We boast ourselves claiming the world’s largest functioning
democracy. But I do not see free speech is allowed in this country. “I
disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it”
– French Revolution, one of the greatest events of modern history taught
this way back in the late 18th century (arguably, this was written
by Voltaire in one of his letters). The political class in this country are so
ill-educated that even after 62 years of us becoming an official Republic they have
not learnt the idea of free speech and democracy. We see intolerance across the
parties throughout the country whenever there is any voice against any kind of
establishment. In this age of social networking, when the entire world is
becoming boundary less, much more maturity was expected from the bosses of the so called ‘largest functioning democracy’ on
the planet. But sadly, we see a medieval age mindset still prevailing among our
leaders.
Over the last few months we have seen our government trying
to dictate the social networking websites on a number of occasions. The telecom
ministry’s absurd demand to screen the posts of each and every individual on
the social sites before they get published is nothing short of a military
dictators’ or communist rulers’ wish list. In the state of West Bengal we have
seen a tyrant at the Writers’ Building getting agitated by anyone questioning
her government. Simply for raising basic questions on a national television
programme a student gets the Maoist tag by the Chief Minister, a peasant
gets arrested at the instruction of the state boss for questioning her about
the fertilizer price. And the very famous Jadavpur University professor
incident – the teacher was arrested by the ‘Gestapo’ forces of Calcutta for
forwarding a caricature featuring the lady boss of the state. I was scared
during that time as I myself too posted that caricature on my social account
:P.
The Aseem Trivedi incident in Bombay is just the latest in
this growing trend of intolerance at the government systems in the country. I have checked Aseem Trivedi's Faebook account
and I did not find his cartoon on Indian Parliament is of a good taste at all. But arresting him because of creating that cartoon is against the very idea of
democratic values. Political class in the country should learn that
tolerance is a virtue and one of the most important ingredients of any modern
democracy. I would also bat for having one or two funny bones for the rulers in
our country ;).
I think looting Rupees 1.76 lakh crore is not that great a
crime in the eyes of the bosses of our country, but ridiculing them for that
action must be a sever crime!
