Readers Reflections On Aamir's Utterances

Targeted for pointing out intolerance

When the writers, poets and eminent persons returned their awards in protest against growing intolerance in India, nobody was targeted by right wing peoples and so-called politicians. But when Shahrukh Khan and Aamir Khan spoke about intolerance growing in India, they are targeted by the right wing peoples and politicians by giving hateful statements. They faced verbal attacks because they belong to Muslim community. Most of those who returned their awards belong to the majority community, and that’s why no one targeted them. The right wing people say there is no intolerance in India. But in the past 10 months, the country witnessed 630 incidents of communal violence, in which 86 people were killed, according to the Home Ministry data. All Indians should unite against communalism, fascism and terrorism. How we fought in the past against British rule? Jai Hind! - Farooq Quadri, Ichoda, Adilabad.

Not worthwhile to berate Aamir Khan

It would be puerile to vilify Aamir Khan for what he had said though it may be argued that he has left himself vulnerable to criticism. It would not be right to ask why Aamir Khan or his wife did not leave the country earlier when there were similar moments of intolerance or after the Mumbai blast "26/11" by the Islamic group. Aamir has his politics and his views. But his observation should not be seen as reflecting the national sentiment. There would be many who would agree with what he had to say and there would be as many who would disagree with him. Instead, there should be a healthy debate on whether there is an atmosphere of intolerance in the country without denying that there have been episodes of intolerance ever since the BJP government has come into office. - Meghana A, Shell Cove, New South Wales, Australia

Khan is wrong, but isn’t there intolerance?

Aamir Khan told an audience that his wife Kiran Rao had suggested moving out of the country. “That’s a disastrous and very big statement for Kiran to make to me,” Khan said. “She fears for her child, she fears what this atmosphere around us will be, she feels scared to open the newspapers every day.” This private conversation made public by Aamir Khan has opened political gates of unnecessary controversies. Aamir Khan, an intellectual in the film fraternity and an icon is a responsible citizen who promotes social causes, not just though his films but also in real life. He must take care that his conduct in public. It is wrong on the part of Aamir Khan to say such a thing in public but it is also a fact that there is worse tolerance of unlawful activities of not only powerful persons but also of the society by the government. The government has become insensitive (tolerant to intolerance?) to deteriorating lawlessness-in the society – as it has failed to take corrective actions. The government must make its citizens feel like respecting and obeying the law, and award exemplary punishment for its violation. - Mahesh Kapasi, New Delhi

Ill-timed and bad scripted

Renowned film star Aamir Khan's remarks are ill-timed and bad scripted. He has every right to express his apprehension on growing intolerance in India. But he went a bit overboard by making comments that he and his wife felt insecure to live in this country. By doing this, he gave a melodramatic touch to a serious problem which does not need any dramatic padding except a realistic expression. As a deft actor, he must have known that over reaction is as bad as no reaction. - Dr D V G Sankararao, Nellimarla,

Owaisi spoke rightly

At last the Majilis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (MIM) President Asadudin Owaisi has expressed and opined his thought frankly on the comments of the film celebrity Aamir Khan. We sincerely appreciate Mr Owaisi saab’s instant response on this issue. He said rightly all citizens belonging to various communities live in our great country as proud citizens as long as planet earth survives. If Aamir Khan and his wife Kiran Rao feel insecurity to live in our country, they can choose to live wherever they please. Before giving such statements, Aamir Khan should have thought twice and how much damage they would cause to the feelings of the people. - Dr K R K Murthy, Secunderabad

Thinking star fails to keep his head

All these days I thought Aamir Khan, the poster boy of 'Incredible India', was a thinking actor! What he said at a journalism awards function sounded so unreal, so unlike him, that I just could not believe my ears. Could it be that he was waiting for the Bihar outcome to belatedly make common cause with the award-returnees? And, pray, were the Khans' family to move out, where would they like to go? Money earned in India, by dint of the love of millions of Indians, might get him entry into a western country. But he would be a nobody there, though people of Indian origin might still give him a smile. Such irresponsible hyperbolic remarks from someone who seemed to have a thinking head over his diminutive body do no credit to the Bollywood superstar. And it certainly paints a terrible image of the country to outsiders. - Padmini Raghavendra, Secunderabad

Shocking utterances

Aamir Khan's utterances regarding intolerant India are shocking. Aamir, a high profile actor, intellectual, perfectionist, social activist with serials like ‘Satyameva Jayate,’ patriot advocating ‘Athithi devo bhava’ thinks India is not good enough for its own residents. These remarks are not off the cuff. They were uttered in the presence of intelligentsia and media. Is he a part of the orchestra or is he sounding an independent note? Either the problem is genuine or otherwise it needs to be addressed immediately with all sincerity. - J Bhagyalakshmi, [email protected]

