Anyways, coming to the topic on Rushdie, the brouhaha over his novel "The satanic verses" is not new but the controversial novel came to light again in the backdrop of Jaipur Literature Festival (JLT). The author was invited by the JLT organizers to be a part of the festival, but due to some unfortunate turn of events the writer had to cancel his visit and all the credit goes to our canny politicians and their vote bank politics.
The 1989 controversial book "The satanic verses" allegedly hurt muslim sentiment and was promptly banned by Rajiv Gandhi in India (even before Ayyatoulla Khameini of Iran and others did so ). The book is said alleged to have anti-islamic elements and has mocked the prophet. A series of fatwas were issued against the writer and many authors who translated his work in other languages have been assassinated or brutally attacked.
Now, as soon news of this author being invited to JLT started pouring in, there were slew of fatwas issued against him by the ulemas and clerics (whom I doubt if they themselves have read the book) and demanded not to allow him to visit this country by denying him Visa (unknown of the fact that he is a PIO and doesn't need one!).
With UP polls just round the corner the State govt of Rajasthan and Union Govt. decided not to take a chance and decided to put his visit off on the grounds of law and order situation.
Its a shame to see that in the largest democracy of the world one can be gagged like this where freedom to expression is a fundamental right. Although the Right is not absolute but its not encroaching either. In no way a book is going to hurt ur belief or sentiments if you choose not to read that book, nobody is forcing you to do that!. I think as a society grows and diversifies there should be more and more signs of tolerance rather than confrontation.
Its a shame that when a Z plus security is provided to the very perpetrators of communal violence and politicians. Its a shame that ppl whose writings and cartoons instigated the Bombay (YES it was Bombay then) communal violence are roaming free instead of many FIRs and cases pending upon them.
Its a shame when our govt. fails to take a strong step towards religious fanatics.
Its a shame that a great painter of our country dies in exile just because the govt. was unable to decide on his case.
It is shame that the community instead of concentrating on reforming itself and freeing itself from the fetters of irrationality the community is incited to pick up the issue of the book, content of which nobody has a clue.
I think the time has come for the people see things through the lens of rationality and reason rather than preconceived notions and bogey of attack on religious faith.
