EVEN THE EVERY DAY USE LOTA REFLECTS IN CLEAR TERMS
THE TWO NATION THEORY AND THAT IS INDEED AMAZING
Observation is clearly required for analysis. We were reading a very interesting comment by world renowned historian Dr Abdullah Chaghatai. He compares the Islamic lota (used for toilet purposes) with the Hindu Guddawi (used for Astan purposes). There is a well defined sprout in the Muslim lota and hardly any sprout in the Guddawi. Dr Chaghatai spells it in clear terms. The Muslims needed a long sprout to clean that particular section of the body, while the Hindu community had no such requirement. Plenty of water, versus a small Guddawi for sprinkling purposes. This is not imagination, this is clear cut fact that the Lota represents the two nation theory so well.
An Islamic Arts scholar came from London and we discussed the shape pf the sprout. He was defining the Lota in terms of centuries and I asked him, how on earth just by visual observation, he could date an utensil, and a lota. His reply was simple. He said it is the flow of the line. In a thousand years instead of advancing the aesthetics, you lost the basic aesthetic shape of the Lota. Amazing it was!
Look around. We can all live in peace, but we also have to acknowledge two different ways of life. Islamic way tells us SAFAI NISF IMAN, Islamic faith is fifty percent all about cleanliness. And a long sprout enables us to clean all parts of the body involved in toilet.
A long sprout enables the Muslim to reach that part of body for cleanliness not accessible otherwise.A simple toilet cleaning exercise!