Karnad

Karnad

Hello Readers!

                                                This blog is a sincere reflection of my views regarding various controversial obituaries offered to a Rhodes Scholar and the most intellectual and controversial personality of India, Girish Karnad. To view the various obituaries during the death of Girish Karnad, click on the link of Dr. Dilip Barad Sir’s blog on Girish Karnad: The Artist, the Citizen and the Question of Truth.

                                                                      The noted businessman Thomas J. Watson once said,

“Follow the path of the unsafe, independent thinker. Expose your ideas to the danger of controversy. Speak your mind and fear less the label of 'crackpot' than the stigma of conformity.”

                                                  Analyzing the above-mentioned quote we can securely apply the statement on the life of Girish Karnad. He was an independent thinker and he exposed his ideas through his works like Tughlaq, Hayavadana, Naga-mandala, and many more and he belonged to a society of “intellectuals” like U R Ananthamurthy. He was an excellent example of Freedom of Expression. Besides being a playwright, he was a versatile genius- an Indian filmmaker, actor and a Kannada writer.  

Have a look at this brief timeline!

Here are some facts about Girish Karnad

   (Source – Tentaran)

                                                   

                                                                             

                                                                        Karnad’s outspokenness has offended many Tipu-Sultan haters as well as Kannada chauvinists. He had a multifaceted personality and that became the reason for high controversies yet he succeeded in multidisciplinary activities. Let us briefly have an understanding of the major issues for which Karnad was questioned many times as a faithful citizen or not-

1 He was a critic of religious fundamentalism. He had publicly criticized the demolition of Babri masjid in 1992.

2 He had debated against Narendra Modi for the prime minister’s most in 2014 elections.

3 He was against the views of Hindutva; his name was on the top in the hit list of the right-wing group.

4 He branded himself by wearing a placard which said “Me Too Urban Naxal” on the event to mark the first death anniversary of journalist Gauri Lankesh.

He stood forth and fought for what he believed despite numerous threats to his life.

5 He was a supporter of communal harmony.

6 He criticized V S Naipaul and Rabindranath Tagore.

                                                                  Karnad can be called a towering figure in the cultural, artistic and political world. He was involved with all the three worlds and has critically as well as fearlessly described the diversity of Indian culture and modified the Indian stereotypical mentality with a totally distinct thought. For this reason, he was more harassed by controversies. He like Shashi Tharoor had a very single dimensional thought on Indian story.  Even our PM Narendra Modi expressed condolences for his fearlessness-

Shashi Tharoor twitted on the demise of Girish Karnad,

“A flame that has been extinguished that lit up so many minds.”

                                      The Congress leader and former Congress President also offered condolences to Girish Karnad is worth noting

"He was a literary genius both in Kannada and English, a superb playwright, actor and director. He (Girish) was a man of utmost integrity, honor and unflinching courage who fought throughout his life for freedom of expression, social justice and secular values, often at enormous personal cost, His loss leaves a void that is impossible to fill. Girish Karnad leaves behind a priceless legacy in his literally work, which will keep his memory alive and honoured forever.”

                                     Many episodes of his life, his violent portrayal by people and many points of his speech will probably always remain the subject of controversy.