Crossroads of Tolerance

This is simply amazing !

A democracy should not come down on its knees by threats emanating from vested interests. It should ascertain its position clearly in unambiguous language, explain any apparent contradictions, maintain its neutrality and firmly ward off any potential violence mentioned in empty threats.

The Indian police and government failed in all these aspects when they had to deal with the visit of Salman Rushdie to attend the literary meet that was held last month in Jaipur. I do not know much about this meet, and I am not interested really. I only saw the news coverage in print media and the TV channels, and then realized some big festival was going on at Jaipur involving many learned men, writers and famous authors.

Well, that is fine. Many events are going on, and do we bother ? We just get on with what we wish to do or accomplish.

But what was surprising is that the powers that be tried to stop Salman Rushdie’s visit. They asked the organizers of the literary festival to cancel his visit. Notwithstanding the fact that he was not going to talk on his banned book, or read from it. The organizers could not sustain their arguments, I guess. Finally, the trip was cancelled.

I do not know if that was a loss for the literary festival, but I think we should not muzzle authors. Rushdie did not even need an Indian visa, as he had a PIO (Person of Indian Origin) passport which allows him visa-free travel to India. Later the Government of India said the same thing, they said that they did not try to stop his visit or pressurize the organizers (which no one believes), they also said that they would have given him necessary security protection. The fact is that certain vested interests wanted his trip to be stopped and applied pressure on the police and the government, both at the central and state level, and the government succumbed.

I don’t of course absolutely know the facts, but I believe that Indian democracy is strong enough now to withstand such pressure tactics. Is it wrong if anyone in the country believes that the government did this in view of the upcoming elections ? Is it not a logical thought ?

Well, we have to accept facts of life, and reach maturity levels of developed nations. When hate speeches occur in our society, does the government take suo moto cognizance and arrest the speaker ? No, I haven’t seen that happening. So, what are we trying to do ? At the end of the day, free speech does matter to this country’s people and why stop it from happening ? Why yield to undemocratic and unsustainable pressures ? Why can’t the government have a mind of its own ?

It is critical to demonstrate to the population that the government is a neutral establishment when running the government and not a stooge of its own party at all times.

Tolerance of different people and thoughts is at the core of democracy, and let us remember, not everyone believes in democracy. Let us support efforts which strengthens the core of democracy, let us not worry about short-term benefits.

Cheers,

Vijay Srinivasan
11th February 2012
Mumbai