Tolerance;boon or bane fr indian democracy

I think that TOLERANCE is a boon as well as bane of indian democracy.We know that democracy is product of liberalism.One of imp tents of liberalism is tolerance.Tolerance helps in accepting various view points even though u disagree with them.This virtue helps a lot in a multiethic society like india.Tolerance is not a modern virtue though.Indians have been practicing it since long time.So tolerance has helped in successful working of indian democracy.However,just like a coin has two faces similarly,tolerance when far-stretched can lead to 'insensitiveness'.Attacks on M F Hussain,Taslima Nasreen etc is not so much bout intolerance of minorities but tolernace of this intolerance by majority.

On Slum-naire

Saw this movie after a long time n decided to jump into the bandwagon of critics of Slumdog Millionaire(SDM).... After going thru some aticles in newspapers n some blog posts n comments on it i think there are two areas which are hotly debated, 1. Depiction of Poverty of India in the movie n 2. Movie winning the awards at various levels. On FIRST ISSUE i think its the director's choice to choose a subject and he has exercised his freedom. But it would be a gross misinterpretation if the movie is considered as one based on India's poverty.Why are other points of view left out ???? POINT OF VIEW(POV) 1:Movie is also bout dialectical interplay between DESTINY N DESIRE....Consider the intense 'desire' of Jamal(the hero) for his love Latika(the heroine).Destiny makes it sure that their love is tested to limits. Similarly Salim's(Jamal's bro) desire for money n power is so intense that destiny leads him to his logical culmination. POV 2:Movie has unnecessarily been potrayed as 'an underdog winning' but i find it to be more of a 'love story'.Consider the fact that Jamal participates in the quiz show not for money but for love. POV 3: Movie has been termed as unrealistic. Even the champion of 'magical realism' like Salman Rushidie calls movie as unrealistic.But imagine how unrealistic it is for some slum dwelling kids to act in an english movie n going to Oscar Awards ceremony n winning the award.I think this is more unrealistic but its fact! ON THE SECOND ISSUE of movie winning many awards i think 2 factors need to be considered. Factor 1: Was the competition strong enough this time. Many movies that were nominated were not that well heard of. May b Slumdog Millionarie gained out of this situation. Factor 2: This movie stands for 'hope'. Wat do people in Western Countries want at this point of economic slowdown n job cuts ! N we also need to consider the role of Obama's election to US President's office. His election was symbolic of an underdog winning and he himself stands for hope.As Obama himself said "Yes, we can".N i think SDM captures this theme perfectly.... Lastly SDM didnt capture only the poverty of India as can be guessed from a dialogue of SALIM "Today India is at the centre of world....". How right he was !!!! ............

On Recent Hindutva Moral Policing

I think we need to analyse the recent hindutva moral policing at various levels like political, social, economic,religious, psychological, globalization etc.POLITICALLY-Observe the timings i.e., LS elections;SOCIALLY-we need to observe the kind of classes involved in it; ECONOMICALLY-i think the economic empowerment of women n its consequent social implications;FROM RELIGION POINT OF VIEW-is this whole thing fundamentally religious or fundamentally political in nature;FROM GLOBALIZATION POINT OF VIEW-the dilution of border has diluted national identity which has lead some ppl to search for newer identities leading to their identification with religion etc...