Govt plans to get Musthaq to launch Dasara to counter RSS rhetoric on Constitution
Bengaluru: The state govt is actively considering naming International Booker Prize-winning Kannada writer Banu Mushtaq as the chief guest to inaugurate this year's Dasara festivities in Mysuru, hoping to hit several targets with the decision.
If selected, Banu would be the first Muslim to inaugurate the state festival since renowned Kannada poet KS Nisar Ahmed in 2017 — during Siddaramaiah's earlier tenure as CM. Sources say there is also a proposal to have Deepa Bhasti, the translator of Banu's award-winning short story collection Heart Lamp, join her in inaugurating the festivities.
Senior Congress functionaries say the move could carry a significant political message.
"Choosing Banu would make an eloquent political statement in favour of secularism," said a senior functionary.
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The proposal comes amid a heated national debate following RSS general secretary Dattatreya Hosabale's call to remove the words "secular" and "socialist" from the Constitution's Preamble. "It would be a fitting counter to Sangh's rhetoric," said another Congress functionary.
A high-level committee chaired by chief minister Siddaramaiah, on Saturday, authorised him to select a luminary to inaugurate the globally attended celebration.
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Siddaramaiah acknowledged that Pushpa Amarnath, former president of Karnataka Congress' women's wing, had suggested the honour go to a woman. He is likely to take a decision in a week or two.
Amarnath confirmed to reporters that Banu is being considered. She said a joint inauguration by the author and translator would be "a great honour and recognition of women achievers". "I hope Siddaramaiah would see the significance of choosing Banu," she said.
"No one is more suitable to inaugurate the Dasara this year than Banu, as she brought accolades to Kannada at the world forum."
Amarnath said choosing Mushtaq would send out a "healthy message" especially at a time when "society needs values, and communal harmony should be upheld". "It is even more significant now since some forces are posing a threat to these values," she said. "They are talking of removing the words 'secular' and 'socialist' from the Preamble of the Constitution."
Musthaq was unfazed by the political chatter surrounding her potential nomination but said: "I am yet to hear from the govt on this," she told TOI.
Meanwhile, Kannada Sahitya Parishat president Mahesh Joshi said Banu has agreed to preside over the Sahitya Sammelana, to be held in Ballari in Dec, though she has yet to formally confirm.
"As for presiding over the Kannada Sahitya Sammelana, I am happy about it," Mushtaq said.
"I have said that it is my duty to work for the Kannada cause. However, I need some time to decide on taking it up, as I want to consider some nuanced issues."
Oblivious to the "political hullabaloo", the celebrated author said she remains "open-minded" to the idea of inaugurating Dasara, should the govt extend an invitation.
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Mahatma flavour at Dasara
Following Saturday's high-level meeting, chief minister Siddaramaiah said: "Since Vijayadashami coincides with Gandhi Jayanti on Oct 2, I have asked officials to ensure the tableaux reflect the significance of Mahatma Gandhi's birth anniversary at the Jamboo Savari," he said, referring to the grand finale procession of Dasara.
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