"Terrorist"

Two short-short stories

Here’s the first short short-story I have for you about boys.

When I was working on my book Husband of a Fanatic, and traveling in Kashmir, several people told me about a story by Akhtar Mohiuddin’s entitled “Terrorist.” The story’s popularity might be explained by the fact that it outlines a situation where the loss of innocence is represented not through the expected assault but, instead, by the seductive power of violence. In Mohiuddin’s story, a woman named Farz Ded is walking down a narrow street. From the opposite end of the street, a military patrol approaches her. Farz Ded’s young son starts crying. The patrol’s commander thinks that the kid is scared and he reassures him. Farz Ded says to the officer, “This rogue is not afraid of you. He just sees the soldiers and cries, ‘I want a gun … I want a gun."‘“

The second short short-story is from this morning.

I watched a news-clip in which a boy is asked by a reporter holding a microphone whether he is ashamed. The boy asks in return why he should be ashamed. The reporter asks, Long live India, yes or no? The boy says, Yes. The reporter now asks, Long live Pakistan, yes or no? The boy says, Yes. And then he adds crucially, with a wisdom far beyond his years, Long live everyone in their own places. You too long live in your place.

This conversation is taking place in the outdoors at night. The camera is aimed at the boy but he is surrounded by other boys and youth in what I assume is a lower middle-class setting. It is possible that this is a Muslim neighborhood. As if he has found a clue to the situation at hand, the reporter asks the boy for his name. Kaif, the boy replies. A Muslim name! The reporter confirms his suspicions by asking for his full name. Muhammad Kaif.

Where are you from? I’m from Bihar.

Aren’t you even a little bit ashamed that despite living in India you’re supporting Pakistan?

I’m surprised that a question like this can be asked with such blunt brutality, but it is another sign that the nature of public discourse has changed in India.

The reporter persists and asks why Pakistan shouldn’t be destroyed. But the boy is unfazed. He asks the reporter in turn why he isn’t ashamed about manufacturing and spreading this kinds of news. News that pits Hindus against Muslims. He wants to know from the reporter first why he should only support India. The boy explains that human beings live in both places. Everyone has a right to live, he says. Why destroy everyone?

The reporter’s confidence in his own bigotry is unshakeable. He asks the boy again whether he supports Pakistan. Yes, the boy replies bravely.

You are not Indian, the reporter says, and then repeats, you are not Indian.

I am Indian, the boy asserts.

I just want to know one small thing, the reporter says finally. Who taught you this?

Go to hell, the boy says. I have a brain!