Intolerance

Now one more Bollywood actor has started speaking on intolerance, and he is Nasseruddin Shah.

In a recently released video on facebook, the veteran actor Naseeruddin Shah has expressed grave concern over the increasing intolerance in the country. He said that genie of intolerance is out of bottle and there is no way it can be put back. The poison is all pervasive and now everyone has the freedom to do what he wants, and do  what pleases him. He was speaking in context to violence in Bulundshahr, where a cop lost his life to  mob’s fury over alleged cow’s death. He said that “ we have seen how a cow’s death is given more importance than that of a cop. These circumstances have him worry about his children.” He further adds that his is  a interfaith marriage, his wife being a Hindu, and their children are not taught any religion. I am bothered if my children are accosted by a mob and asked about their religion, they would not have a direct answer.”

After Aamir Khan and Shah Rukh Khan , he is third Bollywood actor who has spoken about intolerance prevailing in the country. Surprisingly all these 3 actors are Muslims and married to Hindu women.

Reacting on Nasseruddin’s statement, Home Minister Raj Singh said “ The tolerance that exists in India, I do not think can be found in any corner of the world. India is only country in the  world where people from various prominent religions co exist peacefully, all have contributed in making India empowered, self reliant and prosperous and will continue to do so.”

Baba Ramdev, also reacted and said” I have not seen religious intolerance, I,of course, see political intolerance. I think accusing India of religious intolerance is equal to degrading country’s pride.”

Anupam Kher , who has acted with Nasseruddin Shah in many films, also retorted and said “ There is so much freedom in the country that you can abuse the army, badmouth the air chief and pelt stones at soldiers. How much more freedom you need in a country?” He further added that the Muslims presence in Film Industry is very strong and here there is no intolerance.”

In the earlier days Muslim actors and actresses used to change their screen names, which used to be Hindu names like Dilip Kumar, Meena Kumari, Madubala, Ajit and many more, now a days there is no need to change the names. Shabana Azmi once remarked that  because she is Muslim, she was refused accommodation in so many housing societies. Where as, the fact is each community uses their religion tag when it is politically convenient- some buildings do not allow Sikhs, some do not allow Christians, some do not allow non vegetarians, some do not allow Muslims—and some are exclusively for Christians and some are only for Muslims, so if some buildings are only for Hindus, then what is wrong?

Still there are few celebrities who crop up every year and say India is becoming intolerant.

I would like to  ask few questions to these celebrities and these pseudo seculars, who keep on harping on intolerance, where were you all when following incidents happened in the country:

1. When lakhs of Kashmiri Pandits were driven out of Kashmir (their homeland) by Muslim militants of Kashmir?
2. When thousands of Sikhs were butchered in the streets of Delhi, aftermath Indira Gandhi’s assassinatio?
3. When thousands of Hindus were killed in the interiors of West Bengal two years back?
4. When lakhs off illegal immigrants from Bangladesh entered North East region of India during last so many years?
5. When Rhongiyas Muslims from Myanmar entered India illegally last year?
6. When more than 50 Kar Sevaks were burnt alive in a rail bogie in Gujarat?
7. When Kashmiri youths were pelting stones at army men?

During all the above incidents India was very tolerant, and suddenly now India is becoming intolerant, and these celebrities are worried about their children. No celebrity talks of  children of common man.

I some times wonder why India has become intolerant for few celebrities from Bollywood and some pseudo intellectuals, I have never heard about intolerance from the mouths of Ratan Tata, Azim Premji, Habil Khorakhiwala, Farhan Azmi, Shahnaz Hussain, Nusli Wadia, and they are all from minority community.

What you say my friends.

Waiting for your feed backs/comments/views.

Anil Malik

Mumbai, India

24^th Dec 2018.