Dr Rahi Masoom Raza: The Creator Of Mahabharata’s Chaste Hindi

By Sumit Paul, New Age Islam 15 March 2024 Many readers are aware as to who wrote the immensely popular Sanskritised Hindi dialogues of B R Chopra's famous serial 'Mahabharata' (1988-1990). For those who're not aware, well, Dr Rahi Masoom Raza penned the dialogues of 'Mahabharata', which became so popular that viewers across the country started speaking that kind of Kintu/Parantu Hindi. All the dialogues were written in quaintly chaste Hindi. But did you know that Dr Rahi Masoom Raza initially declined B R Chopra's request to write the dialogues for the tele-serial 'Mahabharata'? Yes, Raza politely said 'no' to B R Chopra. Yet, Chopra announced Raza's name as a dialogue writer! Dr Rahi Masoom Raza passed away on March 15, 1992 ------ When people came to know of this, they wrote to Chopra, "Saare Hindu Mar Gaye Hain Kya Jo Aap Ek Musalmaan Se 'Mahabharata' Ke Samvaad Likhwa Rahe Hain? " (Have all Hindus died that you've chosen a Muslim to pen the dialogues of 'Mahabharata' ?). B R Chopra, sent all those abusive letters to Dr Raza. When Raza realized that people had reservations about a Muslim writing the dialogues of 'Mahabharata', he took it as a challenge and accepted Chopra's request. "Main Iss Mulk Ka Hissa Hoon. Hindi, Urdu, Sanskrit Zabanein Meri Ragon Mein Daudti Hain " (I'm a part of this country. Hindi, Urdu and Sanskrit are in my blood). Needless to say, the rest is history. He was a true-blue Hindustani, nay a human, at heart. Raza would often say,"Main Ne Khud Ko Kabhi Kisi Mazhab Se Nahin Joda. Insaaniyat Mera Mazhab Hai. Main Faqat Ek Insaan Hoon" (I've never tied myself to any faith. My religion is humanity and I'm but a human). What Raza wrote in 'Mahabharata' is still a benchmark. In these communal times, one must remember that in the tele-serial 'Mahabharata', the real name of the man who essayed the role of Arjun is Feroz Khan and the actress who acted so well in the role of Kunti is Nazneen, who has become a recluse and there's not much information available about her. The relevance of these 'anomalies' increases all the more in these times, when one has to emblazon one's religion on his/her forehead to survive in this increasingly intolerant country. Agreed, there also existed religiosity and fanaticism 35 years ago when 'Mahabharata' was being made because Chopra had to face people's jibes when he decided to rope in Raza as a dialogue writer, but the masses were not so religiously morbid as they're today. I often wonder, had India of the 80s been as religiously touchy as it's today, would the hardcore Hindus, political outfits, Sanatanis and all such lumpen elements have let Raza write for Mahabharata and Feroz Khan and Nazneen enact the roles of Arjun and Kunti? Just imagine, Arjun and Kunti are (actually) Muslims as per their faith! There would have been a nationwide uproar: Sanatan Dharm Bhrasht Ho Gaya (The Sanatan Dharm has been desecrated) ! Got to say, these are unthinkably bad times to be in! Anyway, Raza's contributions become even more remarkable in our times. He shuffled off this mortal coil on March 15, 1992. Good that he departed a few months prior to Babri mosque's unfortunate demolition on December 6, 1992 that changed the Hindu-Muslim equation once and for all. A sensitive soul that he was, he too would have had to go through all the pains and angst, the Muslims in India had to undergo following Babri mosque's defilement by the Kar Sevaks and Hindu vandals. ----- A regular columnist for New Age Islam, Sumit Paul is a researcher in comparative religions, with special reference to Islam. He has contributed articles to the world's premier publications in several languages including Persian. URL: https://newageislam.com/spiritual-meditations/rahi-masoom-raza-creator-mahabharata-hindi/d/131926 New Age Islam, Islam Online, Islamic Website, African Muslim News, Arab World News, South Asia News, Indian Muslim News, World Muslim News, Women in Islam, Islamic Feminism, Arab Women, Women In Arab, Islamophobia in America, Muslim Women in West, Islam Women and Feminism