Understanding the whispers of nature’s language is to understand India itself, its art, history, culture, and literature. Take the spectacular “flame of the forest” or the Palash for example. It blooms during early March painting the landscape of India with a riot of red, vermillion, and bright orange. Rudyard Kipling associated the red dazzlers with turbulence in the jungle. In Kipling’s “Jungle Book”, little Mogli says “laal phool jab khilenge, tab humein shikaar milega” (when the red flowers bloom, we will get our prey) alluding to the forest fires and the shortage of water in the jungle. The bard of Northeast India, Bhupen Hazarika called the Palash “a fiery flame of love that knows no boundaries of religion, caste or creed” which is symbolic of the spring season is associated with fertility across cultures in India. Indeed the blooming of the Palash is a powerful example of nature’s language. It is also associated with Holi—the boisterous festival of colours.

Nature’s language cradles all – irrespective of religion, caste, or class. Nobel laureate Rabindra Nath Tagore was quick to realise this. During the early part of the 20th century, he started organising festivals, including Holi at Vishva Bharati (meaning communion of the world), now a public university in the state of West Bengal. Tagore’s idea was to create secular and inclusive festivals that connected humans and nature in its purest form. Vishva Bharti’s Holi is still hailed as an epitome of the coming together of collective arts and rituals on a non-sectarian basis.

While Holi is always associated with Hindu ethos, it has also been an integral part of Muslim culture and literature. Historical texts and accounts of Mughal India talk about emperor Akbar and Jahangir playing Holi. Bahadur Shah Zafar, the last Mughal emperor made Holi the official festival of the Red Fort. He even patronised a new genre of poetry called Hori, which was sung on the day of Holi. But much before the Mughals, it was the Muslim Sufi poets who took the festive opportunity of Holi to advocate love that transcends all boundaries. Holi was celebrated by the 13th-century Sufi saint Nizamuddin Aulia. His disciple Amir Kushro composed many verses which are sung even today during Holi. One of the most stunning Sufi compositions on Holi was penned by 18th-century poet Shah Niaz. He wrote: “Hori hoye rahi hai Ahmad geo ke duwar/Hazrat Ali ke rang bano hai Hasan Husain khilar”(Holi is being played at the gate of Prophet Hazrat Mohammad, Ali has brought colours, Husain and Hasan are playing). But it is Kayem Chandpuri, another 18th-century Sufi poet, who takes the cake. In his poem “Chandpur ki Holi”, he talks about an inebriated Maulvi (an Islamic scholar) who has forgotten his way to the mosque. Holi is a festival where even the most hard-nosed is happy to drop the guard and have some fun.

Progressive societies are built on a fine combination of freedom, knowledge, and shared experiences on a secular, inclusive, and non-sectarian basis, just like nature’s language. Kayem Chandpuri says “Ilahihai jab takke ye shor o shar ho alam mien/ Holi seybaqiasar” (O Almighty let the festivities of Holi be there till the world does)

Holi Hai!!