Re: Satanic Salman/This might be risky

[Guest guest]

Dr Vijay, the problem with law in our country is that it follows the principle

of Might is Right.

 

There is no law of the land here. We have personal laws in the name of

secularism which allow people to rationalise medieval rituals and practices. If

you do not allow this, there will be riots. We have laws which give special

status and opportunities to certain groups of people and places based on the

inborn qualities of religions and castes. To my mind, that's violation of the

fundamental right to equality.

 

Then, if we had allowed Salman Rushdie to speak there could have been " rivers of

blood flowing in Jaipur " as one great proponent of the embargo put it. The icing

on the cake is our political crass, sorry class, which can not take its eyes off

the huge vote bank supposedly carried by the few protagonists of the Rushdie

Blockade.

 

 

Balvinder Rana 87

Subject: Re: Satanic Salman

To: " mgims " <mgims >

Date: Thursday, 26 January, 2012, 11:16 AM

 

Dear Bharat,

I am totally in agreement with you.

Most of the zealots are illiterate in true sense .I am sure most of the people

opposing Rushdie have never read a paragraph of his writings,let alone

understanding it ,as you have rightly pointed out.I am reminded of an earlier

episode involving Khwaza Ahmed Abbas a famous writer.He wrote a story about

sikhs.The story began with description of boorish appearance of a male sikh and

beauty of a female one.There was a lot of commotion with threats for hurting the

sikh sentiments.He asked the people to read the story till the end.The climax of

the story involved death threat to the muslim protagonist ,saved by the

sacrifice of his sikh neighbour .He ended the story by appreciating this great

sacrifice of the sikh gentleman saying that he felt as if he died alongwith the

sikh.

The whole commotion ended with murmurs of appreciation by one and all.

My point is ,why does the government allow the zealots to carry on vandalizing

in the name of religion ? They should show the firm hand of law ,which they use

against the peaceful agitations (e.g.Ramdeo in Delhi, farmers in UP or

Maharashtra).

V.K.Gupta 76

________________________________

To: mgims <mgims >

Sent: Thursday, 26 January 2012 9:26 AM

Subject: Satanic Salman

 

I was finally happy that Salman Rushdie made up for his absence at Jaipur when

he appeared on Indian TV. I don't know what he wrote in Satanic Verses, but it

was satisfying to hear him talk. I have read his other books. He is a

cerebral writer. We don't read much. Then we don't read much which may cause

neuronal fatigue. Finally, even if we manage to read something of the variety

Salman is known for, we don't understand. If that is the case, why do we get

ourselves worked up in a frenzy? Is it because we don't read enough? Or, is it

because reading something even remotely artistic and intellectual unmasks are

mental deficit? We are stilted in our thinking. Anybody who we feel stigmatises

us needs to be stigmatised. 

Forget Salman Rushdie. Let us also forget his ‘verses’

which the likes of Shahabbudin and Owaisi think were ‘satanic. This Salman has

been condemned enough for his book. Therefore, he should not be troubled any

more. Let us talk about the other Salman. Who is he? Ok, just sing

dhinkachika… dhinkachika… dhinkachika… for a few minutes and you will know

which Salman I

mean. He is the same one who drove his car over the unsuspecting homeless

sleeping on a pavement. A few of them died. Nobody was interested after the

initial outcry. Then he shot a protected animal in a national reserve. He went

to the court as if he was to receive an award there. I am sure even the judge

would have had some unexpected excitement to break the monotony of his routine.

He would even assault his girlfriend sometimes. He can be found in any cinema

thrusting his pelvis at you. A sensible person would take it as a visual

threat. In contrast, it is a visual delight for millions. He has attained

virtual sainthood among his fans. See, how we sanctify inanities.

 

I do not know why one is seen as the Satan and the second

as a saint.  The way we treat the two Salmans is a reflection of the dichotomy

in the Indian mind.

Bharat