Recently I read in the news that Rohinton Mistry‘s book Such a Long Journey was removed from the syllabus by The University of Mumbai in mid-term only because the son of a politician asked it to. Is that called democracy? I don’t think so.
The reason of the removal of the book from the syllabus given by The University of Mumbai is that it has hatred speech against a very big political party in Maharashtra. And the book was removed from the syllabus within a night when the examination papers were already set.
This is truly the violation of a very fundamental right of a human – Right to Speech.
Why can’t a political party show enough maturity to accept its past? Why can’t they make themselves a better political party in the present. Rather than doing that, they are making many other writers write about them (via blogs, newspapers, books etc).
Isn’t this childish? Like children do to hide their mistakes. How can a childish party rule us? How can they expect us to choose them in the elections?
A political party is there to rule us, to protect us, to supervise that all the rights are being practiced accordingly. But on the other hand they are themselves violating all these rights.
What more disturbing is that, the Mumbai University guy (whatever his name is) didn’t even refuse it once. He just removed it just because a particular person didn’t want it in the syllabus. Why? Aren’t there other students who would like to read and study it?
The second thing, now after the book has been removed, the CM says that we would set an inquiry to find out that why the book was introduced in the syllabus. What? Rather than placing it back into the syllabus, they want to know how it was introduced. What a democracy, I say!
Dude, those who introduced it in the first place did some research before introducing it. They weren’t illiterate. When the novel is trying to convey something, they don’t want it to happen.
They are like a child who is afraid of whatever mistake he has done. And the guys who removed it are helping him do it.
This is such a shame to the largest democracy in the world.
PS: Sign this petition to raise your voice against the coward system - http://www.petitiononline.com/SYBAban/petition.html
I totally agree with you on this Manav.
This sure is lame and should be condemned by the civil society. But i guess there is no civil society left…
Great post..
Thanks. Really, everyone is under threat from these kind of people. They are criminals.
Interesting post. Just about every political party has their own insecurities; and that we have to bear the brunt of this is inadmissible. I remember reading the history text books how they were nothing more than mouth pieces of congress and Russian alignment.
Hogwash! Good post btw! Keep bloggin!
Hey Vineet!
We can’t live with their insecurities, can we? This is just so stupid, we are not slaves anymore. We are a nation, and they don’t understand it. They are dividing the country into pieces. It’s like dividing your own house.
Yea, all the history texts are like Gandhiji, Nehruji, Sardarji etc etc. But recently CBSE did some changes to this, and made it more interesting by including the stories of normal people and their help in the freedom struggle.
Thanks for the comment!
These politicians and their politics…had enough of them. Some major political drama was going on few days back here at Karnataka. Seriously, we ought to think twice before voting for such jokers.
Seriously. But majority of us think like this – “What will my vote change?” And when a hundred thousand people think the same, then it really affects. And many of the voters are people who are doomed by the parties who support their personal interest not social welfare. For example, MNS in Maharashtra.
People need to think more regarding their decisions.
Beautifully written Manav. I totally agree with you on this. Tired of the dirty politics played by the politicians. Common people can’t see through the selfish motives of the politicians and finally they suffer.
Btw, have a look at my post – When love calls
Hey Romeo!
Thanks Romeo. Change is what is needed. Don’t you agree?
I disagree with you on the last line of your post – “This is such a shame to the largest democracy in the world.”
We have never been a democracy. A country where votes are paid for, and where our leaders are a bunch of fools who have studied only till class 12, I assume, can never be termed as a democracy.
Manav, today, on Dusshera Day, Aditya Thackeray – who is from my college – is going to be head of the Sena youth wing after burning copies of the novel of Mr. Rohinton Mistry, who is an ex-Xavierite now.
As a matter of fact, this is the only controversy that has actually come to light about political parties dictating what we should learn and study. In every damn subject, we have politicisation of education. The stuff am studying in HSC Class 12 is ancient and there is no mention of recent political affairs in the country.
Above all, it is our mistake that we allow political parties to rule us. What do you think, Manav?
Absolutely correct, Parth! Democracy is just a label on us. Many, many political parties have less studied politicians. These are in every state, whether it’s Bihar, UP, Maharashtra (Nowadays), Punjab etc.
Yup, heard that news. Shame on such a leader who thinks that protesting against something will win him public interest.
Yea, same was with us too. History of great leaders of the “past” not of “present”. Why? Because there is a lack of such leaders, don’t you think? They think of themselves as protesters fighting against their own country.
Hmmm… Sometimes I also meditate on the fact that India would have been a better country if it was headed by a monarchy rather than political parties. We could have adopted the British model of constitutional monarchy, with Prime Ministers and all. But no, we have too much ego.
I agree with u Manav, there is a sense of righteousness in this world which is above everything.
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Hey Anirudh! Welcome to my blog! And thanks for your views.
Would surely check out your blog.
In India, like many other things, democracy is also a ‘written in black and white’ thing!
btwn, nicely written post!
Hey Viduthalairr!
Yep, India as a whole is still in black and white. But, let’s hope it will be in the colorful era asap.
Thanks!
Yes, it is indeed a big shame ! How sad I am that such things happen in the country all the time. Thier actions are wrong and they this , the removal of the book is a proof ! I do n oit know anything about the novel, I can only guess what it must be talking about
But the best part is that, just by removing that novel, they cannot get people to love them. People will love them only if they do actions that help people in anyway…others who join them do n ot join because they support but because of one major reason : GREED OF POWER !!
Yes, this action is totally against democracy.
Hey Niharika! Nice to see you here!
That’s so so so agreeable. Greed of power is the main thing that drives humans to do what they don’t even want. That’s how it works.
Thanks for adding your views, Niharika! Hope to see you around.
truly its d mockery of democracy being made in our country. the rights and duties never go hand in hand. its high time India shud stop boasting abt being ‘d largest democracy ind world’ !!
Hey Manav,
You can also lash out on which party have claimed this offensive. Well, when you have the right to speak, you can well say everything in much clearer air. Naming the party wont do any harm. Everyone for sure needs to know.
Democracy is just a mockery of dynasty politics in India.