India: Republic of hate and nightmares

[prasad1]

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The_Times_Of_India :Shobhaa De

Ban this. Ban that. Intimidate. Scare. Browbeat. Disrupt. Destroy.


We are living in deeply troubling times. The Republic of Ideas... Dreams… Imagination … has been replaced by the Republic of Hate and Nightmares. Which is why it is important to address this missive directly to the individual who is hell bent on pushing the hate envelope still further.


Dear Mr Intolerant - Disrupter of Peace, I write this with anguish in my heart. It took just seven days and four nasty protests to establish your credentials as the ultimate cultural rogue. Sadly, the weakened (and wicked) State has meekly surrendered to your bullying and threats. You have picked your targets well. Ashis Nandy, Kamal Haasan , Salman Rushdie and Shah Rukh Khan. High profile… but soft and vulnerable. You decided to 'teach them a lesson' . You nearly succeeded. It happened because we let it. Because we went on the defensive. We explained ourselves strenuously… provided alibis and excuses. But mainly because we surrendered. Too easily. Too soon.


And allowed you to trample all over us. Yes - it has become an 'Us Vs. Them' siege, unfortunately. Why did we back down so fast? There lies the sad tale. It has to do with several factors - all of them valid. Age and frail health (Asish Nandy). Commerce and connected considerations (Kamal Haasan). Heightened sensitivity (SRK). Or plain fatigue (Salman Rushdie ). It has come to such a ludicrous point that soon creative communities across India will be forced to quietly shut shop. And worse - shut up. That is precisely what you want.


The irony of this ghastly situation isn't lost on anyone. Check this out - most times, the angry mobs ( led by people like you) are composed of people who do not read, write, draw, sing, act, paint… or even think. Books are judged by a bunch of illiterate goons who may never have held one in their hands. Movies are condemned by those who have not watched the film they are demanding a ban on. Art is dismissed by philistines who have never stepped into a gallery. Speeches are damned by those who don't know any language - except the language of abuse. In such a hostile atmosphere, artists, writers, painters, movie makers, musicians and thinkers are pushed into a pen…. threatened, gagged, brow beaten, intimidated. Their crime? They possess an independent mind.


Why is Kamal Haasan threatening to quit India and seek exile in a more tolerant environment? Why is he compelled to convince his "Muslim brothers'' that his film is pro-Muslim ? Why is Asish being dragged from one TVstudio to the next asserting, "I have always been a champion of the Dalits' ? Why should SRK have to play the martyr over and over again and wear his patriotism on his sleeve? Why is Rushdie still hunted and hounded? Mr Distrupter, you know the answer.


As of now, you are calling the shots in this ongoing battle for Freedom of the Mind. Your corrosive antipathy towards what is foolishly called the Liberal Threat, is winning the war so far. Intellectuals are crawling when they needn't even stoop. Soon public platforms will be effortlessly hijacked by your types - narrow minded, vicious people. "Religious thugs" indulging in "cultural terrorism" to borrow Rushdie's evocative words. You and your ilk, who are nothing but two paisa hirelings of local politicians , appear determined to exert control over carefully nurtured votebanks. That is precisely what has led to an outbreak of cultural goondagiri parading as moral policing.


People can see through such humbug . What do you want to hear? Hypocritical, gratuitous remarks? Would it make things any better if our intellectuals were to start every public discourse with salutations like : "My Muslim brothers …my Dalit sisters…. my tribal children?" Your recent 'triumphs' should not give you false confidence . In the prevailing chamcha culture that defines political life, you may have succeeded in terrorizing a few. But be warned - this is a fight that goes beyond personalities. Or even expeditious politics. It is not just about Asish, SRK, Rushdie or Kamal Haasan . This is a fight for freedom. Absolute freedom. Zero compromise freedom. Freedom of ideas… and the vibrant expression of all that is diverse in our complex society. As guaranteed by our Constitution. Lathis can stop crowds but not thoughts. Dissent is our birthright. And we shall have it. Just you watch!

 

[Jaykay767]

Pl dont live in some utopian world !!. with 800 Mil in dire poverty, barely making a living by the hour, with absolutely NO education, you are expecting them to under - freedom of expression, etc...

wich such dire poverty, this mob on the ground will do anything for a few bucks & our incompetent politicians use the masses to drive any or all agenda.

