'River has no fear of memories; Girish Karnad had no fear of history'

NT Correspondent

Bengaluru: The BIC’s Talks podcast titled ‘The River Has No Fear of Memories | Taking a Stand: How to Live in Troubled Times’ is a conversation with Girish Karnad. It featured translator and writer Arshia Sattar and educator and facilitator Anmol Tikoo who reflected on Karnad’s perspective on humanism in the contemporary context.

In the course of their conversations, both Tikoo and Sattar had a chance to listen to Girish Karnad’s wide-ranging observations about his life and his work, along with excerpts from his plays that will go along with external displays with various people to talk about his legacy as an artist and as a public intellectual.

Initially, Arshia Sattar was seen reflecting how for Girish Karnad Humanism was a credo, it didn’t matter whether one’s gender or religion but first and foremost a human being. He treated everyone with the same disdain and affection.

Later on, Girish Karnad speaks about his play ‘Yayati’, which had 5 female characters followed by observations on how these female characters are really strong and an agency to know about their sexual desires. Karnad portrayed women ahead of his time. His female characters talk back to the men.

Monologue in the scenes plays an imperative role. Apart from women, other people who are marginalized and caricatured become real in his works; the horseheaded man in ‘Hayavadhana’ becomes so relatable and Nittilai in ‘Fire and the Rain’ challenges Brahminical supremacy are great examples.

Karnad wishes to write ‘Tughlaq’ from an atheist point of view, but rather begins researching and reading Islam and brought Tughlaq to the world what it is today. Tikoo and Sattar observed Karnad unlike many examined his prejudices.

“His commitment to secularism was unshakable, and defined as a public intellectual. His life of Islamophobia turned into a short story and his conversation at Oxford reveals how he used his opportunity to become more aware of himself and others in foreign land,” they said.

Anmol Tikoo shared anecdotes regarding his insecurities. On how he had an Indian accent and confrontation with racism, he said, “Racist is overdone it’s not, that’s how racist behaved and I got that, and part was I never met him and if I’d met him would’ve gotten a more human angle.”

Tikoo said, “It is unsurprisingly for a young writer, Girish took these experiences and put them in his plays.” Girish Karnad had clear vision and was vocal about his political views, and took his job as India’s Cultural Ambassador seriously.

The 90’s ruptures were seen having an impact on his narratives as well. He examined what it meant for him to take all these political positions. He was the finest thinker of our time. Girish Karnad time and again demands that we think afresh with him about our stories and our histories.

He presented Tippu up close because he was local. Karnad seemed to view history also as human beings, their memories, and their dreams. More and more over the years, he has become our conscience keeper.