Ujjain (Madhya Pradesh): Teri Mitti’, ‘Galliyan’, ‘Tere Sang Yaara’, ‘Kaun Tujhe’, ‘Dil Meri Na Sune’, ‘Kaise Hua’ and ‘Phir Bhi Tumko Chaahunga’ fame lyricist Manoj Shukla Muntashir (Mumbai) was in city in connection with making conversations during Antar-rashtreeya Geeta Mahotsav on Sunday. During his stay, this correspondent talked to him. He was of the opinion that ‘Gita’ originated from Ujjain when Lord Krishna got his education at Sandipani Ashram and thus it should be connected with day-to-day life.
Excerpts:
In which campaign are you active these days?
A: Sanatan awakening, Hundutva awakening, wherever possible.
How far have you swum in the Ganga of knowledge?
A: I am currently swimming at surface level only. Even if I spend my whole life, I will not be able to fathom the ocean, it is a bottomless storehouse. One who is ignorant has the arrogance of knowledge. If you read even a little and know what the scriptures are, what knowledge is, then you will never have the arrogance of knowledge. This applies to the whole world. We are seeing many ignorant people talking big things, in such a situation we should talk about the essence which we have learned from Krishna, Gita and Ram. Gita and Krishna have a very strong connection with Madhya Pradesh.
Would you like to tell something?
A: Ujjayini is the land that made Krishna Shri Krishna. He became Shri Krishna in the ashram of Guru Sandipani. He was called ‘Shri Krishna’ when he gained knowledge of 64 arts. Before this, he was Krishna and was also revered. For us he was an incarnation. He came to Ujjain at the age of about 12. At the age of 11 he killed his cruel uncle Kansa. At such a young age he learned so much and was called Yogeshwar. Anyway, this is the virtue of this land.
Do you agree that Gita, which is still considered the most sacred book in the world, originated in Ujjain?
A: Absolutely, it originated from here. When knowledge started being gained which started from Ujjain, then we should obviously accept that Gita originated from Ujjain. The Gaumukh of Gita is in Ujjayini.
How can Gita be taken to the young generation?
A: They will have to be told in their language. See, if we keep rejecting the young generation by saying that they do not understand, they do not know the language and literature and what is Gita – we will suffer a lot in this. And we have been making this mistake, which we will have to stop now. We have to explain Gita in their language. Our new generation have gained a lot of speed but have lost the depth. We have to connect Gita with day-to-day life. We have to make them confident that testimony lies in Bhagavad Gita.
Why do storytellers and preachers not propagate the real Bhagavad Gita in their programmes and why do they get involved in political intrigues?
A: Look, politics is a Yugdharma and we cannot stay away from it. If positive politics is involved in the knowledge of Gita, then there is nothing wrong in it. Politics flows in your veins. On one side there is film, on the other there is religion.
How do you separate the two?
A: I do not do any such film which comes in my religious belief. I am not afraid of speaking my mind even in Bollywood. I have left behind all fears of the world. Cinema is a very beautiful medium and I will definitely say a few good things through it. I cannot tolerate leftist cinema that has been sold to us for centuries. Nor will I ever be a part of it.
