The Hindu : Opinion / Letters to the Editor : Intolerance

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Tuesday, Feb 26, 2008
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Intolerance

The editorial “Culture of intolerance” (Feb. 25) has done well to remind the people who are protesting against the film Jodhaa Akbar that there was no protest when the evergreen classic Mughal-E-Azam featured Jodha Bai as the Rajput wife of Akbar.

There has been a lot of social transformation since 1960. The moviegoers of the 1960s and 1970s were more mature and tolerant. The leadership too upheld morals and human values of love and respect.

There was therefore no protest or agitation when Jodha Bai was shown as Prince Salim’s mother in the movie. The present generation of leaders and political parties blow even minor issues out of proportion, creating chaos and unrest. It is unfortunate that we often surrender to the forces of intolerance.

Jaya Prakash Reddy,

Nalgonda

* * *

The trouble over the movie shows the extent to which politicians can exploit non-issues. Freedom of expression cannot be forced to surrender to the whims of some miscreants who claim they are historians. This trend, if not curbed, will produce narrow-minded bigots whose diktats the nation will have to follow.

Geetha T. Naduvil,

Secunderabad

* * *

It is worrisome that our sense of history and culture has grown so fragile that it gets hurt with almost everything. We protest against Taslima Nasreen’s works, M.F. Husain’s paintings, and films such as The Da Vinci Code and Jodhaa Akbar. At the root of all such protests is political opportunism that often takes a communitarian turn. Ironically, Jodha has existed more in folk memory than in history books. The producer of the film has made no claims on its historicity. Why, then, should a section feel humiliated? A developing society needs to rid itself of dogmatism and irrationalism.

Ved K. Guliani,

Bangalore

* * *

The suspension of the screening of Jodhaa Akbar by some State governments is unfortunate for a free society like India. It is true that one’s right to freedom of speech is not absolute. But it is also important for people to be tolerant. There is nothing in the movie that can be considered objectionable in a vibrant democracy.

We fought for our freedom of ideas and expression, and cinema is one of the main forms of expression.

Md. Shad Jamal,

Puducherry

* * *

It is really unfortunate that some sections should object to works that recreate parts of history for us. If a film gives only facts, there will be nothing new in it. It will be just a copy of some historical pages.

Only when a film includes some fiction, a work of art comes into existence. The effort deserves appreciation. Even if we cannot praise it, let us not undermine it.

Sasna Saifudhin,

Kozhikode

* * *

Those who are protesting against Jodhaa Akbar on the ground that it distorts history are doing so for cheap publicity. The so-called spokespersons of communities have created such a climate of intolerance that it is impossible to write a book or make a movie without having to cope with a mob of protesters. And governments, instead of taking strong action against such elements, give in due to vote-bank considerations.

A few protesters take an entire society hostage. The anti-social elements must be stopped lest India start resembling Taliban-ruled Afghanistan.

Bijay Singh,

Hyderabad

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