For Like of Ismail Hussain and His Religious Identity, Assamese Hindu festivals Are Like Picnic Party and We Must Be Alarmed

At a time when we are living at an age where some group of people deliberately try to correlate Santan Dharma and its principles with other religious beliefs, the burden to show the secular nature of society is often put only on the shoulder of Hindus. Almost whenever Hindus across India would celebrate their religious festival, there is a vicious attempt from liberals and Islamists to downplay it as a cultural event and then try to get space in those festivals. Whether Islamists believe in the ideals of that particular festival or not, they would purposely try to enter those festivals simply to demonstrate their rosy secular character.

Something similar happened again when Ismail Hussain from Assam, who claims to be a writer (so-called!) on the subject of Assamese culture and its ideals, forcibly entered the historic Bareshahria Bhaona festival to give his performance without informing the organizers. However, his act came under suspicion later, and he was barred from performing in the Bhaona festival. For those who don't know about Bhoana in Assam, let me give you a brief information about this.

Bhaona is a form of entertainment with religious messages and teachings laid by Saint Srimanta Sankardeva. Between 1449-1568, Mahapurush Srimanta Sankardeva wrote several plays having spiritual messages of Sanatan Dharma. These plays are popularly known as Ankiya Nats, and their staging is known as Bhaona. During Bhaona, several people wear different costumes and act as kings, queens, soldiers, and demons. The Bhaona, a form of drama, shows that initially, demonic powers or evil might win, but in the long run, only truth triumphs. The Bhaonas are accompanied by traditional Assamese religious music and dance. Then they typically depict scenes from the life of Sankardeva and the various characters he created in his plays.

But it is pertinent to note here that whatever is done in Bhaona has its religious importance with Sanatan Dharma. Now the critical question here is whether the identity of a person like Ismail Hussain is compatible with Sanatan Dharma? Does his Islamic religious affiliation permit him to acknowledge the ideals of Sanatan Dharma and Srimanta Sankardeva? I don't think it would be difficult for anyone to answer these questions. Ironically soon after Ismail Hussain was caught secretly taking part in the play at the Barasharia Bhaona festival acting as King, a section of Islamists and intellectuals, as usual, tried to label it as a communal act. They again began thumping their chest and screamed that Ismail was thrown out of the event simply because he was Muslim. But the reality is he was debarred from the Bhaona festival not because he was a Muslim but because his intention was different, and that is the reason he secretly bypassed all the protocols and entered the event, maybe to tarnish the image of the Assamese cultural event and get some sort of attention.

We also need to question why every time, Hindus should open up their gates for those whose identity prevails on those religious ideals which are anti-Hindu in nature? Why is it only Hindus who must permit people like Ismail to take part in our festivals, and why can't people like Ismail open up their religious spaces for Hindus to conduct their festivals? On the issue of opening sacred spaces like Mosques for Hindus to use, Ismail and the religion in which he believes have a clear position saying a big no as it is not permitted in their faith. However, the same set of people like Ismail wants to interfere in the religious practices of Hindus to simply their love for secularism which is a kind of hypocrisy. The answer is yes for some people who say Hinduism is tolerant and inclusive, but it is not inclusive for those who wear the exclusive identity. Suppose people like Ismail really love and believe in Srimanta Sankardeva and his teachings on Santan Dharma. In that case, they should first leave their exclusionist identity and come to the fold of Sanatan Dharma. You can't associate your identity with religious beliefs that clearly denounce everything that Sanatan Dharma teaches.

On the other hand, you say that you love Sanatan Dharma and want to participate in its associated practices. Islam says that there is no god except Allah, and it is sinful to worship anyone other than Allah; then how Ismail Hussain, with his Islamic religious identity, show his interest in Srimanta Sankardev, who always taught the teachings based on the principles of Lord Krishna? Islam also says that making the image of God is forbidden then how can Ismail show his love for Srimanta Sankardeva, who is not just imaginary? Also, let us not dig into what Islamic teachings tell about those who worship Idols. He will have to choose between the two religious ideologies that are fundamentally opposite, but we must understand that they play smart on these and try to establish the fact that whatever Hindus believe is a part of Allah only. They won't give up their supremacy at any cost. The day Islam says that all ways take us towards God, Hindu Assamese will proudly open its gates for all to take part in festivals like Bhaona and Ismail Hussain can proudly take part in this because now he would be wearing a religious identity that has given up supremacist beliefs and respects Hindus and its belief system fundamentally.

            People in Assam consider saint Srimanta Sankardev a religious figure, and he has special importance in the Sanatan culture of Assam. Therefore, any attempt to tarnish the cultural values taught by Srimanta Sankardeva with malicious intention can't be tolerated. People like Ismail Hussain should stay away from Hindu festivals if they can't give up their exclusionist religious identity, and there is nothing wrong in saying this repeatedly.

Note: Baishnob Dharma is one of the part of Sanatan Dharma.