‘Culture should have a human face’

Maharashtra’s cultural diversity is a legacy handed down to it by reformer saints and poets of the early nineteenth and twentieth centuries. This mirrors itself in the state’s beautiful monuments, literature, festivals and lifestyle. As Maharashtra prepares to celebrate 50 years of being, the question that stares the new generation is: Have we succeeded in retaining that great cultural legacy? The publisher of Kalnirnay and cultural exponent Jayant Salgaonkar is worried about the gradual degeneration that threatens the very fabric of Maharashtra’s culture. Edited excerpts from an interview:

“Sanskruti ha mansacha vastra aahe (culture is integral to human civilisation). The central aspect of any culture is humanity.

Therefore, one cannot evaluate the state’s culture piecemeal. A state cannot boast of a great culture if its people are not happy. You cannot take decisions that serve some and exclude others from the happiness. Take any of its components — festivals, art, theatre, literature, cinema — it should essentially have a human face. When you take a holistic approach, you realise some things are missing. I must acknowledge that we have a great cultural history that needs to be revived. There is a growing trend to look towards the West; in the name of culture people drink, dance and party, oblivious to the treasure hidden in our age-old traditions.

Maharashtrians celebrate festivals like Gudipadwa, Diwali, Ramnavmi, Krishna Jayanti, Dussera with great enthusiasm. Underlying all of them are matters of significance, and these are not meant for merry-making alone. For instance, Diwali falls on amavasya or new moon day. The festival of lights marks an attempt by people to make it tejomayi (bright) by lighting oil clay lamps. Whether it is celebrating festivals or observing a religious ritual, the objective was never displaying one’s wealth or indulging in crass commercialism. The purpose was to promote brotherhood among people.

I feel pained to see people walking miles overnight for a darshan at the Siddhivinayak temple every Tuesday. Why? It is not required. Even if you offer prayers in your heart and take a glimpse of the temple shikara (exterior), it is enough. But swelling crowds every Monday night show how Generation Next is reeling in instability and insecurity. They are looking for support.

Today, everybody in politics talks about Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. But are the present leaders following in his footsteps? Once in the middle of a battle, Shivaji cautioned horse-borne warriors to not trample on the crops. But when you look around, what is the status of the ‘baliraja’ (farmers)? On the one hand there is prosperity, and on the other we have farmers committing suicide. When you measure the state’s culture, these are aspects which have to be accounted for. A ruler has the right to loot. But he or she should be like a honeybee, which savours honey from a flower without destroying it.