modesty - alien to genius

Disclaimer: This is the article that appeared in the daily Times Of India. 

“I’ve nothing to declare, except my genius.”-Oscar Wilde

Does it sound too haughty? I don’t think so. Declaring one’s genius and flaunting one’s qualities cannot be branded as haughtiness. ‘Only a true genius is acceptably audacious’. Modesty is a great quality but at times it appears too sugary, too artificial. No one is modest; it’s often a put on to draw attention and admiration. All our so-called qualities are social formalities, which put off truly creative people. They hate hypocrisy. Why should one be modest if one is talented? And who’s arrogant or insufferable? Who condemns and runs down others and elevates herself or himself as superior to all. Admiring others as well as oneself is desirable attribute, which shouldn’t be objectionable to others.

To quote Ghalib:

“Hain aur bhi duniya mein sukhanwar bahut acche Kahte hain ke Ghalib ka hain andazz -e-bayaan aur”

(It is true that there are other poetic stalwarts, yet Ghalib is Ghalib!)

In the above couplet, Ghalib is not disdainful of other poets; he’s just being assertive and assertiveness is no crime. One requires calculated impudence like that of ‘Firaq’ Gorakhpuri to declare:

“Aane wali naslein tum par rashq karengi humasro jab ye khayal aayega unko tumne Firaq ko dekha hai”

(The generations to come will envy you that you’ve seen Firaq in person and listened to him as well).

In fine, it’s an acknowledged artist’s prerogative and preserve to put his foot down and declare his exclusiveness.