Just Think!

The Unpublished Letters of Muhammad Asad
Book Launch

https://irfront.org/post/book-launch-of-the-unpublished-l
etters-of-muhammad-asad-14575

It has been more than ten years since I wrote about Muhammad Asad (nee Leopold Weiss), the highly respected Islamic thinker who had carved his name deeply into the history of countries like Saudi Arabia and Pakistan. He is credited with the English translation of the Quran and penned many critical thoughts on the day-to-day practice of Islam. Sadly, his twilight years, which he wanted to spend in Morocco and later Spain, were not ceremonious, as people were unhappy with his stance of questioning the status quo. 

My dear friend of 50 years, FM, announced in a common WhatsApp group that he would be launching a book on the unpublished letters of Muhammad Asad and the official launch was to be done by none other than Malaysia's famous centenarian whose as astute mind belies his age by half a century, Tun Dr Mahathir, the two-time and longest serving Prime Minister of Malaysia, and extended the invitation to me. I accepted. 

Now, some would be asking, "What a good Hindu boy by birth will do in a place where the discussion would be everything Islam?" Precisely, the answer is in the question. 

Imagine us as an army of ants perched on a dry leaf which had dropped onto a fast-moving drain, straddling from side to side, oblivious to what lies ahead. The smartest ants amongst the army would try to take heed of the situation and, with their nimble neural tissues, mastermind something to save their comrades. We, humans, are in the same predicament. Left on Earth with no instructions and no GPS to follow, we are all on our own to make sense of things around us. 

If it is the all-encompassing, universal divine consciousness that binds us all, and we are all struggling to understand, more heads are better than one. Any knowledge is good to know. 

The session started with the moderators welcoming the special guests, Tun Dr Mahathir, Dr Farouk Musa (FM) and Dr Azhar Ibrahim. Datuk Seri Meer Habib played host to the event in his premises, Harta, specifically curated to promote local art and intellectual discourses. 

Asad was a man of letters. He did a lot of thinking, and his letters have found their way to many national archives. Through the initiative of the Islamic Renaissance Front, many of these private correspondences were sourced and published. Asad's line of thinking is made aware to everyone.

Sitting through the discussion and Q&A sessions, as an outsider, I learnt a few things. DA, who accompanied me, coming from the heart of the Hindi belt of India, had his own understanding of Muslims revised. 

FM, in confession mode, gave an overview of the difference between an Islamist and a rationalist. Islamism came about as the Ottoman Empire was losing its influence and territory, becoming the sick man of Europe. The nostalgia to recreate the glory of the good old days prompted them to build Islamist movements with unbridled teachings of the Quran as their guide. The rationalists, however, are cognisant that things found in the Quran and hadith need to be thought out rationally to keep with the demands of the present era. Asad was a proponent of this. The religion is more than just following instructions and joining in the rituals. We see this in present-day Malaysia, where less emphasis is placed on personal development.

An interesting question by a listener was the issue of sustenance of life as a religious thinker. He later confessed that, as a teenager, he had told his father that he wanted to be a thinker. Without batting an eyelid, his father gave him a smack across his face and told him, "Don't think, just study your sciences and go to university!" That was the end of the discussion. The panel suggests that Azad probably lived on small royalties from book sales, his stint with the Saudi royalty and other honorariums.

The guest of honour took centre stage when he answered a question on riba (exploitative gains from trades). Tun reiterated that rather than worrying about the nitty-gritty details of conforming to religious practices, one should look at the elephant in the room. Amazingly, this 100-year-old man can string his thoughts so succinctly and enunciate them in crystal clear language, commanding the listening ear of every attendee.

Unlike converts who have the luxury of getting proper training in Islam, Tun Mahathir complained that Malays do not get the appropriate guidance on the religion. Hence, during his tenure as Prime Minister, when the pressure to Islamise mounted upon him, he decided to go back to the Holy Book to understand the stance on many issues. Since he was not well versed in Arabic, he read its English translation. What he found shocked him. He realised that Muslims did not even do the basic things taught in the Quran, like killing a fellow human being.