Aamir shows his ulterior motive

At the outset, when the nation has made him a star and given wealth and recognition, the comments coming from Aamir Khan keeping in view a few rare instances of intolerance across the country is not only disturbing but biased to defame a popular democratically government. It is surprising that when the law and order subject is dealt with by the State where an incident occurs, blaming the Centre without a word of condemnation of the State government shows the ulterior motive of the individual. The startling exposure of Aamir Khan not only reveals his mindset but has shamed his great grand uncle and a great patriot Maulana Abul Kalam Azad. There was no need to make such remarks which stoke fire and embolden others to make comments without reason. - K R Srinivasan, Secunderabad

Intolerance talk becomes daily routine

Intolerance earlier was either subtle or that could be taken in stride or in some cases ignored. It was not on a day –to-day basis. Today, it is open, regular and vocal. The elected representatives and also some occupying high posts are spewing venom on a regular basis and coming out with statements which are enough to tear the secular fabric of the country. There are instances also which cannot be ignored. The reaction is that some people have started talking of growing intolerance and some are in a denial mode. - Yasmeen. Hyderabad

Where is the end to this diatribe?

Comments coming in response to Amir Khan's tweet from the people of film industry and politics made their intention pretty clear. Many co-stars and those who directed Aamir's films condemned his comment that India is not a safe place to live in. They rightly questioned the sagacity in his tweet. At the same time, some politicians like Rahul Gandhi and Arvind Kejriwal supported Amir, saying every word in his comment is true. From this one can easily understand what is the real intention in making such controversial comments. It seems that some people, with their ulterior motives, are trying to destabilise the present government and thus get some benefit. But, this trend is not at all good for the progress of our country in long run. - Venkata Seshasai Deevi, Tenali

Ponderable points

We’ve seen a quite a large number of intelligentsia returning the awards, citations, and commendations en masse. There is, however, I do agree, that we’ve seen a lot of happenings which are, of course not good for the society. I would like to place a request before one and all to kindly peruse at once: (a) If a nation values anything more than freedom, it will lose its freedom; (b) It does not matter how long you live, but how well you live it; (c) There is no such thing as a moral or immoral book. Books are well-written or badly written.

That is all;

If at all, above statements are not at all admissible, then the following may kindly be considered at once by one and all: “God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.” - M J Mitra, [email protected]

So-called intellectuals vitiating atmosphere

Bollywood matinee idol and versatile actor Aamir Khan’s tongue-in-cheek comment against intolerance has once again created a dusty storm. It is not correct for Amir Khan to make such a vague statement which will create confusion among some sections. It has grabbed the attention of media and is blown out of proportion. The counter attacks already erupted and the political parties are vying to gain the maximum. The intellectuals and celebrities who have tendency to make statements on 'intolerance' should have to highlight the recent peacefully conducted festival ‘Moharrum’ and the participation in it of the people irrespective of their cast and creed across the country. So, it is not right for them to exploit isolated incidents to overcome identity crisis. It is better for them to strengthen the nation by remembering Jarand Kintz’s words: "My mouth is often wounded by my sharp words. So, sometimes when I am in public, I will wear band aid over my lips.” - E Gajendra Nath Reddy, Badvel, Kadapa district

Khans falling in trap of ugly elements

The unpatriotic comment made by Aamir Khan that India is getting intolerant infuriated all right thinking persons of India. He is the face of ‘Incredible India.’ The same Nation suddenly turned intolerant for the reasons best known to him and his wife. The Khan trioka are the most patronised biggest stars of Bollywood. Had they presumed if Hindus had the feeling of intolerance against Muslims, where will they stand? The three big zeros are made big heroes by tolerant Indians, instead of remain grateful to India for making them what they are today, they are passing stupid and biased comments against Mother India. I may suspect that they fall in the trap of some ugly elements who are out to project India in bad light. Let them understand that India being a tolerant democratic country, they are exercising their unchecked freedom of speech. - Rama Krishna M, Kakinada.

Stoking feelings of division

Predictably, not only the Indian audience but even the Bollywood is now a house in chaos. A war of words followed a day after Aamir Khan joined a raging debate on rising intolerance, saying the spike in sectarian tensions sowed a sense of "insecurity and fear" in the society and even in his family. There was a lot of sound and fury from his Bollywood colleagues as well. Whether they like it or not, now it is becoming “us versus them” in filmdom. Bollywood’s secular credentials are lost for now. - J Akshay, Bengaluru