I think I am a political maverick. I try so hard to be fascinated with something else but well the political influences just intrigue me. So here I am, yet another time contemplating the humorous ironies that the Indian polity presents us with.
Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh ban 'The Da Vince Code' because they could hurt 'religious' sentiments.
Gujarat tries banning release of 'Fanaa' because Aamir Khan takes a stand with the NBA.
These were some of the new headlines in the Indian dailies recently. While both of these issues could be two unrelated incidents, its stark differences are dulled by their obvious political influences on them.
Talk about 'religious' sentiments - Did the Indian Christians give in a representation to the 'elected' government about their feelings being hurt? Maybe it did (Ofcourse I didn't find anything in the papers that said though) - Considering that they did - how many representations does the Indian Government Act on? Being partly a statistician I believe in numbers - so here are something we may want to think about - In empirical terms atleast - World's largest population embraces Christianity - 33% (IMF). Second highest revenues in 3 days of its release - USD 224 M - Now considering that atleast 60% of the Muslim population (21%) is not interested in movies least of all a Christian Movie - Its common sense that a huge chunk of revenues definitely came from Christians watching them - So why this big ruckus of 'hurting religious' sentiments. I ofcourse give it to the Christians that they are more tolerant that their Muslim counterparts. And in the states where Christianity is a small proportion of the population compared to Kerala. How about not airing Water or Fire or for that matter Gangster with those huge 'kissing' scenes that the Censor board thought was good enough - I bet we have more kids in the state than Christians. Oops forgot children can't vote - can they? And their parents are oblivious to what their kids are watching in these increasingly two income household society. Maybe sexuality is a virtue that every religion tolerates and the politicians love ... just disguise it as sexual freedom of expression.
The government ofcourse has the power to ban things it 'feels' will provoke public ire. Ofcourse we have to always believe the government's perception. So AAmir Khan should not have taken sides with the NBA without the Gujarat Assembly's permission - So what if they can air a movie of bollywood star accused of aiding Bombay blasts, so what if they permit the airing movies of stars accused of shooting endangered species. Maybe I need to take permission from the Indian legislation before I comment on our Nuclear policies. Did anyone say 'Freedom of Speech'.....You guys definitely are crazy if you think you got that in India now ... When foundations of the Indian constitution are being changed (The Office of Profit Bill is a prime example) they definitely can 'amend' Freedom of Speech to make it void.
These discussions thus far tantalize me with questions - Are we facing the insatiable anarchy of the Indian Polity? Where is the 'Independent' Judiciary when the fragmented society needs it? Are we making 'progress' or is 'progress' just a figment of our fantasy with those figures of 8.4% growth?
Well Mother India might just be writing something like...
Just Another Thought
Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh ban 'The Da Vince Code' because they could hurt 'religious' sentiments.
Gujarat tries banning release of 'Fanaa' because Aamir Khan takes a stand with the NBA.
These were some of the new headlines in the Indian dailies recently. While both of these issues could be two unrelated incidents, its stark differences are dulled by their obvious political influences on them.
Talk about 'religious' sentiments - Did the Indian Christians give in a representation to the 'elected' government about their feelings being hurt? Maybe it did (Ofcourse I didn't find anything in the papers that said though) - Considering that they did - how many representations does the Indian Government Act on? Being partly a statistician I believe in numbers - so here are something we may want to think about - In empirical terms atleast - World's largest population embraces Christianity - 33% (IMF). Second highest revenues in 3 days of its release - USD 224 M - Now considering that atleast 60% of the Muslim population (21%) is not interested in movies least of all a Christian Movie - Its common sense that a huge chunk of revenues definitely came from Christians watching them - So why this big ruckus of 'hurting religious' sentiments. I ofcourse give it to the Christians that they are more tolerant that their Muslim counterparts. And in the states where Christianity is a small proportion of the population compared to Kerala. How about not airing Water or Fire or for that matter Gangster with those huge 'kissing' scenes that the Censor board thought was good enough - I bet we have more kids in the state than Christians. Oops forgot children can't vote - can they? And their parents are oblivious to what their kids are watching in these increasingly two income household society. Maybe sexuality is a virtue that every religion tolerates and the politicians love ... just disguise it as sexual freedom of expression.
The government ofcourse has the power to ban things it 'feels' will provoke public ire. Ofcourse we have to always believe the government's perception. So AAmir Khan should not have taken sides with the NBA without the Gujarat Assembly's permission - So what if they can air a movie of bollywood star accused of aiding Bombay blasts, so what if they permit the airing movies of stars accused of shooting endangered species. Maybe I need to take permission from the Indian legislation before I comment on our Nuclear policies. Did anyone say 'Freedom of Speech'.....You guys definitely are crazy if you think you got that in India now ... When foundations of the Indian constitution are being changed (The Office of Profit Bill is a prime example) they definitely can 'amend' Freedom of Speech to make it void.
These discussions thus far tantalize me with questions - Are we facing the insatiable anarchy of the Indian Polity? Where is the 'Independent' Judiciary when the fragmented society needs it? Are we making 'progress' or is 'progress' just a figment of our fantasy with those figures of 8.4% growth?
Well Mother India might just be writing something like...
As life passes me by
my steps falter
thoughts asunder
hopes flounder
the heavens mute spectators
to the upheavals
and predicaments
that lay shatter my soul
as despair held captive
in a heart torn and blighted
time moves by
slowly and surely....
my existence transformed
into a vague nothingness
a process spectacular
....yet staying alive
Just Another Thought
posted by Just Another Thought @ 2:27 PM
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