When I saw the headlines, "De Vinci code banned" in an Indian newspaper, it depressed me.
Even though there were some protests when "Sins" was released in India, in the end, the film did manage to be released, without people burning down the theatres or cars.
I believe that we need some sane persons in India. Very badly. Unfortunately, it seems we are running out of them.
Every group of religious louts is just waiting to pounce on the slightest provocation. They come out on the streets, burn a few cars, pelt stones and threaten burning down the books or the theatres or whatever.
Now Aamir Khan is warned, how dare he speak about Narmada Bachao or against Narendra Modi? They will not let his Fanaa to be released in Gujarat, they say. Show him the Hindu might?
The Sikhs have done it too. Jo Bole so Nihaal is a caricature, they say. The child in Kuch Kuch Hota Hai is a caricature. How dare they? Let's teach them a lesson they shout.
The Muslims, Sikhs, Hindus, Christians - everyone is ready with the petrol cans. They define themselves as saviours of their religions. Dissent is equal to blasphemy they feel, and because the God can not defend itself, they must do it.
Armed with hockey sticks or worse, they come out with their torches. And the sovereign Government representing the people bows its head and presents its butt so that it can be kicked by any thug, always ready for banning any thing so that "it does not disturb public order" (except when you dare to protest against the Government, then the police is ready for the lathi-charge).
So we are going for a Taliban rule in India and only insecure louts will decide what we can read, see or think? I am not saying that we have to be agree with everyone but you can disagree on something and still be civil? Amartaya Sen talks about the ancient traditions of dissent and criticism inherent in Hinduism and in Indian culture in his book "The Argumentative Indian". Yet, those traditions are being corrupted everyday and we are prisoners of fire-wielding hardliners, who have decided that we Indians are not mature enough, we need censorship, and that they will decide for us.
If a country (Italy) that hosts the Vatican itself, can show the film, De Vinci code, it seems strange that India has to worry about the feelings of few sensitive Christians who do not like it and decide to get offended by it!
So we are going for a Taliban rule in India and only insecure louts will decide what we can read, see or think? I am not saying that we have to be agree with everyone but you can disagree on something and still be civil? Amartaya Sen talks about the ancient traditions of dissent and criticism inherent in Hinduism and in Indian culture in his book "The Argumentative Indian". Yet, those traditions are being corrupted everyday and we are prisoners of fire-wielding hardliners, who have decided that we Indians are not mature enough, we need censorship, and that they will decide for us.
If a country (Italy) that hosts the Vatican itself, can show the film, De Vinci code, it seems strange that India has to worry about the feelings of few sensitive Christians who do not like it and decide to get offended by it!
I get it that India is a mix of religions and beliefs and hurting the sentiments of any one group can easily lead to violence, mayhem and deaths, so the Government has to be cautious. However, I wish that there were religious leaders promoting tolerance and "let it be" kind of attitude, instead of fanning protests and hate marches.
Partly, it may be due to these TV channels, which keep on looking for persons with more hardline and crude beliefs, so that they can show them and increase their TRPs. It is a system which gives more visibility to those with the more extremist views.
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