In the name of culture and religion

The Richard Gere - Shilpa Shetty kissing incident is another example of the hypocrisy of the Indian psyche. But it seems we are not alone. Parallels can be drawn with Iran's dress restrictions and Israel's modesty buses. Once again the right of an individual and the didactic actions of governments and moralists are at loggerheads.

These fiats have been issued in the name of culture and religion; vulgar reasons to promote what few people consider to be the moral way of conduct. These people should realise that culture and religion are not divine creations-frozen in time, but the result of continuous change and assimilation. How else can you explain the land of the Kamasutra now ostracizing a kiss. These people have turned religion, a very personal experience, into social dogma. They wander around acting as protectors, without knowing what they are protecting.

I just hope that everyone realises that they have better things to do in life, than harp about how their rich culture or religion is being spoiled by the infidels.

Our glorious nation and its anthem

I am writing this blog on the day Infosys has announced its quarterly results. With some Infosys shares in my demat account and having made substantial profit from them, its pretty clear where my loyalties lie. Hence when its chief mentor is drawn into a petty controversy, I feel obliged to add my noise to the chaos.

We are a nation of lip service providers. We actually think it is a good idea to play the national anthem in a movie theatre on the thin pretext of patriotism. Our idea of patriotism is bashing our neighbours, standing firm to the national anthem and lip synching it, even though we do not have the faintest idea of what it actually means or stands for. Then we have the great debate of whether this or that song is more pertinent candidate for the national anthem. If that is not enough, some dimwit wakes up and actually files a petition that the reference to "Sindh" should be removed as; you know people; India does not contain Sindh anymore... duhhhh.... We want to wipe our colonial past, by changing names of cities, airports and colleges, completely unaware of the colonial tilt of our national anthem. Don't tell them that 'India' is Latin or Greek for the Sindhu river, which is not even in India......... Wake up people, smell the coffee and get your priorities right.

If we have to go to the basics, why should it be a must for everyone to respect the national anthem. Why should a Tamilian or Maharashtrian, who hardly understands Bengali be forced to sing it. The best thing about India is that it is a free society and every person should have the right to think and act for themselves. We don't need some lame politician, religious authority, police or self-righteous individuals shoving morals and patriotism down our throat.

For all such people, GET OFF, leave us alone!!!