Disappearing tolerance seems dissenting liberal ideas

The ability to tolerate is an attitude that Indians claim to have inherited in their blood. This however seems to be disappearing. Books are banned, movies remain unscreened and writers are not allowed to speak in a public forum. Why so? The idea of liberal democracy seems to be hiding somewhere under the pressure of challenging lurid writings or works. Their thoughts and works have no space in our ‘liberal’ environment or democratic setup. Wendy Doniger’s book, ‘The Hindu: An Alternative History’ has been trashed by its publishers under pressure from right wing’s groups. A writer’s hard work, thought and reflection of her ideas has been put aside to appease to the fragile egos of certain groups of people.

 Shouting slogans of democracy and pretending to be liberal cannot be an alternative for a real champion of freedom. If people are not allowed to practice freedom in their thoughts and words then how can India become a pioneer of tolerance? There is a tug of war between different groups, parties and individuals where everyone is aspiring to be on the winning side. They all are in the race of exposing hypocrisy in which everyone is involved in one or the other.  How can a group be so powerful that it can influence the court or publisher for trashing one’s book? It is backed by a political party. Why no other political party then comes to take stand for the freedom of expression? Why does it remain a silent spectator of the entire drama? Parties try all means, even intimidation, to sway people at large on the name of religion.

 M.F Hussain spent his life till the last days in a foreign land after his painting was found to be offensive towards the Hindu religion. Salman Rushdie on various occasions was not allowed to speak on public platforms because that could have hurt the sentiment of a particular set of people. What kind of sentiments do we have that cannot be understood, writers’ perspectives that we allow to be trashed silently. A book cannot damage any tradition or cannot offend any religion by any means. It is the offence mongers who sale such ideas of intolerance for their due interest.

 These are a serious set of questions which need to be answered by the heroes of liberal democracy and those who claim to defend liberal values. This silence would be very dangerous for our own survival because silence doesn’t let us resist wrong happenings. Decency is required rather than dissenting on a piece of work or art. We have somewhere constrained our mind and soul to question those in power and thus let injustice happen.