama. Also his thoughts were surprisingly modern. People are talking of giving Bharat Ratna to cricketers and film stars. This is the low cultural level to which we have descended. We ignore our real heroes, and hail superficial ones.

In a recent function in Kolkata I had appealed for Bharat Ratna to the great Bengali writer Sharat Candra Chattopadhyaya, who in his novels  Shrikant, Shesh Prashna, Charitraheen , Devdas, Brahman ki Beti, Gramin Samaj, etc made a full blooded attack on the caste system and women's oppression. How many people have read Ghalib and Sharat Chandra ?

I regret to say that the present generation has been thoroughly deculturized, and all they care for is money, cricket, filmstars, etc. This is the low level to which we have sunk. And when I protest against this I am painted as an eccentric or crazy person

Regards
Justice Katju

कुछ और पत्र… एक सईद नकवी को जस्टिस काटजू का पत्र और दूसरा जस्टिस काटजू को डा. असगर अली इंजीनियर का पत्र

Dear Saeed Naqui Bhai,

As discussed with you, I would like all Urdu lovers to appeal to the Prime Minister to recommend Bharat Ratna for Mirza Ghalib. I had made this appeal in the Mushaira organized by Jashn-Bahaar, and my appeal had been endorsed by prominent persons in the audience like Smt. Meira Kumar, Speaker of the Lok Sabha, Mr. Salman Khurshid, Honble Minister, Mr. Qureishi, Chief Election Officer, and others.

Bharat Ratna will be given on Republic Day, and in my opinion there is no fitter person to whom the award can be given than Mirza Ghalib, who is one of the foremost figures representing our composite culture.

By awarding Bharat Ratna to Mirza Ghalib we will not be honouring Ghalib but ourselves.

I may mention that Bharat Ratna has been awarded posthumously to several persons in the past

Regards
Justice Katju

xxx

Dear Justice Katju,

Bharat Ratna for Mirza Ghalib is a great idea. We must submit a petition signed by prominent people to the Prime Minsiter. Ghalib is a proud heritage of secular India.

Best wishes,

Dr. Asghar Ali Engineer
R.L. Laureate (Alternative Nobel Prize)
 
Chairman
Centre for Study of Society and Secularism