Times When Dolts Overreacted!

Social media is a powerful platform for today’s generation to express themselves and their thoughts. Yet, it has also been a victim of hate and sheer ignorance of a few. Here are some of the incidents when social media reacted way too brutally and stupidly:

1. Sanskari James Bond:

Two long and steamy kiss scenes were chopped from the final released version of James Bond in India by Censor Board of India. probably, weren’t aware of what they were calling upon themselves. Though the whole episode was funny, yet it lacked brains like Rohit Shetty’s movies. The trollers actually forgot, or rather they weren’t aware of the certificate James Bond makers sought for. Spectre was given a U/A certificate, which sadly even the media ignored to mention. Censor Board sanitises James Bond was one headline!! (Say What!)

2. Maggi ban

A man files a case against Nestle for not mentioning the use of a harmful ingredient, MSG, in Maggi without publicly declaring about it. The court banned Maggi and ordered more tests over the usage of MSG. This was the case; yet, the social media dragged government, Ramen Noodles and everyone remotely related to troll them and vent their anger.

3. Anushka Sharma‘s goof-up

Anushka Sharma makes a spelling mistake in writing a tribute to late APJ Abdul Kalam, and the social media loses it. The trolls took great offence at Anushka ‘insulting’ the great personality and started spewing hatred against her, even after she deleted the tweet. I wonder what these patriots are doing about the strayed grave of Abdul Kalam. I only respect Anushka Sharma for putting up the brave face although it was her second encounter with haters after she was accused of India’s loss. (WTH?!)

4. Narendra Modi US tour

In addition to usual trolls regarding his foreign tours, Indian PM Narendra Modi has also given a lot of stuff to jobless social media trollers after visuals of Modi snubbing Mark Zuckerberg for pictures, Satya Nadella, apparently, wiping his hands after shaking hand with Modi, PM breaking down in interaction with Zuckerberg and the list goes on with people even trolling him for sneezing, coughing, and what not.

5. Anupam Kher:

It was a real irony when people who were apparently protesting for ‘Freedom of Speech’ condemned and objected to thoughts of Anupam Kher. The further disappointing incident was when Anupam Kher was booed and not allowed to speak at a debate on ‘Free Speech’. Award wapsi row has actually redefined Free Speech as ‘voicing the popular opinion letting logic and sensibility to go for a toss’.

I wouldn’t be surprised if I get to see more of such overreacting dolts in this year. But, going by the tradition of never-ending-hope, I ‘hope’ 2016 would be a better one for social media and netizens. Let’s try to be a little more sensible!

Award Wapsi Latest Twist – Authors Withdraw From Protest

In the latest twist in Award Wapsi row, few authors and filmmakers are taking back their awards after they returned them as a protest against religious intolerance under PM Modi governance. Different intellectuals are giving different reasons, and all are less ridiculous than the one they gave up for.

One of the reasons, expectedly, was lack of publicity. In the crowd of people returning their Sahitya Akademi and National Awards, the media failed to interview and give overnight fame to many of them. Upset over it, these intellectuals retreated from the protest.   

“I didn’t get as much exposure as other authors when they returned their award,” explained Kamal Burgi, a free thinker and intellect, “although I received the award before everyone else, I got the least fame.”

“Indian media is so unfair, it took exclusive quotes from Nayantara Sehgal because she’s neice of Jawahar Nehru, however it ignored me because I’m little known,” stated Bidaker Bannerjee, a noted filmmaker.

Meanwhile, other authors have withdrawn the awards in the wake of NDA alliance losing Bihar Elections, as they are identified as anti-Modi and pro-Congress intellectuals. However, the move has angered Sonia Gandhi as it exposed the whole plan.

Probably, these intellectuals were afraid that Sahitya Akademi would also ask them to return the Prize Money, which none of them have returned with their awards.

All in all, the no of intellectuals who returned the award as protest against Religious Intolerance has reduced gradually with BJP losing Bihar elections, though with different reasons.

The Latest ‘In’ Word: Intolerance

Intolerance is the latest buzz word in India like selife / groupie. Intolerance gained popularity since authors started returning their awards claiming rise of religious intolerance under PM Narendra Modi’s regime; though none questioned them about 1984 Sikh riots, Muzaffarnagar violence.

