Are we becoming a more intolerant society?

Intolerance!!!

image courtesy: religiousfreaks.com

Lately we see a lot of news reports about acts of intolerance all around the globe. By intolerance I don’t mean religious intolerance alone. It is the absence of tolerance for people who express opinions or beliefs that are different from what you feel. Please do not confuse it with disagreement either. Everyone has the right to agree or disagree with another’s viewpoint. But when your disagreement reaches such a level, that it turns into hostile and aggressive behavior to the person expressing a different point of view then we are becoming intolerant.

India is a country which prides on its unity in diversity. But how unified are we really? We are divided on the lines of languages, religion, and caste, and now even on political affiliations and views. Our unity relies upon the thin line that separates tolerance from fanaticism. What we see now is that thin line getting even thinner by the day.

We now have states (remember that our states were drawn up based on linguistic boundaries) where outsiders are harassed in the name of protecting the local culture and language. So we see patriotism being replaced by regionalism. There are states in India who have their own flags which are seen more prominently in that state than even the national flag. Shopkeepers and other such small businessmen are harassed and their properties vandalized because they have their boards in English alone and not in the local language. It has reached such an extreme that anytime there is a dispute with a neighboring state, people resort to such ridiculous forms of protest as banning that region’s channels and vandalizing the cinema halls which show movies in that region’s language.

image courtesy: travels.talash.com

Matters have reached such a head that these so called ‘activists’ of the local language tried to stop the screening of a soft porn movie dubbed in the local language because they found that the actors’ lip moment was not matching the dialogues. There was quite a ruckus in front of the cinema hall creating a tense situation. The tension was resolved and the crowd dispersed only when a witty and clever police officer asked, “Who watches or even listens to the dialogues of this movie”!!!

Our political parties are not showing any grand example of tolerance either. There is a cadre party in Kerala who throws out their own members at the drop of a hat. Even the slightest bit of criticism or cynicism is met with a strong response in the name of maintaining party discipline. Forgive my ignorance, but I thought in a democratic set up everyone has a right to express their own opinion. Decisions are supposed to be taken after the fruitful conclusion of a debate. But more basically for a debate to happen there has to be two differing views. If you silence all opposing views then you are robbing yourself from the chance of having an alternate maybe even a more pragmatic approach.

Cultural intolerance is also on the rise as illustrated by the uproar over Richard Gere – Shilpa Shetty kissing incident. The uproar and the subsequent protests was shameful because it not only showed our intolerance but also our hypocritical attitude towards sex (remember we are still in 2nd position as far as population goes. Not to forget that we were the ones who gave Kamasutra to the world).

Image Courtesy: img.metro.co.uk

Religious intolerance has reached such a crescendo that even the silliest of reasons is enough to send a mob into a violent fury. In most cases these mobs and the violence which erupt thereafter are instigated by some factionalist political parties or organizations that have their own vested interests. A case in point is the recent attack on the Star News channel office just because the channel showed a story about a Muslim boy eloping with a Hindu girl. Again some so called protectors of culture went on a rampage at the channel’s office destroying everything and beating up everyone who stood in their way.

Religious intolerance and its resultant violence are not just limited to India alone. The current global epidemic of terrorism is a direct byproduct of intolerance. The fundamentalists are intolerant of the beliefs, the standard of living and even the lifestyle of the west. And it is this intolerance more than anything that drives them to do such acts of terror. They should show the basic respect for the beliefs of others which they do not believe in.

Image Courtesy: tribuneindia.com

Intolerance of other ethnic groups and immigrant communities are also on the rise throughout the west. The recent violence in Paris is a direct outcome of this. Violence against gays and homosexuals are also on the rise. Our intolerance for people whose sexual orientation is different from ours has been simmering for quite some time now. A person has the right to choose the partner he wishes to. And if both partners are happy in their choice, then who are we to object to the way they live their lives.

We should all remember that the other person too has the same rights that we have. He has the same right to make the choices he wants to make, the same right to express his opinion and the same right to live according to his beliefs. As long as his rights don’t violate the rights of others none of us should have a problem with it.