He chided the act of killing fellow Muslims. It is illogical that some Muslims coerce or get manipulated into attacking their fellow Muslim brothers. The basic teaching of Islam is to acquire knowledge. This, they had failed miserably, and had allowed themselves to be dominated by their enemies. The technologies that they had acquired and improved have been learnt by others and have been further improved upon, while the Muslims stay dependent on the rest of the world. This reminded me of India's case. Many of ancient India's early discoveries and scientific knowledge had been forgotten, only to be found and researched by the colonisers. The colonisers, in turn, used the same expertise to subdue the Indians.

The audience was also informed that Asad did indeed spend a short sojourn, maybe about a month, here in Malaysia, doing his research. In one of his letters, he mentioned that Malaysia was one of the countries where he felt most welcome.

It was an evening well spent.

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Control your senses!

Perfume: The Story of a Murderer (German; 1985)
Author: Patrick Süskind

https://www.amazon.com/Perfume-Story-
Murderer-Patrick-Suskind/dp/0375725849

Thank you to MC for introducing this excellent book. It is an engaging read that baffles me how one can write a whole book just based on all descriptions about our olfactory sense and fragrances. It is one book that I think he managed to use all the words in the English language to describe smells.

The olfactory sense is said to be one of humans' most primitive sensations. It is said that even unicellular organisms had this in their most rudimentary form. Unlike other sensory organs, smell is not carried by nerves, but has a direct connection to the brain. 

Perhaps because of its ancient origin in the evolutionary ladder and its close proximity to the brain, it has a profound effect on the human brain. It is not surprising that fragrances can arouse the reptilian part of our suppressed brain, to unleash the beast within. 

Entering many Hindu homes, one would encounter a painting or a metal tooling sculpture of a golden chariot. The chariot would be manned by five horses. The reins would be held firmly by the charioteer against the five prancing horses. It could be a representation of a scene from the Bhagavad Gita.

It could very well be a reference to Plato's Chariot Allegory, where the charioteer (man) needs to balance the power between the two horses (a noble and an unruly one) to lead the charioteer (body) to the path of the Truth. Freud, in his writings, could have referenced it to the eternal struggle between the id (instincts), the ego (reason) and the superego (guiding force).

In the Gita version, the five horses denote our five senses. The rein, with the wisdom (Buddhi) of the charioteer (mind), controls the senses (horses), so that the chariot (body) is not led astray. 

The book, set in pre-Bastille France, follows the tragic life of Jean-Baptiste Grenouille. Left to grow up in an orphanage after his mother was guillotined for killing Grenouille's three other siblings, he is unloved. Grenouille somehow escaped his mother's murder attempt, as he likes to think that he is invincible. This thought is reinforced when he recovers from the pox.

After the orphanage, he is sent to work as a tanner. Grenouille has an inborn ability to distinguish a vast range of scents. Paradoxically, he does not have his own individual smell. A diligent and hardy worker, he yearns to be a perfumer.

After capturing the scent of a virginal pubescent girl, he becomes somewhat fixated on the smell. Wanting to keep all the scent to himself, he strangles her and kills her. 

The author further narrates about his self-exile, the discovery, his experimentation with perfumes, his fixation with the extraction of pubescent girls and his obsessive interest in one particular lass, Laure, the fairest of them all. 

A nice book which brings vivid descriptions of various smells and piques into the business of perfumery as it was carried out before.

'The Perfume' is often stated as Kurt Cobain's favourite book. It is even believed to have significantly influenced his song "Scentless Apprentice" from Nirvana's album In Utero. The cautionary lesson from Cobain's life experience is that one should not be tempted away from one's duties by the allure of sensory pleasure. The final outcome is usually undesirable. The only silver lining may be that Cobain departed in a state of bliss.

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Talk they do!

