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Shah Rukh Khan,
one of the best known actors from Bollywood was detained for
questioning in Newark airport in US (15th August). The actor who is
a global icon of sorts was grilled by the US official as his name is
a Muslim one, and the legendary actor felt humiliated with the
treatment meted out to him.
While the star
actor was being questioned in this manner the Jet Airways staff
vouched for him and many of his international fans were seeking his
autographs, but the US official, drunk on the Imperial arrogance and
infected by anti Muslim sentiments refused to recognize Khan. That
any Google search on his name would have yielded infinite entries to
establish his identity, is an elementary knowledge by now.
Just a few weeks
ago, India’s ex-President, the scientist of repute, APJ Abdul Kalam
was treated like a commoner by the US based Airlines staff. Irrfan
Khan was also meted with similar treatment. Other actors, with non
Muslim names, have also been given such humiliating treatment by US
officials but the logic in these cases is different, Neil Nitin
Mukesh for having a skin color fairer then his Hindu name and John
Abram for having Afghanistan on his passport. In addition the senior
ministers from India George Fernandez and Pranab Mukherjee have also
been strip searched in the past.
Most of the channels and many eminent
columnists criticized Shahrukh Khan and those voicing their protest
on the grounds that it is these security checks which have saved US
from another terrorist attack post 9/11 2001. The desirability or
other wise of these checks apart, there are two basic questions. One
is that can those having diplomatic passports and those listed in
India’s list of people exempt from such checks be subjected to these
ordeals? Secondly why secondary checks are more for those with
Muslim names? These commentators realization of the tasks of US
security officials notwithstanding the questions remain the double
standards of the security check system.
While the major phenomenon visible
here is that of US officials have imbibed the anti Islam and anti
Muslim propaganda, post 9/11 2001, the additional factor is the
inherent arrogance and superiority complex of this Imperial power
since US emerged as the sole super power, after the decline of
Soviet block in international political arena. The treatment which
US officials are giving to Indian dignitaries and celebrities is in
stark contrast to the treatment which Indian administration and
people are giving to the US dignitaries. The visit of Hillary
Clinton just a month ago demonstrates the reality. The US Secretary
of State was not only given a red carpet welcome, Indian media also
went gaga about her, starting from describing her smart dresses to
the details of her smile at different occasions.
The twin phenomenon of US arrogance as
a superpower dictating terms to the whole World and its targeting of
Islam and Muslims for political goals have got mixed up here. The
global democracy which was trying to come up during the middle of
twentieth century has really got a set back during last three
decades, and despite the humane instincts of Barack Hussein Obama,
American system remains as high handed as before. One appreciates
the steps of new American President in closing down Guantonamo bay
and the subsequent stoppage of the intense torture and insult of
accused of 9/11, especially Muslim youth. Despite that it seems the
ground level reality of US has not changed much and Islamophobia is
still ruling the policies, mindset and attitude of the US system as
a whole.
It is after 9/11 2001, the collapse of
WTC, and the accompanying statements of Osama bin Laden, which gave
the pretext of launching a propaganda against Islam and Muslims. It
was at that time that the word Islamic Terrorism was coined and the
distorted version of core words, Jihad and Kafir were strongly
popularized in the popular thinking. In a way it manufactured a
hatred for Muslims and Islam. While Jihad stands for fighting
against injustice, it was presented as killing of non Muslims. While
Kafir is a concept totally invalid in current times, it was put
across as denigrating non Muslims. The net result was that in the
global thinking it came to be regarded that all Muslims are not
terrorists, while all terrorists are Muslims. The US officials in
general and immigration officials in particular stiffened their
attitude towards Muslim immigrants to US. Globally also,
particularly in our country the trend began where after every blast
here and there scores of Muslim youth were apprehended and tortured,
and at most of the times their careers were ruined.
The Pakistani film ‘Khuda Ke Liye’
depicted the life of an average Muslims whom US officials suspect to
be a terrorist and the outcome of this can be well predicted. Indian
film ‘New York’ also puts forward the cruelty of the attitude of US
officials. In Indian context films like ‘Black and White’ and
‘Mumbai Meri Jaan’ depicted this sad reality of our society. Many a
good articles and literature has also been produced by scholars,
which gives us the real story, but despite all this the propaganda
by section of US media and the vested organizations in India against
Islam and Muslims continues.
The phenomenon of terrorism is very
complex. One core point is to understand the genesis of Al Qaeda
type organizations, which were the product of indoctrination in the
Madrassas, set up in Pakistan. The syllabus and financial support of
these came through CIA; the aim was to instigate indoctrinated
Muslim youth to fight against the Russian armies who had occupied
Afghanistan. Lately this truth is being said by Pakistani leader’s
time and over again. In India the rising communal violence and acts
of terrorism because of diverse factors, have been used to present
the minorities in a negative light.
We in India can feel hurt, insulted
and angry to what is being meted out to Indian celebrities and
leaders. It is in a way the attitude of US to humiliate ‘others’, to
assert its superiority and hegemony. The commentators criticizing
the protest against treatment being meted out to the likes of Shah
Rukh Khan and Indian dignitaries have to realize that it is not just
to uphold the differential status but to protest against the
highhanded attitude of United States. The time has come to revive
the global democratic equations where the hegemony of one country is
not acceptable and people of all countries and religions are treated
with equal respect.
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