ARE  WE   READY FOR A MORON AS PRIME MINISTER ?

The  Indian Supreme Court has given a landmark judgment with far reaching implications. Readers might  recall that artist M.F.Hussain had made a series of paintings showing Hindu goddesses as  well as Bharat Mata in the  nude. This was violently opposed by a section of people . The situation became so alarming that Hussain had to flee to Dubai.

The artist professed respect for Hinduism and said that he did not mean to hurt Hindu sentiments.  His supporters—the so- called secularists--- added  that an artist had freedom   of expression. All this was countered---and this counter argument has been bolstered by the government’s subsequent  handling  of the  Taslima Nasreen episode—by some who said that people cite the freedom of expression defense  selectively when the persons  complaining are  Hindus. The Government for instance banned Salman Rushdie’s book even before Islamic countries  had banned it. Nasreen was hounded out of India by the same people who defend Hussain’s freedom of expression.

The court judgment reiterates the great Indian tradition of tolerance. Where our national resolve to  uphold this tradition will be tested is when an occasion arises in the future where some minority group violently opposes an artist who gives the

 ‘ tolerance and freedom of expression’ argument.   Our country has to painstakingly  evolve a code of conduct in such emotive matters. Personally I feel we ought to  nurture a spirit of challenging  existing  orthodoxy since all progress has come by challenging the existing  paradigms .You will notice that all Prophets  including the Prophet of Islam challenged  existing beliefs and practices.

I am not sure we as a nation are ready for this spirit of challenge.

I cannot help recalling this joke—maybe it is not a joke-- that was seen by millions in the US .Some  expert was asked on US TV if America was ready for a woman or Black President . The expert replied , without looking over his shoulders in fear, that the question itself was superfluous.

 ‘Did anyone ask in 2000 if America was ready for a moron as President ?’ he asked .

 Is India ready for this kind of humor?

For the best answer ask Arjun Singh.

K.R.RAVI

USA