AWAMI- IDRA ( PUBLIC- INSTITUTION ) -- MARXISM AND URDU IN PRESENT TIMES
It was a touching piece of news in TOI, Mumbai titled ‘ From Trotsky To Tailoring ‘. It reported the depravity of the institution in present times which once inspired the mill workers toiling for better tomorrow. Perhaps the only Urdu library in Mumbai in the Muslim mill worker colony in Parel. It started in fifties in close cooperation with IPTA ( Indian Peoples’ Theatre Association ) . At Idra the mill -workers would get together and engage in discussions and other intellectual activity dreaming of their time to come; often distinguished poets such as Kaifi Azmi and Prem Dhawan would compose songs for them which they would sing to instil revolutionary zeal among people. With the ’best of times’ no more and market economy succeeding intellectualism the members of Idra have arranged tailoring classes for young and unemployed to enable them whilst they search for themselves in the old photographs recollecting the times no more . On the occasion of May Day ( 01 May , International labours’ day ) they celebrate by organizing health camps etc thus paying tribute to their ideology and ideals.
Indeed Marxism has fallen on bad times and so has Urdu . Is there a link or its mere sad coincidence? Are these two following the natural course of birth childhood, youth ,decay old age and death or there is hope of revival ? Urdu remains symbol of Hindu and Muslim confluence; result of interaction and mingling of two cultures. In society there is something we consciously design such as the various laws and there is something which happens naturally ; gets created; Urdu is one such thing. It represents which is finest in Hindi , Sanskrit, Persian as it developed when Hindus and Muslims desired to talk for they wanted to talk, for it was natural to talk and so a new words and phrases resulted, gradually Urdu developed into a language of its own and became the official language , the language of courts and courting ! as well . Yes it remains the language of lovers, of poetry and divinity. Of anger , protest and revolution ! And then it became so dear that the politicians took possession of it and was wounded in the aftermath of partition for it was uprooted from the land of its origin and clubbed with religious identity .What remained here suffered the fate of the minority; remained a suspect, propped up occasionally for populist purposes. Urdu which along with Hindi was transforming into Hindustani, a language spoken by majority of the Indians and had large acceptability had potential to be the true National language; but the opportunity was lost .
The fate of Marxism has been similar to that of Urdu, though it has larger area of operation for an ideology of Political economy it affected both Science and Art. Marx can be rated as the most influential philosopher of 19th and 20th century. His theory transcended from paper to proletariat, vast nations built their foundation on it. Today the two biggest subscribers of its ideology have succumbed to capitalism. Despite the setback it brought dramatic and swift improvement in socio-economic lives of millions of people though some people suffered the discipline which flowed with it. But; the ideology is still alive and inspires many for Marxism is a way of life. It changed attitude of people toward people. It challenges all the social ills which are prevalent -- castism ,communalism, regionalism, racism etc. It certainly makes people better humans but it requires sacrifice, certain renunciation which the world of competition and market economy do not believe. We have witnessed the change of human character after the ideology was abandoned in Bosnia; Chechnya and many such places. Therefore Marxism is an ideology which still has hope but one does lament its downfall.
Both Marxism and Urdu made fine human beings , refined societies and need to be nurtured. There is a Urdu couplet on the declining state of the language which is apt for Marxism as well it translates
….” Urdu has become like a prostitute in a market; everyone wants to enjoy her but there is no one who professes love for her …
Marxism and Urdu need to be loved again for societies to save themselves from consumerism and communalism.
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