Let’s have a small, yet deep understanding of the latest ‘in’ word of the nation.

intolerance

ɪnˈtɒl(ə)r(ə)ns,ɪnˈtɒl(ə)rəns/

noun

1. unwillingness to accept views, beliefs, or behaviour that differ from one's own.

Intolerance is lynching of a man for eating beef in UP (under Samajwadi Party rule), while ignoring the arrest and charges of treason against folk singer Kovan to criticize Jayalalithaa government in Tamil Nadu.

Intolerance is what Shah Rukh Khan quoted in an interview, while remaining mum on Vohra Committee report that was hushed up on fear of exposing relations between bollywood stars and Dawood Ibrahim.

Intolerance is the murder of two Dalit kids in a caste-fight, while ignoring the absence of hue and cry when over 60 people were butchered in Muzaffarnagar. Bollywood stars performing at dance shows near the very place just days after the riot is completely tolerant.

Intolerance is banning beef, and taking away freedom of consuming food of choice, while uttering no word when Media was banned during The Emergency under Indira Gandhi rule. I’m scared to imagine how many awards were returned then.

Intolerance is BJP leaders making communal remarks against SRK, while everyone else gets away after making hate comments against the Prime Minister or anyone else.

Intolerance is asking people to leave to Pakistan, while our soldiers tolerate bullets from Pakistani terrorists from across the border everyday.

Intolerance is tolerating Congress marching to Rashtrapati Bhavan, the very Congress that has its hand dripping the blood of the victims of Sikh riots, and the blood of India’s Constitution, which was murdered by Indira Gandhi during the Emergency.  

With these intellectuals returning their awards, the honour that India bestowed upon them, will surely divide the Indian history as Before Modi and After Modi - No matter how many communal disputes Before Modi, India was very tolerant, and any criminal incident After Modi is religious intolerance.

India's National Religion: Hypocrisy!

After decades of fighting in the name of Hinduism and Islam, India has found a religion, which will be accepted by majority without any resistance, just before 69th Independence Day: Hypocrisy. Let me help you understand our new religion.

Hypocrisy / n /

the practice of claiming to have higher standards or more noble beliefs than is the case.

That’s how dictionary describes hypocrisy, and if you still don’t get the meaning of the word, let me give you some examples.

Hypocrisy is questioning government’s strength in fighting terrorism, while crying foul over hanging of a terrorist.

Hypocrisy is creating furore over harassment by police, while sidelining the news of police officers sacrificing their lives fighting criminals.

Hypocrisy is fighting against Gadhimai (cow slaughtering festival) to save thousands of animals, while criticizing government for beef ban.

So, basically hypocrisy is in everything we are fighting against government and government officials these days. It is in hue and cry against porn ban, while we still demean film industry for objectifying women in movies. Women are just used for body show in movies, we say; and what exactly are they treated like in porn? We claim porn doesn't encourage or cause rapes, then how can we state that porn ban can cause rapes?

We demand gender equality by providing reservation based on gender. How can we claim equality by giving a particular gender an added benefit? Even if one can justify that, we look down upon caste-based reservation. That's hypocrisy.

We blame society of stereotyping women as homemakers, and don't bat an eye for stereotyping men as money earners. We look down upon men earning less than his wife, while sneer at men being paid more. That's hypocrisy.

We condemn child labor and discuss falling literacy rate while the chotu of the tea stall hands us hot glasses. We blame the government for not taking any action handing him a tip.

We celebrate Feminism with male-bashing. We have no objection over people peeing in public, but with the government not letting us make love in public. On one hand we are shit scared of even confessing about our relationship with the parents, and we want right to kiss in public.

We rightfully criticize and often make objectionable comments in PM and highest office of India, and get away with that; however we also cry about losing our right to expression over porn ban. That's hypocrisy.

We offer bribe, and then complain government of encouraging corruption. We enjoy politicians using un-parliamentary language against each other, and then we complain about their cheap and illiterate behavior. That's hypocrisy.

We trash traditions calling them blind beliefs, while we look up at the skies when we're badly screwed up.

We blame everything on society and the government conveniently forgetting that we are society and we formed the government. That's hypocrisy.

We turn patriotic only on three occasions - independence day, Republic Day and that day when some Indian(no matter how remotely connected to India) makes the nation proud with his own hard work and vigor, which we shamelessly take credit of. That's hypocrisy,and no matter how much we deny and overlook the fact - is true that we are hypocrites.

Happy Independence Day!