Image Courtesy: tngzz.info

Some of the readers of this post may not agree with the views we have stated here. You are welcome to post you comments here. You can criticize, vilify or ridicule us. Hell, you can even shred this post to pieces. We will humbly accept that. Because then it is a disagreement and you have the right to express your opinion. And we will show the tolerance to hear your opinions and maybe try and clarify our position a bit more. But please do not hack into this blog and vandalize it or bomb Google’s datacenters because then it becomes intolerance. And that’s what we have been trying to put across all along.

Amitabh Bachan for President?

Amitabh Bachan for President?

There was a news flashed across our TV sets a few days back stating that Mr.Amitabh Bachan’s name is being pushed by a couple of political parties as the next president of India. There were many who were flabbergasted by this news. Agreed, he is the biggest superstar of this country, maybe even a great actor. But he has not done anything for the country or the people to warrant such an action. Then again when has our politicians been logical when it came to gimmicks to stay in the limelight. Maybe they would like a bit of glamour and star power in the corridors of power

So let’s take a leaf out of their book and take a flight into fantasy. Let’s take leave of our senses and speculate on what would happen if the stars were to take over the running of our country.

The President of India – Amitabh Bachan

Who other than the Big B himself is eligible to being the first citizen of India? The man was voted as the superstar of the millennium in a poll conducted by the BBC. This is not much of a brain teaser

Vice President of India – Jaya Bachan

Behind every successful man there is a successful woman. So it is logical to have Jaya Bachan as the vice president of India. Like Clinton said of Hillary when he took over the American Presidency, you get two presidents for the price of one. Now has there ever been a greater offer!!!

Prime Minister/ Finance Minister – Shah Rukh Khan

If anybody can hold himself in terms of star power and fan following with the Big B, then it has to be Shah Rukh Khan. The self proclaimed Badshah of Bollywood would definitely get a kick out of ruling the whole nation literally. His first order of action? Make valentine’s day a national holiday so that his loyal fans (read shrieking mindless girls) can watch his candy flossed movies on love and romance in peace. His stint with the Indian version of the TV series ‘Who wants to be a millionaire’ should have given him enough hands on experience in distributing wealth among those who require it. This should help him to be one of the most popular finance ministers in history.

Home Minister – Navjot Singh Sidhu

Although strictly not from the bollywood, he being an ex-cricketer, he displays enough shenanigans from time to time that would put any star to shame. Imagine him giving his pearls of wisdom (read those mindless Siddhuisms he keeps imparting on the rest of us) to some rioters. They would give up violence just to shut him up. Or they would be so immersed in thought to figure out what exactly he said that they would forget all about rioting in the first place.

External Affairs Minister – Shilpa Shetty

After her recent successful stint with the reality TV show Big Brother UK, there can be no better choice for this post than her. Probably she can bat her eyelids and get Tony Blair to help. She can clear away our problems with Pakistan with those lovely tears which won over her Big Brother audiences.

Minister for Law – Sanjay Dutt

Sanjay Dutt has been in trouble so many times, it’s a wonder that he is still walking around as a free man. What with his court hearings going on and on for over a decade he must have picked up on some legal expertise by now. He has even spent some time in jail. Who better than a convict to know the in and out of the law?

Minister for Animal Rights and protection/ Sport – Salman Khan


Salman should be given a chance to redeem himself for his poaching of the endangered black buck. He will have the opportunity to show his animal loving side (hope he doesn’t love them too much and start reaching for the nearest double barrel gun). And just in case he can’t contain himself… well he can always have the sport ministry to fall back upon

Now I know all these guys don’t have enough experience in politics to be ministers. Not to worry. We have some experienced ‘old’ stars who can act as mentors to these guys. I am sure people like Vinod Khanna, Shatrughan Sinha, Dharmendra, Govinda et al. wouldn’t mind. So the only option left to our existing bunch of politicians? Either act in a movie or start visiting their nearest beauty parlours. Readers are welcome to add on or change this list.

I know this has been very childish article and it was intentionally so. Because that’s how seriously I think we should take this suggestion of the Big B being the next president. There are enough qualified and vetran politicians here to take care of it. The name of Somnath Chatterjee readily springs to mind.