The Argumentative Indian
(Writings on Indian History, Culture and Identity)
Author: Amartya Sen (2005)

https://www.amazon.in/
Argumentative-Indian-
Writings-History-Identity
/dp/0141012110

The teachings of my history teacher, LKK, in Form 3 still ring as clear as a bell to this day. Comparing India's fight for independence to the Opium War in China, he pointed out that the primary difference between China and India was the written language. No doubt, each part of China had their unique dialects, and a person from one end of the country may not be able to communicate with another person at the other end; they could thank Emperor Shih Huang Ti for giving a unified script. 

India's predicament was that it was not only divided by language but also by writing. Each region had its own spoken language and its own scripts as well. The British found it very convenient to employ their 'divide-and-rule' tactic. What LKK failed to mention was that Indians were argumentative, even among themselves. 

They have been arguing about everything for a long time. With scant understanding of the events happening around them, they try to make sense of what they see. Unlike a multiple-choice question, its answers are not fixed; the interpretation of weather, space, and beyond is anyone's guess. For ages, Indians have been dedicated to defending their POV, making it a national pastime. 

Adi Shankara, a sage in the 8th century CE, is said to have travelled to the four corners of India, thereby marking the boundaries of the subcontinent. He engaged in numerous debates with renowned scholars from various philosophical schools to explore unanswered questions about Nature, space, life, and the virtues of daily living. Shankara, from the South, of the Advaita Vedanta tradition, believed that our consciousness is an extension of the concept of God. In other words, our Atma is part of the Great Consciousness, Paramathma. He used to participate in month-long, intense discourses across Bharat. His famous debate was with Vardana Misra. Misra was from the Mimamsa school, which studies the Veda and attempts to interpret the Vedic texts and our actions (karma).

The famous debate between Shankara and Misra was presided over by Misra's wife, Ubhay Bharati. She was also a renowned scholar. When Madana Misra was finally cornered, she took her husband's place to continue the discussion. It is said that both the husband and wife later joined Adi Shankara's school. 

Pattimandram
https://www.flickr.com/photos/50956076@N08/4674835676/

This tradition of debating simple topics related to daily life can often be seen on Tamil cable networks. One of the popular shows here is 'Pattimandram', hosted by scholars fluent in Tamil and various local speakers. Some speakers actually earn a living by speaking at different events in various towns throughout the year. Their mastery of the language is impeccable, and their stage presence is electric. The show leaves everyone in stitches and offers mental nourishment. 

Another example of the argumentative Indian is aptly illustrated by India's Republic TV and, more recently, by most Indian YouTube news channels. It is common to see multiple small screens, each with people shouting loudly to prove their points. It often results in the anchor having the final say, while other viewpoints are simply lost in the noise. 

A debate between a charioteer and a warrior who developed cold feet on the eve of the war, which would pit cousins and uncles against each other, evolved into a lengthy holy scripture on virtue and worldly obligations. It is the Bhagavad Gita. Imagine a single counselling session extending to 700 verses, divided into 18 chapters. Not only that. The Bhagavad Gita is actually part of a larger epic, the Mahabharata, which is seven times longer than the Iliad and the Odyssey put together. It is filled with dialogues, dilemmas, and alternative perspectives. The incessant arguments and counter-arguments spread over volumes of debates and disputes make readers convinced that truth is not a singular concept, but is a spectrum. Arjuna's hesitation about going to war may actually carry some weight, as the post-Kurukshetra era reveals carnage and tragedy that will be remembered by generations to come. The Pandavas and Kauravas were never the same. Even Krishna's descendants became decadent and wayward. There is a case against just 'just doing it' and 'hesitating'.

The humiliation of Draupadi
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Draupadi_
Vastraharan,_Raja_Ravi_Varma.jpg

When the world discusses India, the favourite bashing is on its perceived injustice based on gender, caste and treatment of its minorities.

When it comes to gender equality, at a time when women in other parts of the world were seen but not heard, Indian women played pivotal roles in their societies. An essential character in the Mahabharata, Draupadi, is not just a pretty figure but a wife to five husbands. The Upanishads tell the story of a sharp, intellectual female interrogator named Gargi. Jhansi Rani and many female warriors fought valiantly against the tyranny of the invaders. In 1925 and 1933, the Indian National Congress Party appointed a female President. For the record, the British had their first woman leader of a major British political party in 1975 with Margaret Thatcher.

