IN CONVERSATION WITH JAVED AKHTAR
Whenever Javed Akhtar has shared his lack of faith with a large audience, he has received the silent approval of many
Q. You are the first Indian to win the Richard Dawkins award, given to one ‘who publicly proclaims the values of secularism and rationalism, upholding scientific truth wherever it may lead’. Do you feel these aspects are flourishing or wanting?
If you are a rationalist, you lead towards scientific truth. They are not two separate things. I feel there is a huge number of people who are closet atheists and rationalists and their number is growing by the day. They keep their opinions to themselves because they don’t want to become a target of criticism. Also, whenever I have shared my lack of faith in front of a larger audience, I noticed that many approve silently with a nod or a smile.
Q. A malicious misinformation campaign started after the announcement. Does the trolling ever get to you?
Generally it is so absurd and devoid of an iota of truth that I am amused. Sometimes I am irritated. But I mostly feel sorry for these people. They are not bothered about my rational thinking or my atheism. What disturbs them is that they don’t want to believe I am a secularist. Whenever I have spoken against purdah, instant divorce and other regressive practices in Islam, I have been accused by Muslim bigots to be a panderer and a sycophant of the RSS and destined to go to the worst part of hell for it. Whenever I have criticised the Hindu rightwing extremists, I have been labelled a closet Muslim communalist, terrorist and anti-national. It doesn’t deter me at all. As long as I am getting abused from both sides, I am fine.
Q. Marx said religion is the opium of the people. Religion to you is...
Obsolete. I honestly believe it belongs in museums. Someday it will be there. Parents will take their children and say: ‘There was a time when people used to believe in these things.’ It will become a part of history like many religions already have.
Q. How has the lockdown been for you?
I am at our house in Khandala. We have lots of time to read and watch shows, both Indian and foreign. Earlier, I would feel bad that I don’t write as much poetry as I should, but this long, imposed holiday gave me time to do that. What has disturbed me was the condition of the migrants, so I wrote around that problem. One can only imagine their suffering and helplessness.