The Spirit of (In)Tolerance!

The Da Vinci Code has generated enough controversy across the world as a book. Several Christian Organisations including the Vatican have been vocal in protesting and condemning the book as it goes against the beliefs of Catholicism. However it didn’t create even a ripple when the book was sold in India. Until it was time for the release of the movie.

Suddenly there were protests. Various denominations of Catholic organisations have protested rabidly against the release of the movie. The Goan government too threw hats into the ring and asked for the movie to be banned.

The history of protests against creative expression in India is rather long. The first I recollect having come across is the banning of the book by Maulana Abdul Kalam Azaad (India Wins Freedom, if I’m right). It took many decades for the censored portions to appear in print. I wonder if it was the influence of Scientific Socialism on Nehru and Indian Government (read, Indian National Congress). Censorship in the (erstwhile) USSR then was very strong and hardly anything that went against the grain of Communism could be published. Later when I was in school a book in Kannada sent shockwaves among the Hindus and the Brahmans in particular. Polanki Ramamurthy, a Kannada Professor in the University of Mysore authored a book called "Seethayana", the tale of Ramayana retold from Seeta's point of view. Polanki Ramamurthy had also made the Brahmans see red because of his references to the Aswamedha sacrifice and its significance (and also had conveyed what was otherwise known in the history that the Brahmans and the priests during the Vedic period ate beef).

The South has seen a slew of movies parodying the Gods and the Goddesses of the Hindu religion (Telugu in particular has produced umpteen number of them). Surprsingly there have been little or no protests against this. I don't know if there was any protest against the recent Hindi movie though (as I'm in Bhutan and rarely read newspapers these days as they come at least 3 days late), "Wah Kya Life Hai", where Sanjay Dutt (portraying Lord Yama is shown dancing away at the disco and also trying to lift the girls' skirts!)!

My first terrifying incident of having however experienced fundamentalism/intolerance against freedom of expression was in late ‘80s(I've seen enough Hindu-Muslim riots as I come from Kolar; we also lived in a Muslim-majority locality for years and sometimes under fear too) . I was in +2. On a Sunday evening Bangalore was up in flames. They spread to other parts of Karnataka – including Mysore. Muslims were burning in rage against the publishing of a short story in a leading English daily published from Bangalore. Their rage burned newspaper offices, buildings, banners, people and freedom. The cities were ravaged. Leading the protesters in their heinous crimes were some politicians (FM Khan, then Congress MLA, thank God he’s dead). It didn’t take much time for the riots to turn communal (read, Hindu-Muslim).

The short story was published in the magazine section of the newspaper. It was titled ‘Mohammed the Idiot’. It narrated the story of a village bumpkin by the name Mohammed and had another character named Sita, a prostitute in the village. Muslims were protesting against the blasphemy. Ironically (it’s been almost 20 years and I hope my memory’s serving me right) the same story was published in Malayalam and it had won critical acclaim and even the State’s Academy Award (in a state that has a large Muslim population). The riots didn’t abate until the newspaper published an apology!

I also remember Muslims protesting (again late ‘80s) against a song in a movie called ‘Giraftaar’ (the song ‘Bolo Amin..’ a quawwali was picturised with a mosque set in the backdrop). But mercifully it didn’t stimulate any violent riots. A case filed in the court against the movie but the song stayed.

Militant Hindutva was still in its infancy then but soon was raring to go. A ‘me too’ Syndrome I guess (rather, ‘Why should we be denied the privilege of protesting against anything that’s right’ attitude). If Muslims can do it, why can’t we? So, we had Hindus protesting soon against anything that they could. I remember the spread of the Ayodhya conflict then (until late 80’s the general population in the South wasn’t aware that a controversy existed even). I saw activists from ABVP distributing pamphlets containing their version of the entire controversy and indoctrinating the young minds (more numbers, longer the riots). I remember even attending a few ABVP meetings with friends who were greatly influenced by the propaganda.

