Why fear debate?

It’s been a hot topic now-a-days – Freedom of speech and expression. I have already written about it one year back. But recent events have sparked my curiosity to know more about it. AIB roast videos, killing of Avijit Ray in Dhaka, Charlie Hebdo magazine case, fringe element’s glorification of Nathuram Godse, ban on India’s Daughter documentary, and frequent threats to writers who challenge the ideas of religion and many more events happened in recent past.

So what is my idea of freedom of speech and expression? Should there be any limit to it? Should government be interfering in every public matter? How ban is justified?

I think basic concept behind healthy democracy is debate. Let debate happen. People are very well educated today to decide what is right and wrong. A person (or society) who believes in banning has something to hide. That government who believes in banning has surely lost faith in peoples’ decision making capacity. (The very people who voted them to power)

It’s India, so let’s talk about the religion first. I would like to discuss about where banning is necessary and where free thinking should be allowed?

If somebody is challenging any religious idea and religious philosophy with reasoning, it should be welcomed. No religion is perfect and every religion evolved over period of time. All social reformers challenged wrong ideas of religion or thinking of society. Mahatma Phule, Raja Ram Mohan Ray, Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar, Mahadev Ranade all these social reformers were critic of wrong things inculcated in religion and they tried to change that. Without these free thinkers, women still would not have been any place in society, education would have been neglected to them, and practise of ‘sati’ still would be there. Should we say these great people betrayed their religion?

But there is another group, who just want to mock other’s beliefs, religious ideas. Hate speeches against other religion is one of such things. Drawing obscene picture of religious deities would definitely offend people. In that case, you are not giving any message to people. This kind of mocking should be banned. Making fun of others ideas without reasoning should be banned. It is my idea and understanding and it may not be correct.

Now-a-days, there are many comments from self proclaimed religious leaders about how many children one should be producing to sustain the religion’s population or comments inciting clashes between groups of people, so what should be the extent of banning in this case? If there is no harm to people or property, there is no need of ban but if there is possibility of clashes between people then banning is justified. I feel, these debates make people aware about their leaders and if they are worthy to represent them.

What bothers me about hate speeches is not the person who is delivering such speech but the mob of people who is applauding to such outrageous comments.

Another point I would like to discuss is – Don’t try to protect your leader from debate. It is surely going to happen. Let me give you a example- right wing people are asking for thorough investigation of events happened before assassination of Mahatma Gandhi. They believe that Godse was not an assassin by choice but the forced to make decision to kill Gandhi due to circumstances created. Mahatma Gandhi was surely the greatest personality of 20th century but if he was so innocent them why fear investigation and debate? Let it happen. People will decide by themselves.

Another incident which disturbed me was - attack on a Tamil news channel Puthiyathalaimurai. The attack by some fringe elements to intimidate media which was planning to telecast a debate on need for married women to wear a ‘mangalsutra.’ This is cheap example of religious intolerance.

Instead of protesting on roads for somebody’s idea, make a counter argument by writing a blog, sharing your counter views on social media or make a video with your argument. Why there is need of violence?

We are living in India and we have glorious history of argumentation. We need to protect and continue that legacy. Without it, we are just a banana republic.

See you in next blog.

_Digvijay Patil.