India had its own complicated system of labour distribution. It ensured the proper functioning of society. The changes in the world economy and the intrusion of foreign powers, who attempted to simplify the system using their own yardstick, created a cruel caste system. It started a hierarchical system based on one's birth. 

India's internal societal reforms had started addressing the issue. Various offshoots of Hinduism, like Buddhism and Jainism, were reactionary movements against Brahminical orthodoxy. The Hindu Bhakti movement and Sufis tried to break social barriers. Many philosophers, poets, and thinkers were from non-Brahmanical groups. Vyasa was a fisherwoman's son. Vyasa was a reformed thief.

Prolixity is not something alien to Indians, it seems. They love to talk. In one interview, Sadhguru, the new-age guru, was complaining. He was saying that all the chaiwallas (tea sellers) knew about everything. I suppose that applies to all professions too, such as barbers, taxi drivers, and milk sellers. Sadhguru went on to say that they are well-versed in politics, governance, scandals, cricket, Bollywood gossip, and inside information about the world's best-kept secrets. The only thing he did not know too well was how to make good tea!

VK KrishnaMenon
https://images.app.goo.gl/joZkADWkx3dtHUJK6

Another glaring example is how VK Krishna Menon of India delivered the longest speech ever given before the UN Security Council. In 1957, over the course of two days, he delivered two speeches, totalling approximately eight hours, on India's position regarding Kashmir. Even he could not stand his own talk. He soon collapsed after the speech.

Free speech and the freedom to express oneself are not exclusive to the West. It had been part and parcel of Indian and Eastern tradition. The richness of the tradition of argument makes a significant difference to subcontinental lives today. Persistent arguments form an essential part of the people here. Democracy is closely tied to public discussion and interactive reasoning.

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Eternal vigilance is the price of liberty.

Lord of the Flies

The Book (1954)

(Based on the 1954 novel by William Golding)
(1963 movie, directed by Peter Brook)
(1990 movie, directed by Harry Hook)

This book is a popular choice among English literature students. It fosters engaging debate on the darker aspects of human nature, leadership, and the evil that resides within us. There is a fine line between remaining civilised and succumbing to savagery.

It was the period after WW2; the world must have been perplexed by the scale of the atrocities that took place during the war. The level of violence and destruction, especially after Hiroshima and Nagasaki, must have prompted questions about the evil that resides within each person. The 1950s still likely were not among the most peaceful times, as Russians had learned to produce the A-bomb and the US was moving into H-bombs.

Golding's story depicts a group of preteen boys stranded on an isolated island after their plane crashes. With limited resources, they attempt to survive until rescue arrives. The boys try to establish law and order by choosing a leader. Gradually, a rebel group forms among them, who would eventually go to great lengths to enforce their own ways.

1963 film

Even though they are just boys, it is interesting to see how they summon the animal savagery that lies dormant within their souls to harm and even kill the other party when competing. The dangers of unleashed energies driven by mob mentality cannot be overstated. At first glance, the narration portrays all people as inherently evil. We tend to see people as unthinking automatons with no agency. However, upon closer examination, some individuals do care for each other's safety. The boys initially cooperate to use what they have learned at school, like starting a fire and protecting themselves. They are willing to accept laws and follow them gladly. It is only when circumstances become tough that they retreat to their animal, primal instincts, revealing their ugly side. 

1990 film

People have to be kept contented and preoccupied with something to do. They need to be told what to do. Some amongst us are leaders material, the majority are mere followers and are easily malleable to rhetoric. An idle mind is the devil's workshop and the commentary of resentment and rebellion. When the piece of pie becomes smaller, tempers flare. There is a thin line between orderliness and mayhem.

Both the 1963 and 1990 versions feature mainly young characters, but I prefer the 1963 one. Maybe I am a fan of 'black-and-white'; it has more depth and gives the surreal feel of being trapped on an island. However, it also evoked a sense of watching a secondary school drama.