So there is NO way things can change without basic education & food for all.

& you expecting this mob to understand - "Absolute freedom. Zero compromise freedom. Freedom of ideas… and the vibrant expression of all that is diverse in our complex society. As guaranteed by our Constitution"

LOL !!!!!!!!!!! :noidea:

This is the same bizzare argument by the girls a few days ago when the gang rape happened - "I will wear a bikini on the roads & all these people in dire poverty - this mob should garauntee my freedom & dignity etc... "

when the highly educated Indians voted like a vote bank for the "Nincompoop" in USA, how can you expect the 800 Mil in dire poverty to vote for good leaders - :hurt: in India.

 

[கால பைரவன்]

Rape or rioting cannot be justified on account of poverty.

If poverty is considered a mitigating factor, what about the rights of poor people getting affected because of riots, hooliganism etc?

..........our incompetent politicians use the masses to drive any or all agenda.

how can you expect the 800 Mil in dire poverty to vote for good leaders - :hurt: in India

That is, poor people elect incompetent leaders, who in turn use these masses to drive their agenda of riots and rapes.

You are talking about a vicious circle.

Instead of dismissing others as living in a dreamy land, you could offer your solution to this malaise or are you going to proclaim that this is a dystopian land with no hope whatsoever?

 

[sarang]

1. Teach dharma and ethics.
2. Take corrective action and/or punish the guilty.

This was said by narendra modi in one interview. When a contractor or general public tells him that one of his minister or bureaucrat has taken money for doing a routine thing, he rings that person immediately in the presence of the complainant, confronts him and asks him to return the money with a warning. And modi said - what is the use of suspending the person or transferring him to another place; he will continue to do the same thing in his new assignment or new place. It is necessary that he changes.

 

[suraju06]

Dear Prasad,

I am able to agree with Shoba's line only up to a point. We lament and address such open letters to rioters, rapists, naxalites, Pakis etc., only when high profile reporting is done about incidents. When a poor brahmin boy studying 9th standard in a village Govt High School was denied a scholarship(which he needed badly) though he stood first in his class while his friends belonging to Nadar community with lesser credits were all given scholarships (though this happened in the 1965 I am sure such things happen even today) just because he was born to brahmin parents, there was no one to report and lament that heart rending pathetic incident. The boy when reported it to his parents at home they stoically accepted it and moved forward. Such things keep happening even today and never get reported and they never appear to deserve a write up by Shoba De. So the brahmin boy in our story who is a grown up today is not disturbed too much by what is happening to Kamal, Ashish Nandi, SR Khan etc., as the alienation is complete just as the brutalisation was complete in 1965.

 

[sun]

To be in power , the " divide and rule " theory of the British is essential. All countries provide an escape outlet for its people generally by identifying "a" or "B" as their normal enemy and uses same for letting off steam. See "USSR" for western countries and vice versa. There is a need for Secular country like "India" to fill this space thru religion.

 

[prasad1]

Dear Prasad,

I am able to agree with Shoba's line only up to a point. We lament and address such open letters to rioters, rapists, naxalites, Pakis etc., only when high profile reporting is done about incidents. When a poor brahmin boy studying 9th standard in a village Govt High School was denied a scholarship(which he needed badly) though he stood first in his class while his friends belonging to Nadar community with lesser credits were all given scholarships (though this happened in the 1965 I am sure such things happen even today) just because he was born to brahmin parents, there was no one to report and lament that heart rending pathetic incident. The boy when reported it to his parents at home they stoically accepted it and moved forward. Such things keep happening even today and never get reported and they never appear to deserve a write up by Shoba De. So the brahmin boy in our story who is a grown up today is not disturbed too much by what is happening to Kamal, Ashish Nandi, SR Khan etc., as the alienation is complete just as the brutalisation was complete in 1965.

Squeaky wheels gets the greece. If the oppressed meekly accept the oppression, oppressor has no reason to change. It is up to the "brahmin - boy" to raise the issue in the right circles. I agree it is not easy task, as you are fighting daunting odds.
But to give up is not an option.

 

[prasad1]

Rape or rioting cannot be justified on account of poverty.

If poverty is considered a mitigating factor, what about the rights of poor people getting affected because of riots, hooliganism etc?



