“Liberals claim to want to give a hearing to other views, but then are shocked and offended to discover that there are other views.”
— William Frank Buckley, Jr. an author and founder of National Review magazine in the US
The so-called liberals and the Communists who pretend to be liberals have been put to test time and again and every time when they try to selectively play the liberal card, there double standards are exposed. They chose to remain silent or align with fundamentalists when it comes to Triple Talaq debate or the murderous attacks on Go-Rakshaks. The recent debate on Freedom of Expression pertaining to movies, Padmavati and S… Durga, has again depicted the hypocrisy of these ‘liberal fundamentalists’ in a classical way.
In a democratic society, no sane person can support the violence as a tool to push their political agenda, so no question of defending any ‘Sena’ (except Bharatiya Sena) for resorting to violent means, whatever may be the cause. The real question is who is giving birth to these violent outfits and why? In depth analysis of sequence in Padmavati and S… Durga row will unfold the matter.
The Padmavati movie promo released by its producer clearly depicts the sensuous scene involving the character of an aggressor Alauddin Khilji and valourous Rajput Queen Padmavati, can be a publicity gimmick. Many film makers try to create controversy before the movie to get the mileage. This time the tested strategy of Bollywood boomeranged for obvious reasons. Rani Padmavati is a revered figure since the time of Freedom Movement against the Islamic aggression and symbolises the valour of Rajput women in terms of ‘Jouhar’. Instead of discussing the history on the basis of available resources and how far film makers should be allowed to distort the same for commercial gains, the ‘liberal’ gang supported by the financers of the Bollywood opted for denial mode of any such historical incident, then tried to glorify Khilji as a great reformist and when some groups reacted sharply, they brought the favourite ‘Freedom of Expression’ bogie.
The same is true about the film titled ‘S… Durga’. To some Communist leaning
filmmakers denigrating Hindu sentiments is a favourite way to express their freedom. The self-proclaimed liberal and moderate voices of Bollywood, like Shabana Azmi and Javed Akhtar immediately jumped to defend the film. On the issue of Padmavati they also gave a call to the film fraternity to boycott the International Film Festival of India, the annual feature organised at Goa. When Shabana was reminded with almost fatwa like warning against AR Rahman for his association with Majid Majidi’s film Muhammad: The Messenger Of God, she suddenly disappeared from the scene. Taking Hindu sentiments for granted and succumbing to fundamentalists in the name of religious sentiments is the convenient liberal-intellectual strategy. Ironically, no one from Not in My Name gang stood for the violent protests and virtual lynching of the TV anchor Rohit Sardana, when he asked a valid question whether these so-called liberal voices would take the same stand on movies named ‘S… Fatima’ or ‘S… Ayesha’.
Our Constitution is very clear on this. Hurting anybody’s sentiments or distorting historical facts amounting to social disturbance cannot be accepted under Freedom of Speech. There are movies made with a strong reformist message or involving historical characters. The society has positively received these movies, provided the intent of the movie maker is clear. As the court has asked to wait for the clearance from the certification authority, no side should make irresponsible statements and protesters also should not cross the line.
‘Liberal intellectuals’ of Bharat would have made up for their credibility if they had raised the same kind of protesting voices in favour of ‘Freedom of Expression’ when some facebook posts or speeches involving the Prophet of politically purported minorities were made and legal actions were taken against the involved person. Why some film makers with malicious intentions should have such freedom? When liberals rant, it is a ‘Freedom of Speech’, when others do the same it is a ‘hate speech’, this is the typical kind of fundametalist liberalism for the proponents of ‘free speech’. As long as they are following these illiberal double standards, they will not only kill the true ‘liberal ethos’ rooted in the Bharatiya civilisation but also will give birth to many more violently protesting ‘Senas’. @PrafullaKetkar