Both good and evil reside in the human soul. As individuals, we must remind ourselves to stay on the right path and not stray into darkness. Human history has shown that no single form of governance can withstand the test of time. When humans first began living in communities, they believed that autocratic rule by a monarch with demigod-like status would suffice. Resentment grew when divisive rulership became evident. Revolution was then justified. They thought that communism was the answer. However, human greed eventually overshadowed the desire for equality. It too collapsed. The free market often degenerated into vulture capitalism, and human follies permeated all systems. In a world darkened by terrible deeds, regular self-questioning and reasoning seem to be the only way social justice can prevail. Eternal vigilance is the price of liberty.

P.S. 'Lord of the Flies' is another reference to Satan (Beelzebub).

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The philosophical king who never was!

The Emperor Who Never Was
Dara Shukoh in Mughal India
Author: Supriya Gandhi

Genghis Khan (and Timur, who followed suit later) likely established the tradition of not designating a successor. He believed that the issue of ascension should remain open. It was anticipated that the most capable individual, able to vanquish rivals for the throne, would emerge as the strongest ruler and govern the Empire more effectively. It was irrelevant if brothers, stepbrothers, widows, and uncles fought against one another; politics took precedence over emotions. Primogeniture, the right of succession granted to the firstborn, as seen in feudal rule, is noticeably absent in the Mughal Empire.

Naturally, the Mughals, whose ancestry arose from these barbaric races, continued that tradition. After Babur, animosities among siblings to usurp the corridor of power were frequent occurrences. Factions formed, with one parent siding with a particular son or grandson. Moreover, emperors had multiple wives. Shah Jahan, known as Kurram before seizing the throne, faced such a situation. Khusrau, Kurram's elder brother, had a long-standing battle with their father, Jahangir, before Jahangir blinded him. After becoming emperor, one of the actions he took was to execute his stepmother, Nur Jahan, and his half-brother Shahar, among others. Such was the brutal process of succession. During the later part of his reign, Jahangir was half the man he once was. Long-term use of opiates and alcohol had taken a toll on his health. Nur Jahan effectively took over the realm.

We have all read about Aurangzeb and his antics during his lengthy reign as one of the last emperors of the Mughal Dynasty. However, we rarely hear of his elder brother and half-brother, Dara Shikoh.

Dara Shikoh was Shah Jahan's third child and his firstborn son. Jahanara, Shah Jahan's first child, grew up as Dara's confidante, seeking wisdom. She was erudite, never married, and followed the path of spirituality. Shah Jahan and Mumtaz Mahal had four sons: Dara Shikoh, Shah Shuja, Aurangzeb, and Murad Baksh.

It is fantastic to read about the childhood these princes had. Dara Shikoh and Aurangzeb were caught in Shah Jahan's bizarre mutiny attempt against his father, Jahangir. Jahangir took Dara and Shikoh hostage in a political chess game. Naturally, they matured precociously.

By the age of 19, Dara showed his killer instinct by hunting down and slaying an amok elephant. Following in the footsteps of his father, Shah Jahan, and his grandfather, Jahangir, Dara Shikoh displayed an affinity for exploring spiritualism, Sufism, and other religions prevalent in India at the time. Perhaps, like his great-grandfather, Akbar, who proposed 'Din Illahi', he was moving toward the monotheistic concept of a One God common to all religions. In the tradition of the Mughal courts, Dara was proficient in Farsi, Sanskrit, Urdu, and Arabic. He was favoured and groomed by Shah Jahan as his successor. Dara endeavoured to promote religious tolerance in his philosophical journey in association with the renowned Chisti and Qadiri Sufi Orders, much like Akbar before him. He translated the Upanishads and the Bhagavad Gita into Persian. Throughout his life, hardships, such as losing two newborn children, illustrated his susceptibility to depression, much like how his father, Shah Jahan, was affected by the loss of Mumtaz, his favourite wife, who died of haemorrhage after her 14th delivery. Perhaps this is why Shah Jahan kept him close, depriving him of the military exposure that proved crucial later on.

