Ranjeet Bahadur Srivastava is unlikely to formulate government policy if the BJP returns to power on 23 May. But if this little-known BJP leader from Barabanki in Uttar Pradesh did, it is clear that he would do nothing more than hair-splitting.
According to media reports, in a provocative speech, Srivastava had commented that after elections, the beards of “Muslims would be shaved off”, using trimmers imported from China. While the former Chairman of the Nagar Palika has been booked for his anti-Muslim remarks, his spiel makes me wonder if he mistook Swachh Bharat Abhiyan for a clean-shaven look.
But I worry for my Muslim friends. I hope we are not looking ahead to a 8 pm broadcast that announces that “from midnight tonight, beards will no longer be legal appearance. They will be just worthless strands of facial hair.”
If Srivastava has his way, Beijing will be in celebration mode. For China that has been trying for years to shave off a part of India’s north-east, this will be like manna from heaven. A back of the envelope calculation suggests that close to 10 crore razors will need to be imported. If it goes through, expect `Vikas’ to be found among Chinese razor manufacturers.
Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi understandably reacted sharply, tweeting if the trimmers will exempt Srivastava’s “Supreme Leader’s daadhi”. The AIMIM chief went on to ask “Or will the only two daadhis permitted in Hindu Rashtra will be @PMOIndia’s and @AmitShah’s?”
Srivastava’s comments are objectionable on several counts. First it is a threat. Two, a citizen has the right to freedom of growing a beard. Three, he makes it seem as if he is improving the jobs data by creating employment for barbers.
Interestingly, Srivastava’s threat to undertake forcible shaving has come at a time when a Swiss study has found that men’s beards have more germs and bacteria than a dog’s fur. But the BJP leader’s warning has nothing to do with health concerns for a bearded man. It is communal hatred, Period.
I am curious about how Srivastava would implement such a move. Would he do it 1975 Emergency style? Or will he announce 23 May as the cut-off (pun unintended) date after which no fresh beards will be allowed? Or will he convince the government to set up a Central Beard Regulatory Authority to work on a Uniform Civil Facial code in the country?
Since activists are certain to protest against facial profiling of the minorities, it is possible that those who seek exemption will be asked to link their beard to Aadhaar and file Form B. In order to appear citizen-friendly, the government could also allow short-term beards under a quarterly or half-yearly package.
This is not the first time when a beard has entered the political discourse of our country. In August 2018, after an incident of a Muslim man’s beard being shaved off in Gurugram was reported, Owaisi had warned that “those indulging in such tyranny and injustice will be brought into the fold of Islam and made to keep a beard”.
To be(ard) or not to be(ard). That’s India @2019.
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