Bans, Boycotts and Bharat (India) (B on Day 2 of A to Z Challenge 2015)

It was somewhere in the midst of Ban and Boycotts for Bharat (India) - A facade my country has started to don lately.

Here is a quick recap of bans on creativity and choices we make as individuals.
(This is not comprehensive list and in no order of preference):

1. India's Daughter was banned because it projects bad image of India. BBC was sent a notice by the Indian authorities and the documentary was taken down from the internet.

Un-ban our choices, Un-ban our freedom
Source - Google 

2. It was in the midst of a Beef Ban (cow slaughter ban) imposed in Maharashtra as Cow is worshiped by Hindus (majority religion in India) and Indian authorities are presumably stepping towards Hindu theocracy (overshadowing India's secular constitution). Cows will receive legal protection and mug shots with identity proofs are being created. The ban is likely to be extended across the country.

3. It was a ban that Un-freedom Movie was subjected to for focusing on homosexuality as it can promote unnatural passion.

4. Kalki Koechlin's 'Margarita With A Straw' cleared by Censor Board with only one cut - of a 12-second kissing scene. It is a film about a woman with cerebral palsy coming to terms with her queer sexuality.

5. The word Bombay beeped out of Mihir Joshi's songtrack 'Sorry' because it is 'offensive' to use primitive nomenclature (Bombay) for Mumbai. The track is a conversation between a father and his daughter and I wrote it after the Nirbhaya Gang rape case in December 2012.ay

Here are the lyrics of the song:

I am sorry sweetheart

This is the world I am giving you today. 

It is the same thing no matter what you read… 

From Delhi to Bombay. I wish it was different darling...

Wish you could feel nice and safe. 

But the world’s gone crazy, I don't know what to say’
6. Amendments to Section 66 A of the Information Technology Act was aimed at banning my liberty to speak my mind online. Thankfully the Supreme Court of India rendered it unconstitutional. And I am relieved as my Facebook updates will not invite an arrest order from the authorities on grounds of offensive, while I attempt to show my dissent.

7. Creators of All India Bakchod Roost were forced to take down the video from Youtube as it breached Indian values. Outcry over creative cinematic ventures like Haider, PK are not alien to Indians. And even the infamous movie 50 Shades of Grey made to banned items in India.

As I write this post, I am enraged. I have a question for those who support these bans and promote boycotts in the name of our nation. So as individuals, what are we (we refers to those who are impacted by these bans)?  

Are we heading adolescence?
Are we rash bunch of brats who are to be disciplined?
Are we incapable of making decisions?
Do we have to project a regressive face of development to the world today?
Do we really in need of writing a oligarchy for generations to come?
Are we a nation where people need to be fed on the right idea of entertainment, food, religion and music?
Do we have hold years old values paramount and fail to walk with the times?
Do we really have to be controlled for the choices we make as individuals?

THE ANSWER TO EACH OF THE QUESTION LISTED ABOVE IS A BIG LOUD SHOUT OF A 'Damn NO'.

My nation Bharat (India) is becoming all about Bans, Boycott, Bigotry. We do not need this? We are able enough to make the right choices as individuals. And we are liberated enough to make the wrong choices. Do not make decisions for me. My soul suffocates and curse you.

Ban mongers - If you do not like it, choose to avoid it. Please do not make decisions for me. I do not need your wisdom!

Author's Note: Impose a blanket Ban on Injustice, Hypocrisy, Corrupt, Bigots, Small Thinkers, Shallow Minds, Sexists, Rapists, Crime, Violence...

Ban the wrong. Ban it today - you need not ban anything else! I detest those mindless bans that take away my freedom of making choices, my freedom of deriving solace or getting a high to bring out my creativity.

P.S. Bans, Boycotts and Bharat (India) on B - April 2, 2015. My second post for the A to Z April Challenge.

Irony of asking Aamir Khan to Shut Up.

Of late many developments in the political arena has kept my Facebook feed busy. Mostly it is enlightening, to know what is happening in the world and be acquainted to varied opinions, at times it is frustrating, at times it is funny, and at times it brings out hypocrisy of our society. AIB controversy has been one of them. About the content of AIB - I cannot talk much because I have not seen it. And I did not see it because I choose not to!

A star studded event and some laughs offended those who believe that it went against the basic tenants of Hinduism. AIB took off the video (which was uploaded on YouTube and adhered to the guidelines of YouTube). Then Anushka Sharma made a statement, and them came Aamir Khan. Aamir's opinion was widely circulated. You may view his reaction here (I will dissociate with the caption of this video)>>

Some bashing him, some disagreeing, some agreeing with him and some inferring what he did not state. And then people start bringing the Delhi Belly - DK Bose, dig out his opinions on creativity, poking fun at him, memes of his statements from Satyamev Jayte... This was all right!

It started getting disturbing when Aamir was asked to shut up, coming from Russel Peters asking Aamir to shut up. One may disagree with Aamir Khan, but wanting him shut up is ‪#ironical‬ about the whole ‪#‎AIB‬ debate. When we seek freedom of thought, creativity, words, ideas, protest, humour, name-calling, et al we ourselves need to put us in that situation where we are at the receiving end. ‪

Source: Google Search

While I believe that his statement was balanced - he did not bash AIB, neither did he bash the action against AIB - he upheld the legal course. The essence of his thought was - if you like it you watch it, he did not like it and found it emotionally violent (disturbing). He scold his friends and that is quite a personal talk, which was brought up in the course of discussion during a public forum.

Parting Note: Arnub tries to find the true meaning of 'Freedom Of Speech', as he invites the creators and the people they offended in a scintillating debate.

P.S.: Whoever feels that Aamir should shut up, do not understand freedom of speech.