Salman Khan special: Indian government to shut down prisons

Indian government has announced its plans to shut down prisons, and instead is looking to open charity accounts for the criminals, after Judiciary Department announced that Being Human is more important than Human Being.

The latest development comes in the wake of many accused and convicted criminals taking to heavy charity activities to prove that they are ‘changed people’. The trend of forgoing court sentence through charities was started by superstar and super-charity(arian) Salman Khan. Bombay High Court’s decision to suspend sentence of Khan giving into the pressure from Bollywood celebs and Khan’s fans who cited the actor’s humanitarian works through Being Human foundation.

Salman Khan was convicted in a hit-and-run case for running his vehicle over homeless people sleeping on footpath. “Salman is such a humanitarian that he wanted to take them to his home, but the car overran by mistake,” said one of Khan’s fans, “How can you blame him?”

“What if one had died by mistake? He gave life for so many through Being Human foundation,” said another Sallu Bhai fan, “Moreover it was that homeless man’s mistake, how can he run under Salman Khan’s car?”

Meanwhile, Swami Nithyananda, and Asaram Bapu ji have sent their respective followers to spread a word about their charity activities. Moreover, the dreaded terrorist Dawood Ibrahim has sought special deal from Indian government, in which he offered to fund some billion dollars to the government charity activities in exchange of a clean chit.

Nevertheless, one more trend that’s coming up lately is youth using the new protest slogan, “We want charity!” instead of “We want justice!”

Ten reasons why you must watch India's Daughter

1. Because Freedom of Speech is everyone’s right.
2. Because, apparently, even rape convicts have Freedom of Speech.
3. Because interviewing a rape convict is important to know why he committed the heinous crime.
4. Because giving rape convict and the men who defended him in Court a platform to speak out is “A way to expose Indian men and society’s mindset”
5. Because the documentary doesn’t glorify rape, but glorifies Indian patriarchal mentality.
6. Because ‘insensitive and moral policing’ Indian government has banned it.
7. Because objecting the ban and watching the documentary is the only way to prove your stand against rape.
8. Because understanding the ‘mentality’ of rapists will help us find solution, which apparently, stringent laws can’t.
9. Because watching the documentary and sharing it and urging everyone to watch it will stop rapes.
10. Because India represents Rape, and rapists, but not people like Reuben Fernandez and Keenan Santos, who died trying to protect girls from eve-teasers, or many other men, heroics of whom die a silent death amidst rapists men.

Isn't Aamir Khan's response to AIB Roast hypocratic?

Aamir Khan, yet again stood out from the Bollywood league who rhetorically supported AIB Roast, and condemned the show stating that it was 'too violent' and he was 'disappointed' with it.

Though Aamir's response might earn a certain 'take a bow' moment, but a broad overview of his justification in condemning the show might say completely different story.

                                                                           

Aamir Khan said that he hasn't watched the show yet; he's just seen a couple of clips and heard the dialogues from his friends Karan Johar and Arjun Kapoor, which deeply affected him and was disappointed.

In that context, Aamir must've also supported the protest against his movie PK, when Hindu extremists burnt the posters, and pelted stones at theaters screening the movie because they were offended the way Hindu Gods were portrayed. Does he justify that, as well?

Ans then sir, what exactly was the concept behind making the movie, 'Delhi Belly', described as a black comedy? Yes, he said that they applied for an 'A' certificate for the movie because it contained loads of sexual content and cuss words. But on the same lines, AIB had also announced at the beginning of the video, that the content is 'filthy'. Yet people went on to watch it.

Aamir said, 'If you want to make me laugh, you will have to make humor without hurting anyone.'

The whole idea of roast is 'insult comedy', which I believe is offensive beyond the spirits of the people involved in the roast. Whatever jokes were cracked that day were on the people who attended and were fervently told that the show will go on to become the most filthy and many offensive things will be said. No generic community was insulted, no religion was shown in poor light, no jokes were made on sexism.

When people who were made fun of including Karan Johar, Ranveer Singh, Arjun Kapoor, Deepika Padukone, Sonakshi Sinha, Alia Bhatt, the Kapoor family, were offended, why are viewers' feeling hurt?

Aamir sir, if you putting your hand up the ass of someone in a movie to create humor is not wrong, why AIB is?

As said by Karan Johar, 'If it's not your cup of tea...don't drink it.'