Freedom of Speech takes a hit in India

[Lyzandra Daria]

Censorship And Religion Control At Indian Universities

http://www.starcitynews.com/censorship- ... ities/1659

The right of free speech has now come under attack in the world’s largest democracy India.
In a latest incident the extremist Hindus have forced a ban on an award winning book, and consequently it has been taken off the university syllabus.
The novel “Such a Long Journey” by Rohinton Mistry has been accused of expressing derogatory references to the Hindu extremist organization Shiv Sena.
The activists of the organization demonstrated against the book. The leader of the youth wing Aditya Thackery who is also the founder of the party Bal Thackery burned copies of the book. Meanwhile the novel has been shortlisted for the prestigious Booker Prize.
Surrendering to the pressure, the University of Mumbai has withdrew the novel from the syllabus of its undergraduate arts degree course.
This is not the first time these pressure tactics have been used by the Hindu group. This is the same group that forced a change of the name Bombay to Mumbai in 1995.
In the 1990’s the leader of the group was accused of inciting hatred against Muslims resulting in the death of 1,000 people.
The author of the novel Canada based Mistry has condemned the tactics of Shiv Sena and also the University for succumbing to the pressure of these extremists. He accused the University of institutionalizing self-censorship.
The people involved in the arts and bloggers have also criticized this ban.
Shiv Sena is a Hindu Fundamentalist organization that is known for its anti-Muslim, anti-Pakistan rhetoric. It also claims to be struggling for the natives of the state of Maharashtra against the “outsiders” and often uses violence in its pursuit.
It also forced a ban on a book by an American-based academic for allegedly using derogatory comments against the Maratha king Shivaji.
In the month of February it delayed the exhibition of a film named “My name is Khan” featuring bollywood king Shahrukh Khan accusing the actor of “unpatriotic remarks.” What Next?
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Exactly...what will these mentally ill morons push next. The only way to fight such idiocy is to label religion as a mental defect or disease. Talking about a mental illness or disease with derision is also frowned upon (in civilized society anyway). But, at least expressing an opinion (i.e., religion is a mental disease or defect) doesn't become a question of freedom of speech.
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[tsrajesh]

"Extremist Hindus" is an oxymoron. They just either defend or retaliate.. Never on the offensive. In fact, that is one main reason that we have so many jihadi terrorists in india - Either active or vocal or silent supporters.

[Yohan]

Indians are excessively sensitive about their own religions, but not as bad as in Muslim countries. This Hindu extremist intolerance is copied from Muslims, and is doing damage to the tolerant Hindu image. Goverment bends over backwards to satisfy the demands of these extremists, so as not to alienate the moderates. In the end, it does do damage to the freedom of speech in a democracy, and everyone suffers.

[tsrajesh]

Not just oxymoron, "Extremist Hindus" it is also relative. While a muslim is called moderate as long as he is not seen detonating a bomb, A hindu is called an extremist when he went as far as throwing a stone at a church window. Oh well! a black spot is more readily visible on a clean cloth than a dirty one..

True, there was a bloody clash about a decade ago, but it was a retaliation several times over. Nothing ever since. Retaliation, Never Provocation.
Also, some people do chase away evangelists who try to prey on the gullible.. especially when they do so by bad-mouthing hindus.. Again, in the absence of this level of defence, hindus would've been an extinct species...

[Yohan]

Not just oxymoron, "Extremist Hindus" it is also relative. While a muslim is called moderate as long as he is not seen detonating a bomb, A hindu is called an extremist when he went as far as throwing a stone at a church window. Oh well! a black spot is more readily visible on a clean cloth than a dirty one..

True, there was a bloody clash about a decade ago, but it was a retaliation several times over. Nothing ever since. Retaliation, Never Provocation.
Also, some people do chase away evangelists who try to prey on the gullible.. especially when they do so by bad-mouthing hindus.. Again, in the absence of this level of defence, hindus would've been an extinct species...

Such statements support Hindu vigilante organizations like Shiv sena. These groups claim to be custodians of Hindu culture and even known to harass or beat up couples for kissing in public. What 's the difference between them and the Talebans? Modern nations need no such groups of thugs.

[Nazzim ibn Abu Talib]

Not just oxymoron, "Extremist Hindus" it is also relative. While a muslim is called moderate as long as he is not seen detonating a bomb, A hindu is called an extremist when he went as far as throwing a stone at a church window. Oh well! a black spot is more readily visible on a clean cloth than a dirty one..

True, there was a bloody clash about a decade ago, but it was a retaliation several times over. Nothing ever since. Retaliation, Never Provocation.
Also, some people do chase away evangelists who try to prey on the gullible.. especially when they do so by bad-mouthing hindus.. Again, in the absence of this level of defence, hindus would've been an extinct species...

Such statements support Hindu vigilante organizations like Shiv sena. These groups claim to be custodians of Hindu culture and even known to harass or beat up couples for kissing in public. What 's the difference between them and the Talebans? Modern nations need no such groups of thugs.

Shiv sena and VHP are political parties. The use "Hinduism" as a launchpad for political success. Their goals are more political than religious. Both Shiv Sena and its offshoot MNP even beat up and use scare/hate tactics against non-Maharashtrians (both parties are based in state of Maharashtra). So their distinction from Muslim goal of Dar-al-Islam is quite clear.

NB: A large number of Indians do condemn the actions of Shiv sena and MNP including me. How many moderate Muslims would say Osama will go to hell?

[La Voix]

Freedom of speech is a loaded word in a complex society. The concept does not exist in vacuum. By and large all left wing writers insult Hindus, Hinduism and Hindu leaders and get away with it. But the same left wing writers don't utter a word about Islam and Jihad and often pander to hardliner Muslims. The recent fiasco at Jaipur literary Festival http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/salman-rushdie-vikram-seth-jaipur-literature-festival/1/170845.html and http://www.thesundayindian.com/en/story/politics-played-on-literary-festivals-prof-namwar-singh/254/30037/ proves that shouting down writers just exists.
To understand what issues are playing on the Hindu minds in India to make them alert to danger signals pl go thro' this list.

1. Hindus thought that Muslim problem will be over after 1947 partition. But they percieve that Muslims continue to be a problem section in the society.
2. In both Bangladesh and Pakistan Hindus have been eliminated by conversion . Bangladesh (37% to 7% of population after 1947) and Pak (20% to 3%) reduction. This has enraged Hindus.
3. Successive Congress govts have played up the Muslim separateness in for votes and also played up the Hindu catste divisions for votes.
4. There are large Muslim influx from Bangladesh and Myanmar skewing the ratio.
5. Muslims = Terrorists perception by and large prevails.
6. Purging of Hindus from Kashmir is a sore wound in the Hindu psyche.
7.Pandering to Muslims as in case of Shah Bano casehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shah_Bano_case and now call for reservation for Muslims in jobs and education is enraging people.
8. Numerous cases of Muslim pandering like no action taken on the culprits who chopped a Kerala professor's hands http://rajeev2004.blogspot.in/2010/07/alleging-blasphemy-muslims-chop-off.html

Given this scenario Rohinton Mistry's case is a non-issue. He can still sell his books. He can breathe freely. No fatwa is invoked on him.

Regards,
La Voix