Dara Shikoh

To keep Aurangzeb out of the throne's loop, Shah Jahan sent him far away with the army to conquer new lands in Central Asia and Kandahar, ensuring the vassal states towed the line. Aurangzeb received his religious guidance from more hardline orthodox Islamic scholars, who were quick to label Dara Shikoh a heretic. 

One day in 1657, Shah Jahan was afflicted with what is now assumed to be infective prostatitis. Dara Shikoh was designated as the natural successor, being the philosophical ruler who understood the scripture, earned the respect of the masses, and demonstrated courage. He was also Shah Jahan's favourite son. Upon hearing this, the remaining brothers rushed to Agra to assert their place in the Empire. Aurangzeb, the one skilled in military affairs, emerged victorious. He had his father, Shah Jahan, imprisoned and had Dara decapitated. His head was presented on a platter to Shah Jahan while he was having dinner. This exemplifies how much brutality was normalised in the Mughal Empire.

At a time when intolerance masquerading as faith is prevalent, the name Dara Shikoh shines as a beacon of hope that united all of India.

[P.S. Plato's idea of a perfect leader is a philosophical king who possesses profound knowledge and a love of wisdom. These qualities, in Plato's eyes, made them true rulers, not just power-holders, to rule justly in a harmonious society. Obviously, in the real world, increasingly the sword and the wealthy hold the corridors of power at ransom.]

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Fight smart till the last strength.

Joy of Cancer (2002)
Author: Anup Kumar

The book's title sounds oxymoronic. How can one find joy after a diagnosis of cancer? The title itself prompts potential readers to pause and take notice. Many must have found that the book makes great sense, as it has become a recommended reading for those who wish to fight cancer. 

Indeed, it is natural to deny and to ask questions such as ‘Why me?' and ‘What did I do wrong?' while indulging in the blame game. However, these questions will not address the immediate and pressing danger affecting the patient. 

This describes the author's experience of successfully battling Stage IV lung cancer. In 2000, a suspicious shadow was detected on his chest X-ray during a pre-employment screening. Further tests confirmed his serious diagnosis. 

He was at the ebb of life. A highly qualified advertising executive with a postgraduate degree in nuclear physics, he had spent all his life savings on his daughter's wedding, and his previous employer had gone under. Moreover, his outstanding wages from his prior job remained unpaid. This was the main reason he sought new employment in the first place.

First and foremost, perhaps it is the butterfly effect. Life happens. One cannot expect a rational explanation for everything that occurs to us. It offers no guarantee that everything will be all right, either. Once one moves past denial, the quest for blame, and resistance, one can resign to the clear and present danger. In the author's experience, embracing the matter at hand, he made it his point to understand everything about his cancer, for his life actually depended on it. He wanted to be part of the battalion that fights the enemy. He worked alongside his cancer team, inquiring and clarifying his own misconceptions. He had to be completely immersed in the treatment regime. After all, it is his life they are dealing with. 

Friends and relatives mean well, but their eagerness to help sometimes becomes a nuisance. Repeating the already precarious situation time and again to relatives who are sometimes 'concerned’ and other times merely asking out of obligation can be exceptionally irritating, especially when the numbing effects of chemotherapy are in full force. In such situations, reclusiveness may be preferable. 

Scars and hair loss are temporary. Clutching at straws, he held on to whatever he could. Abstaining from noxious substances, eating healthily, and even chanting and listening to calming slokas played their roles. He had been a chronic smoker before. 

The last time I checked, Anup Kumar continues to live after undergoing two complete courses of chemotherapy, approaching each day with ambiguity and hoping it will be better than the one before. Not bad for someone who was given just four months to live in January 2000 when his diagnosis was first made. He advises maintaining a positive outlook from Day 1, investing in the right people, and creating a mind-body continuum to combat the illness, alongside the appropriate support groups. That forms a watertight battle plan. 

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.