Very soon there were protests against the projection of Bal Thackeray in the movie ‘Bombay’ (there were protests against the title too but Maniratnam thankfully struck by it). There were protests by Muslims as to how the director could show a Muslim girl falling in love with a Hindu boy (would it have been fine if it were the other way round, I wondered). I didn’t like the movie though. It was just another glossy and didn’t show anything groundbreaking or earthshaking. It was a whimper (but the movie was a ‘Super hit’). These protests were soon followed by the Shiv Sainiks going berserk against the paintings of MF Hussein (painting ‘Hindu Goddesses’ in the buff, how dare he?). Intolerance again raised its ugly head when a research centre in Pune was ransacked for the alleged support extended to the publishing of the book on Shivaji. Should I dwell also on the protests against the filming of ‘Water’ in Varanasi? Or on ‘Satanic Verses’? Of course people like Mahesh Bhatt have exploited the rather edgy relations between the two communities and made movies that appeal to the pseudo-secularists (arm chair secularists), the left parties and the powers-that-be who decide on the awards (and sometimes box office goodies too).

If two large communities are protesting against the slurs (real and imaginary) committed, how long would the other communities just sit back and enjoy the show? They too wanted a piece of this rather sickeningly inviting pie. I don’t know if the Sikhs started it first or the Christians. They both have flexed their unhealthy muscles anyways. The first (albeit muted) protest of the Sikhs I recollect was against the portrayal of a Sikh character (a young boy) in Kuchh Kuchh Hota Hai. But the protests by Sikhs took an ugly turn last year when they turned violent and burnt everything in sight at the screening of ‘Jo Bole So Nihaal’ (pity, the producers must be thinking, that the movie didn’t benefit ‘coz of this).

Christians too have joined the bandwagon. There have been protests against movies after movies by them. Many have filed court cases. I remember the case of ‘Sins’. Now, The da Vinci Code’. There was one more movie in between (can’t remember the name though). All this leaves only the Jains and the Buddhists out of the protests. We must do something so that our brethren from these religions aren't left out of this unwholesome broth!

Intolerance (fortunately or unfortunately) hasn’t been just about religion. Since Indians thrive on hero (heroine) worship, anytime a leader with (some) mass base comes under the scanner, there are rallies, hartals, what-have-you. The biography of Mrs Indira Gandhi authored by Katherine Frank invited wrath from all Congress folk. Even from Maneka Gandhi. I think this was the only issue on which the two daughters-in-law were together (though altogether for different reasons). The book surprisingly didn’t see a ban. Much earlier, ‘Worshipping of False Gods’ by Arun Shourie created quite a stir and the entire Dalit class was up in arms against the journalist/politician for his take on Ambedkar. People from the earlier generations surely would be familiar with the fates of the movies, ‘Kissa Kursi Ka’ and ‘Aandhi’ at the hands of Mrs. Gandhi. Another book (a biography again) that indicates that Sanjay Gandhi was gay also has come under the Congress hammer (I don’t remember the title). Political parties have been on an one-upmanship when it comes to censorship and intolerance. But surprisingly, any comments and books on Gandhi (against especially) finds no protests (true to his principles of non-violence, should I say?). So, no more nudity on screen, no kissing (it’s against Indian ethos), no FTV and cut all scenes of sex, violence and inappropriate language from even movies coming from abroad.

Yes, the Government in its wisdom has desisted from banning the movie, ‘The da Vinci Code’. It’ll run with the disclaimer that ‘This is a work of fiction’ (What else was it to begin with?). But the attention that it has created (the protests and not the result) will surely strengthen the will of mischief mongers. I’d advise everyone (sensible) to brace up for more and even more protests, violence, riots and such other acts of intolerance.

Intolerance doesn’t end just there. Even projection of reality isn’t tolerated. So, ban anything that comes too close to reality (why not ban reality itself?). Or, at least demand for the ban seems to be the new mantra. Ban anything that offends anyone’s sensibilities. At this rate, one should ban television, cinema, writing, arts, sculpture, science, destroy all existing manifestations of creativity and ultimately ban living. That would be real tolerance. If one ends Life from the planet there wouldn’t be any intolerance left too. Just peace and tolerance around! Any takers?

India surely stands unified today as never before. We are united on being a divided lot. We are all united on one issue - of being intolerant. The process of Talibanisation (borrowed, plagiarised term) of the society is marching ahead. The British alas aren't in the country to watch with pride!