Kolkata, Jan 27: Claiming that some Hindu groups are now behaving like Muslim fundamentalists, eminent lyricist-scriptwriter Javed Akhtar has said barring such elements Indian society has always been tolerant.
"In 1975 I showed a comedy scene in a temple. Today I won't. But even in 1975, I wouldn't have shown a scene in a mosque because that level of intolerance was there. Now the other one is matching it," Akhtar said last night at a literary meet here.
"Now they are joining the club....its a tragedy. Don't say Hindu. Thats a wrong representation. Some Hindu groups," he said at a panel discussion on intolerance.
However, giving the example of Aamir Khan starrer superhit Hindi film 'PK', he said it was the Hindus which made the film click at the box office.
"I really wonder in any Islamic country you would make the same kind of film by taking Muslim symbols will become superhit," Akhtar who has co-written scripts of many Bollywood blockbusters with Salim Khan including 'Sholay', 'Don', 'Seeta aur Geeta' and 'Deewar' said.
He said "we tend to take extreme sides in case of controversies.
"There are people who say intolerance has risen to a dangerous level in the society. I don't believe it. There are people who say there is no intolerance in the society. I don't believe them either. The fact lies somewhere in between. The fact is that Indian society is and was always tolerant. There are certain segments of society, they are always at war," he said.
Attack on the freedom of expression, however, according to him, is not a new trend in the country.
"There was always some kind of attack on freedom of expression. You can say something in an article and in a seminar, but you cannot say the same thing in a documentary and a feature film. It was always like that," Akhtar said.
Amidst the "Award wapasi" campaign by some writers, he has refused to return his Sahitya Akademi award.
"Because I know that this award was given to me by writers so why should I return it?," he said and noted that the jury consists of writers and not policemen or bureaucrats.
"I understand (the case of) Nayanatra Sahgal. She returned it not to get some publicity. Perhaps she felt that this is the way she can protest," he said.
Author Ruskin Bond, who has also not returned his Akademi award, said the literature body cannot stop people from being murdered.
Actress-turned-author Nandana Sen, daughter of economist Amartya Sen and writer Nabaneeta Dev Sen, said there had been concentrated attacks on free thinkers like MM Kalburgi, Narendra Dabholkar and Govind Pansare in the last 12 months which was very disturbing.
When asked about vilification of those who have been expressing their views in public against intolerance, she said, "My father is not afraid of being unpopular and my mother too".
Addressing Kannadiga delegates from Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait and other countries through a video conference, Dr Narayan also assured that necessary steps will be taken by the Karnataka government to provide free quarantine facility for those who cannot afford private quarantine in hotels or guest houses. The video conference was organised by coastaldigest.com.
Comments
He is wondering if any Islamic country would make the PK kind of film that will be a super hit. but this duffer doesn't even know that Islam strictly prohibits any symbolic sculpture for worship. you would not have been a known lyricist if you were not fundamental in your field. You better shut your mouth & do your filmy job and not speak of religion or politics without proper knowledge.
Dinesh, it is not christians who are converting, it is people who are from lower caste want to convert to christianity or islam, they have been deprived by their rights by the upper castes. I think they (so called lower castes) have got full right to change, in fact by doing so they get their due respect with dignity...if you abolish all so called upper and lower caste system in your system, nobody wants to go and take up some other religion.
You people treat those lower castes like a shit.....if they convert to islam or christianity they will be treated like their own and equals...that is the difference my friend....
when you write something think and right...straighten your facts...
Mr.Akthar,......first learn what is fundamentalism/........if you want to be perfect in any sector or field ...you must learn fundamentals of the same sector or field......so what your comparison is wrong itself
Bulls eye. Very well said...
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