Javed Akhtar turns down Sharad Pawar’s political offer

There has been much speculation of late about poet-thinker-screenwriter-activist Javed Akhtar joining hands with Maharashtra’s powerful politician Sharad Pawar for a third front. A meeting hosted by Pawar on Tuesday afternoon attended by Javed Akhtar further fuelled the speculation of a political alliance.

However, a source very close to Javed Akhtar demolishes all speculation regarding his political indoctrination.

Says the source, “Yes he was invited by Sharad Pawarji for a meeting on Tuesday with an offer to form a new political alliance. Javed has been meeting with Sharad Pawar along with like-minded academicians and intellectuals to discuss issues that confront the nation . The discussions aimed to rise above party politics. Javed had no idea that these discussion with Sharad Pawarji were in the media glare. However he is not joining any political alliance.”

The source further clarifies that neither Javed not his wife Shabana Azmi believe in active politics. “They both believe that joining a political party is putting fetters on the individual’s ideology because the political party’s truth becomes the individual’s truth.”

Javed Akhtar also told a friend that politics is a compromise.

“His autonomy and freedom are most important to him. He is respected for his intellect and he wishes to remain non-partisan,” Javed Saab’s friend tells me.

In 2019 there were rumours of Javed Saab joining the Congess I when he wrote a song for them. About this rumour Javed Saab had responded to me: “Dekhiye, agar koi political party thodi bhi sachhi secularism dikhati hai toh usski izzat karni chahiye. I do feel that Congress shows some degree of concern for the concept of secularism. I was approached to write a song for the Congress for the elections. I agreed and wrote the song Main hi to Hindustan hoon…”

Discussing his disenchantment with the BJP in 2019 Javed Saab said, “When it(the BJP) came into power there was a lot of hope. The common people felt the BJP would address their problems. It was widely felt that that BJP would do away with the politics of polarization and communalization. Who was to know that they would be practising a divisive politics in no time at all?! So yes, I do feel there is a sense of deep disappointment in all of us. Instead of addressing real issues they are into issues that are inconsequential.”