Renowned singer Sonu Nigam on Wednesday shaved off his head, hours after offering to apologize if his tweets on azaan blared from loudspeakers were seen to be anti-Muslim.
After the tweets sparked a row, a cleric in West Bengal, Syed Shah Atif Ali Al-Qaderi, announced he would give Rs 10 lakh to anyone who shaves off Sonu Nigam's head and garlands with footwear.
Sonu Nigam took up the challenge, calling a Muslim barber to do the job.
“I’ll shave my head in a while. It’s not a challenge. It’s a request. What are you doing in this country? I am a believer but I don’t think my religion is the best but yours isn’t. I don’t believe in that. You have to fight fanaticism, you can’t be quiet. I have requested Alim (celeb stylist Aalim Hakim) to come.
He will shave my head but this isn’t any agitation or challenge. The one who is cutting hair is a Muslim and I am a Hindu. There is no animosity. The same language of fatwa can be communicated in a language of love. Being secular means understanding each other’s problems and not saying ‘I am only right.'”
The cleric, Syed Sha Atef Ali Al Quaderi, was not satisfied though. Speaking to ANI, he said, “Sonu Nigam has not done all the things I asked for, two out of the three things remain unfulfilled. Will give reward of Rs 10 lakh, only when he does rest two-garland of old torn shoes and tour around the country.” Quaderi had announced in an interview to DNA that he would give an award of Rs 10 lakh who could “shave his (Sonu Nigam) hair, put a garland of old torn shoes around his neck and tour him around the country.”
Nigam underlined that he never meant any offence.
"Being secular means understanding each other's problems and not saying 'I am only right'. 'Aazan zaruri hai, loudspeaker nahi' (Aazan is necessary, not the loudspeakers).
"That's my only point. It is about the timing. Loudspeaker shouldn't be used at a wrong time. Even when we perform, there is a proper time," added the singer.
Nigam invited the media, saying he will go bald at 2 p.m. "Keep your Rs 10 lakh ready Moulvi," he tweeted.
Nigam kept his word and then addressed a media conference at his residence as police beefed up security for him.
The cleric, however, refused to pay up, saying only one part of his challenge had been taken up.
The singer appeared before journalists with a clean-shaven pate, wearing spectacles and smiling away even as Muslim groups protested and threatened to move the court against him.
"All I wanted was consideration for one another... Everyone has the right to have an opinion. My opinion is in temple, masjid and gurudwara, loudspeakers are not religious necessities. It is not part of a religion.
"When loudspeakers are installed in religious places, it is sort of a declaration that 'this is my religion'. The same goes for people dancing on roads drunk during religious processions. I am against that.
"I am very secular. I am not right or left wing. I stand in between. I've never had to make a speech like this. I just raised a social topic, not a religious topic," Nigam added.
It all started on Monday when Nigam lashed out at "forced religiousness" in India after being woken up by azaan from a mosque near his home. He later clarified that he was not against any one religion.
Amid the entire Sonu Nigam azaan row, an old video of actor Priyanka Chopra resurfaced which dates back to her promoting Jai Gangaajal where she is saying, "In Bhopal, the most interesting time of the day is evening when one could hear to the divine Azaan.
After pack up, at sunset, I sit on my terrace here where I can listen to Azaan which probably comes from six Masjids. Those five minutes have a strange peace in it. That time of the day is my favourite and the sound of Azaan is like music to my ears."
Actor-filmmaker Pooja Bhatt was one of the first ones to tweet her reaction. Taking a jibe at the singer, she wrote, "I wake each morning to the sound of church bells & the Azaan in a quiet by-lane of Bandra. I light an aggarbatti & salute the spirit of India."
Singer Mika Singh had an advice for Sonu. "Big bro I respect u lot as a singer .. I think you should change your house and stay somewhere else instead of changing loud speakers." He added in another tweet, "Guys Gurdwaras, Mandirs, masjids and churches aren't only for loud speakers. They represent charity, langars and honourable things.."
And while a lot of stars are posting their disapproval over Sonu's azaan comments, actor Richa Chadha came out in support of Sonu. She tweeted, "People will misunderstand your tweet n give it a communal tinge, only those who know you will know you mean not to stoke a fire."
Gul Panag tweeted, "Loudspeakers at ALL places of worship are an avoidable imposition." Earlier, while speaking to ANI, she said, "There should be a limit on the volume of loud speakers, at all religious places so that people in the locality are not disturbed."
Actor-comedian Sunil Grover might be keeping away from reacting on his spat with Kapil Sharma, but he surely had something to say on the Sonu Nigam row. Sunil tweeted, "I know @sonunigam sir he won't hurt anyone's religious sentiments ever. He respects all. Lets not misinterpret n give it a religious tinge."
Filmmaker Vivek Agnihotri also lent support to Sonu. He wrote, “I am willing to sponsor a campaign against illegal blaring of Azaan and other prayers on loudspeakers. Suggest a creative hashtag.” He went on to tag Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Devendra Fadnavis, to look into the matter. Vivek wrote, “Dear @DevFadnavis pl note and help us force police to act against illegal blaring of Azaan and other such activities.”
I know @sonunigam sir he won't hurt anyone's religious sentiments ever. He respects all.Lets not misinterpret n give it a religious tinge.
— Sunil Grover (@WhoSunilGrover) April 18, 2017
People will misunderstand your tweet n give it a communal tinge, only those who know you will know you mean not to stoke a fire. ✌🏼️ https://t.co/P8NvIQ4m4s
— TheRichaChadha (@RichaChadha_) April 17, 2017
Love bhai... https://t.co/Utu0E4MN9n
— Sonu Nigam (@sonunigam) April 19, 2017
U r spot on @SonuNigam. Thank God there is at least 1 person in India who has the courage to stare down mullah bullying. Shut the 4AM Azaan https://t.co/yVdliZzAUn
— Tarek Fatah (@TarekFatah) April 17, 2017
Regards Sir @AnupamPkher https://t.co/szEuavD8qp
— Sonu Nigam (@sonunigam) April 19, 2017
Renuka Shahane Writes A Note On The Sonu Nigam Fiasco, Makes A Strong Point
Amid all the hassle, another celebrity – veteran actress Renuka Shahane – who has often put forth her opinion on the prevalent controversies has written down a detailed Facebook post, expressing her opinion on the same.
From talking about her sleep being disturbed with Azaan in childhood, to her opinion on the usage of loudspeakers, the actress writes that she doesn’t agree with Sonu Nigam, but at the same time respects his opinion on the same. Looks like the actress has set an example as to how to voice opinion without hurting the sentiments of anyone!
Here's what she wrote:
