The “Where were you when that happened” rhetoric seems to have faded off this time in Aamir’s case. The usual “politically motivated” jibe has also been reported missing. Questions of “doing it for money” will be no less than a joke.
And so, there is a new one in the market. “If not India, where will you go?”
Pretty sure this naive argument of how people are mistreated in Middle East or our favorite neighbor Pakistan, would be another response to my blog. Is the idea of our country so weak, that we have to bring in comparisons from other countries? Especially ones which are countries which are ruled by concepts of One Religion?
Sorry, but I don’t live in a Hindu Country. And would fight to not turn into one, if I have to.
The common thread binding all the reactions is, that it shows why people are okay with Intolerance.
Yes, they all are okay with it. They tell is, Sure there is Intolerance in India, but then it is there elsewhere too?
I don’t live “elsewhere”, I live in India. I’ll judge my country based on what it stands for.
This isn’t altogether new. When Dadri happened, there was the need to justify it. Justification that this might be a result of a local conflict, instead of being a case of a person being killed because of eating Beef. Not to forget that even a forensic test was carried out on the meat.
But then we’re okay with this. Why should anyone eat something which one community doesn’t eat ?
When media reported incidents like Dadri, they were accused of leaving out another story of a certain “Prashant Poojari” who was killed by “Muslims”.
Sadly, when reports showed two people who are not Muslims were arrested by the Mangalore Police, hardly anyone reported. Now, was the Indian media selective? Or was it you?
But then we’re okay with this. Why bother when the news has died down?
Fact is, people are okay with Intolerance unless it directly affects them. Indians are not alone in this, but since we are discussing India, let’s skip that part.
When Aamir’s PK was released, there were protests. Protests not because he was showing fraud babas from Hindu religion, but why is he only showing the Hindu ones? A series of attempts to hold protests to paint him as an anti-hindu actor was evidently seen across the county.
[I wrote this piece of the Muslim perspective of PK for which also people protested against Aamir Khan]
The reactions to the whole Intolerance debate are testimony to why we are okay with Intolerance. We don’t shout down the fringe in unity. We verify which side is he on, and the decide. We have our own biases when the “fringe” speaks. Why?
Is it because it is easier to let the fringe speak for yourself, while expecting things to be “better for you” in a Hindu Rashtra? You don’t need to look further than our “favorite” neighbor when they let the fringe take control for our convenience. So, while we deny any association for what the fringe says, we’ll still continue to reap the “rewards”. Look where are countries which thought like that, now?
But then we’re okay with it. They are the torch bearers of our religion, no ?
The so-called apolitical people like Anupam Kher is the go-to person for issues where famous people speak out against “Intolerance”, speaks on why we should all stand behind India.
Yes, we do Sir. We do. And that’s why we are speaking out to keep the Idea of our India intact. Will not speaking out save it from being overtaken by fringe? Can anyone guarantee us that there won’t be another Dadri ? Because if the PM takes 15 days to respond to Dadri even when wishing every Tom Dick and Harry on his birthday, what should we expect?
But then we’re okay with this. As long as we’re holding huge rallies on our foreign trips?
YES. Like everyone else, even I wouldn’t like my country to be called Intolerant. But denying the fact that the atmosphere has become intolerant won’t turn our country tolerant.
There is a quote from Aamir’s Rand de Basanti, “Koi country perfect nahi hoti, banana padta hai” (No country is perfect, we have to make it perfect).
Abuses hurled at Aamir Khan, a few days back on Shahrukh and anyone who has remotely suggested that there is Intolerance, are proof enough why these statements are being issues. Although both of them never actually said, “India is Intolerant”, they remarked how there is rising Intolerance which needs to be taken care of. Are they wrong ?
As far as people speaking out or even returning awards is concerned, it is their right to do so. No one can stop them from doing that.
This won’t happen if you keep yourself on the denial mode and continue living in the dreams.
Unless you realize that your denial is only going to make the situation worse while these politicians milk away votes and then money from you. This also gives enough reasons for fringe to develop in other communities. The vicious cycle of hate gives rise and keeps adding fuel to it.
Let us stand behind India and not behind these politicians who support this sort of divisions. Idea of India needs to be saved. Hiding behind the shroud of “We are a tolerant country” won’t save us, but will turn us into a Hindu Pakistan.
