My note : This article is just to show the nature of Indian intellectuals, secularists and media ! No offence meant to any community !
There has been a lot of media news on 'Fanaa' and 'Da Vinci Code' of late. Most of the champions of creative freedom have hit at Narendra Modi and BJP for 'Fanaa'. Mahesh Bhatt has gone to the extent of filing a case in the Supreme Court on this.
(Not so) surprisingly, these torch-bearers of artistic liberty and 'fundamental rights' have not raised their voice against TN, AP, Meghalaya and even the Central Govt. Nor were they supporting the 'freedom of expression' of the cartoonists in the Prophet issue. (I do not mean that there is nothing objectionable in these).
What is more noteworthy in these issues is :
The exhibitors' association of Gujarat has decided not to screen 'Fanaa'. (The opposition to the movie came from the youth wings of BJP & Congress in Gujarat; but Aamir Khan chose to hit at BJP only, indicating that BJP is 'ban'ning his movie). And the Central I & B minister 'advises' the Gujarat Government to ensure that the film is screened. The State Government has nothing to do with this.
Contrast this with 'Da Vinci Code'. The christian organisations have been fighting against this movie for almost one month before its scheduled release. And the Government appoints a special committee, with a majority of Christians, to see the movie and give an opinion. That committee gives a censor clearance to the movie. The Central Government still holds back the release of the movie by one week, waiting for the Christian community to come down from its position. Meanwhile, the Goa government speaks against the movie. After the movie was released, TamilNadu, Andhra Pradesh and Meghalaya governments ban the movie. (This is no decision by the exhibitors or distributors; This is a Government decision). And the Central Government does not utter a word on this. And the champions of creative freedom and artistic liberty do not open their mouth on this issue.
Add to this, the media which is frequently telling "Fanaa is banned in Gujarat", which is nothing factual and is also trying to make a martyr out of Aamir Khan.
Where were all these champions of liberties when countless movies portrayed Hindu saints as sinners ? Where were all these people, when atheism in Indian media always meant anti-Hinduism ?
Let us recall something more : In 2005, when Pope John Paul II passed away, India had announced a 10- day national mourning. (We can ask why a 'secular' government should mourn a religious leader's death. Then we will be told that he is the head of a state. But the most interesting part is that this head of Vatican is elected with votes from some priests across the world, including a few in India). Most of the countries with a majority Christian population had not announced such a long mourning. But Italy had announced.........
In the light of all these events, the Indian government gives a perception that it is closer to Rome than India.
P.S. : Secularism as a concept evolved in England to separate the country's administration from the Christian religious power centre - and is defined as the distinction between the King and the Church.
Should we laugh on this folly or cry on our fates ?
(Written in June 2006)
Update : The AP High Court struck down the ban on Da Vinci Code in July 2006. Good sense prevails somewhere !!
There has been a lot of media news on 'Fanaa' and 'Da Vinci Code' of late. Most of the champions of creative freedom have hit at Narendra Modi and BJP for 'Fanaa'. Mahesh Bhatt has gone to the extent of filing a case in the Supreme Court on this.
(Not so) surprisingly, these torch-bearers of artistic liberty and 'fundamental rights' have not raised their voice against TN, AP, Meghalaya and even the Central Govt. Nor were they supporting the 'freedom of expression' of the cartoonists in the Prophet issue. (I do not mean that there is nothing objectionable in these).
What is more noteworthy in these issues is :
The exhibitors' association of Gujarat has decided not to screen 'Fanaa'. (The opposition to the movie came from the youth wings of BJP & Congress in Gujarat; but Aamir Khan chose to hit at BJP only, indicating that BJP is 'ban'ning his movie). And the Central I & B minister 'advises' the Gujarat Government to ensure that the film is screened. The State Government has nothing to do with this.
Contrast this with 'Da Vinci Code'. The christian organisations have been fighting against this movie for almost one month before its scheduled release. And the Government appoints a special committee, with a majority of Christians, to see the movie and give an opinion. That committee gives a censor clearance to the movie. The Central Government still holds back the release of the movie by one week, waiting for the Christian community to come down from its position. Meanwhile, the Goa government speaks against the movie. After the movie was released, TamilNadu, Andhra Pradesh and Meghalaya governments ban the movie. (This is no decision by the exhibitors or distributors; This is a Government decision). And the Central Government does not utter a word on this. And the champions of creative freedom and artistic liberty do not open their mouth on this issue.
Add to this, the media which is frequently telling "Fanaa is banned in Gujarat", which is nothing factual and is also trying to make a martyr out of Aamir Khan.
Where were all these champions of liberties when countless movies portrayed Hindu saints as sinners ? Where were all these people, when atheism in Indian media always meant anti-Hinduism ?
Let us recall something more : In 2005, when Pope John Paul II passed away, India had announced a 10- day national mourning. (We can ask why a 'secular' government should mourn a religious leader's death. Then we will be told that he is the head of a state. But the most interesting part is that this head of Vatican is elected with votes from some priests across the world, including a few in India). Most of the countries with a majority Christian population had not announced such a long mourning. But Italy had announced.........
In the light of all these events, the Indian government gives a perception that it is closer to Rome than India.
P.S. : Secularism as a concept evolved in England to separate the country's administration from the Christian religious power centre - and is defined as the distinction between the King and the Church.
Should we laugh on this folly or cry on our fates ?
(Written in June 2006)
Update : The AP High Court struck down the ban on Da Vinci Code in July 2006. Good sense prevails somewhere !!
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