Quirk Express

We must have the right to watch the movies we want to see. An argument in favour of the eccentric Indian

As we seem to be slipping inexorably towards repressive and totalitarian ways of thinking, I believe the time has come to take a stance. If we keep quiet or even indirectly acquiesce, we run the risk of resembling well-meaning Germans in the thirties who thought that the Nazi menace would go away 8216;8216;they are just harmless book-burners8217;8217;. It did not, it grew like a cancer and engulfed Germany, to the eternal shame of a great nation.

I would like to see movies of my choice. I do not believe that the government should succumb to the blackmail of any self-appointed religious group to come in my way. It is ironic that the citizens of Rome can see The Da Vinci Code a week before we can in India. I do not think we should accept a situation where a gang threatens to burn down a theatre where a movie is screened because the mob dislikes the political views of an actor. If unruly, violent mobs are going to decide what we as citizens can or cannot do, then we are definitely heading for the dark ages.

And as for imported cartoons, we should treat them like any other goods traded under WTO rules and allow their import under transparent guidelines, again not subject to boycotts instigated by violent parties.

I do not think we should stay silent when meaningless criminal charges are made out against artists. Again, it is ironical that in a country where nudity and explicit erotica have a long and accepted tradition, we suddenly get self-appointed Malvolios telling us what is acceptable and what is not.

The next step is that the Public Works Department will be asked to build a dome in reinforced cement concrete doubtless to cover Khajuraho and Konark and every other embodiment of the Maithuna tradition. In fact, believers in the Maithuna School should, in my opinion, vociferously argue that nude goddesses and phallic symbols are very central to their religious beliefs and practices and they should have complete and free access to them.

I DO not think state governments should be allowed to pass laws that inhibit me from changing my faith if I so wish. And I say this as a practising Hindu. I believe that it is my birthright to be a Vaishnavite this week, a Shaivite the next week, a Shakta next month and, for that matter, to be a follower of Mary or Jesus next year. I do not think that this is the business of any policeman or magistrate.

I fully support the right of Hare Rama Hare Krishna followers to convert people in India and in other countries to their point of view and their faith. I think we should all insist that everyone should have similar rights in our land.

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This business that people use trickery or inducements to convert is a complete red herring. All persuasion involves the use of inducements. If I succumb to inducement, that is my concern, not the state8217;s.

From the strict perspective of empirical science all religious persuasion amounts to unfair and unproven inducement. After all, no one has scientific proof that there is a heaven with or without angels, a paradise with or without houris or a Vaikunt with or without bhajans. In effect, all of these rewards that are held out are inducements without basis.

If someone were to sell stocks or shares in this manner, the regulators would hound them. But in religious, aesthetic and similar matters, we have long accepted that exaggerated promises that stretch our scientific credulity are fine. All we can do is to remind the partakers of these religious goods of the Latin adage 8216;8216;caveat emptor8217;8217; 8230;8216;8216;buyer beware8217;8217;. Given our inherently inchoate and flexible world-view, Hindus should be particularly adept at coming up with winning ideas, shouldn8217;t we?

THE other argument made sometimes is that money is used as a temptation to convert. As long as all religious groups are freely allowed to use the same, I see no harm in it. The unfortunate poor of India may actually get affluent bidding one set of persuaders against another in a very worthwhile auction in keeping with the principles of free markets.

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In effect, we would endorse a free market in religious ideas and encourage followers of different religions to contribute hard cash to win over converts to their side. Why should anyone object? If Hindus were to divert a fraction of what they spend on pujas into this auction, we should have nothing at all to fear!

The trouble is that once we compromise principles in order to pander to one group of threatening violent folks, we open the Pandora8217;s Box. But two wrongs do not make a right. Just because years ago, we foolishly banned Rushdie8217;s The Satanic Verses, it does not mean that we should keep repeating our mistakes.

Let us draw a line. Unless something is prurient e.g. child pornography or a direct inducement to violence e.g. hate-filled propaganda that urges readers to make and throw bombs, we must not place restrictions on free speech, free expression, free thought, free conversions from one faith to another.

We must have the right to see the paintings we like, hear the music we cherish, enjoy the movies we adore, watch the dances we appreciate, attend the plays we admire, worship the gods and goddesses we revere and savour the books we delight in.

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One of the attractive things about living in modern India has been that despite all the travails we go through, our minds are open and our tongues can wag freely. We have judged ourselves primarily as individuals, not as members of a collective herd with no minds or judgments of our own.

We are not just 8216;8216;argumentative Indians8217;8217; as one of our intellectuals describes us, we are colourful Indians who treasure our right to be eccentric. If we lose this, our lives will become profoundly more irksome and that much less worth living.

jerry.raoexpressindia.com