Celebrity Big Brother and Shilpa Shetty

Shilpa Shetty- When Celebrities Weep!!!

The newest tempest that has struck the media tea cups has turned out to be a cute one by name “Shilpa”. When tears flow out of her beautiful eyes, so called activists weep, politicians take up cudgels and big brother is counting hits and ratings with glee! Here the young men are panic stricken; public even in remote places of states like Bihar (where dalit (low caste) women are paraded naked at random) conducts rallies and burn effigies. Because people can’t just withstand her tears! Because she is so beautiful.

In Britain a media company “Channel Four” runs a program by name “Celebrity Big Brother” -a reality show. In this cheap but innovative show they let some hand picked “celebrities” to live for about 25 days in one common place and allow them to interact freely. Their activities there are recorded via secret cameras, edited and shown for public viewing. The best performer is given some prize in the final. Peeping Toms and star-crazy people are said to be bulk of the viewers.

When many people are put in a place skirmishes are bound to occur, in anyway Shilpa Shetty had been smart, was one view. There it is alleged that a group of three girls joined hands and insulted Shilpa with derogatory words. The subject starved media took up the case and highly succeeded in sensationalizing the issue. Those girls happened to be British and the trump card of racism was apt to be played.

The media people are at present busy showing the clippings repeatedly as if they have nothing else to show, being a news starved lot they may be excused. Nowadays people who watch television 24 hours continuously are increasing in number. Their demand for something new has to be satisfied. The channels are forced to grab whatever straw they could get. More over covering this report with so beautiful a face can catch anybody’s attention. Shilpa is a mini Helen of Troy!

Whatever be the case the results of the competition held by the channel will be out and Shilpa will most probably be the winner as she has grabbed the sympathy of spectators and perhaps that of the whole world. The real winner is definitely the Celebrity big brother as their viewership sky rocketed and they are celebrity over night! Let them walk to the bank laughing all the way.

“If winter is here can spring be far behind” When media persons make hay can the politicians remain mute? The “statesmen” of all hues are after the celebrity. “Ye aram ka mamla hein” (The issue is of comfort) as the undergarment ad goes, (the issue is of glamour) Indian politicians are also on the run to grab the glamour irradiated from Shilpa. They simultaneously weep for Shilpa and cry for “racist’s” blood. Even the most committed Marxists are also “very much moved”.

There are interesting arguments, Shilpa being a Mumbai resident and of Tamil origin (pertaining to South India) has to face discrimination in her home city!

Shilpa is a tough one and can easily handle any situation is the general view (her mother also expressed it similarly), remember that she is a black belt holder in karate, fortunately her martial art techniques were not displayed in the visuals. The media can think of showing the same after some time, in selling no doubt it will defeat the poor hot cakes!

The accusations go like this, “Jade goody, Donielle Lloyd, Jo O’ Meara are the villains (she -villains) of the story, they had the back support of their boy friends. Some of the words used are unprintable”, and if the same is true a karate girl like Shilpa should be given Nobel Prize for peace for not kicking at their vital parts! It is reported that Jade Goody-the rowdy, will be kicked out by the big brother from the court, and every chance for Shilpa winning hands down.

The initial reaction of the big brother was that it was just a girly rivalry or a school yard rubbish, later when the incident gained “international importance” they were forced to take it bit more seriously and talking of appropriate actions. As racism is a dirty word and that being profusely used in this context by each and every one has made them very apprehensive made the poor big brother run for cover. The publicity which was indented has been gained more than enough, then a slight action if repairs the damage it will be O K. for the brother.

Indian Government’s reaction as expressed by our Central Minister has assured of appropriate action against the “attack on the Bollywood actress”, British Chancellor Gordon Brown has raised the issue in the House of Commons and British Prime Minister Tony Blair has assured that the matter would be taken seriously.

Just taking the issue seriously is not enough Britain should transfer the entire monetary gain the “Big Brother” has amassed in pounds through this controversy has to be transferred to Shilpa’s account and Indian Government should make her the Indian Ambassador to Britain (as the present one is of no use). No doubt she will do a tremendous job there with her deadly tears! No one on earth can withstand the sight of her face going gloomy and she may score a thousand points for India in that status.