That is, poor people elect incompetent leaders, who in turn use these masses to drive their agenda of riots and rapes.

You are talking about a vicious circle.

Instead of dismissing others as living in a dreamy land, you could offer your solution to this malaise or are you going to proclaim that this is a dystopian land with no hope whatsoever?

You are right sir, we do live in an imperfect world. We need to find the best possible solutions for our problems. Some people think they know the solution, when they do not even understand the problem. There is saying in Hindi (i am sure there is one in Tamil as well)
Bander kya jane adarak ka swad. A monkey will not know the taste of ginger.

 

[Jaykay767]

<edited. removed. JayKay's account has been temporarily banned & suspended for consistently posting abusive messages >

 

[Jaykay767]

<edited>

 

[கால பைரவன்]

.............

(though this happened in the 1965 I am sure such things happen even today)

Dear Suraju,

The situation today is actually much worse.

A vast majority of benefits that the government extends today differentiate citizens based on caste and religion and the most affected people are hindu communities classified as forward, which includes all brahmins.

Some members here appear to be of the opinion that this discrimination based on caste by the government is only restricted to some government jobs and higher education. That is not true. This scourge of communal discrimination is now present in all and sundry areas from college admissions to scholarship schemes to ownership of petrol pumps and to the much touted RTE. If you are a poor brahmin kid, your chances of taking advantage of RTE is next to nothing! Government scholarship schemes discriminate against even the poorest of poor people (those who earn less than Rs.100 a day) if those poor belong to hindu forward caste. Please also note "hindu" forward class. If you are a non-hindu, christian or a muslim for example, you also have exclusive priveleges and benefits, even if you belong to forward class.

The last time I brought this issue (scholarship scheme for poor) to this forum's attention, one member heckled why the government should care about brahmins, another member justified such discrimination of poor brahmins stating that they should be happy to have escaped violence, and yet another member justified this discrimination recounting how brahmins exploited poor dalits for eons. According to them, a brahmin selling one-and-half anah poonal or fighting for 10 Rs Dhakshana cannot expect the same rights from the government. The height of hypocrisy is that these very same members criticize evil capitalists stiffing workers such as themselves! Suddenly they all become socialists and communists! They pose themselves as saviors of poor but not if the poor person is a brahmin. Of course, you are to take all these things as just criticisms and not bashing!

I think the marginalization of hindu forward communities is increasing by the day and it is a pity these things do not get discussed much in this forum!

 

[C RAVI]

Dear Suraju,



The last time I brought this issue (scholarship scheme for poor) to this forum's attention, one member heckled why the government should care about brahmins, another member justified such discrimination of poor brahmins stating that they should be happy to have escaped violence, and yet another member justified this discrimination recounting how brahmins exploited poor dalits for eons. According to them, a brahmin selling one-and-half anah poonal or fighting for 10 Rs Dhakshana cannot expect the same rights from the government. The height of hypocrisy is that these very same members criticize evil capitalists stiffing workers such as themselves! Suddenly they all become socialists and communists! They pose themselves as saviors of poor but not if the poor person is a brahmin. Of course, you are to take all these things as just criticisms and not bashing!

I think the marginalization of hindu forward communities is increasing by the day and it is a pity these things do not get discussed much in this forum!

People who are in bed of roses talk high and have the habit of presenting themselves as fair humanists with their expression of diplomacy and unusual rational thoughts. As a result, the community at the receiving end are shown as unjustifiably chest beating lots.

The others may not be interested to feel insulted, being mocked upon, blamed (citing the by gone era), get into street fights and ultimately get sick, bringing in such topics or participating in them.

 

[sangom]

People who are in bed of roses talk high and have the habit of presenting themselves as fair humanists with their expression of diplomacy and unusual rational thoughts. As a result, the community at the receiving end are shown as unjustifiably chest beating lots.

The others may not be interested to feel insulted, being mocked upon, blamed (citing the by gone era), get into street fights and ultimately get sick, bringing in such topics or participating in them.

I will like to see the day when US sets the example for "absolute freedom" of the Shobha De variety. For example let the US allow someone to depict the Christian saints in the nude, or the Prophet Mohammad in some unacceptable way and let us see the US govt protecting the mischief-maker and taking the consequences. Terry Jones, the pastor had to be fined after all.