Film actor Aamir Khan is undoubtedly a contemporary Indian icon. He has played heart-tugging roles in many sensitive and realistic movies that mirror our society, reflecting people’s aspirations, joys and sorrows. Therefore, his hyperbolic remark on Monday claiming that his wife recently asked him whether the family should relocate out of India is completely out of character and does grave injustice not just to this great country but millions of Indians who have hitherto admired him for his talent.
By joining a group of misguided and politically-motivated writers and other so-called intellectuals who bear pathetic antipathy towards the BJP in general and Prime Minister Narendra Modi in particular, Aamir Khan is guilty of encouraging divisive forces that are seeking to whip up communal frenzy in the country. The “intolerance industry” that was gradually running out of steam in recent weeks will no doubt gleefully cheer Mr Khan’s ill-informed comments.
Since he is no babe in the woods, the actor could not have forgotten spells of wanton communal violence that periodically threatened to tear society apart. But in no such situation earlier has there been an organised, almost diabolical, plot to hype up a fictional scenario aimed at destabilising the Government and lowering the country’s prestige in the world. This is all the more regrettable because after more than a decade, the world is looking at India with renewed admiration for its economic accomplishments and Prime Minister Modi is being universally hailed as a global leader.
It is ironic that Mr Khan says “despondency” has gripped India in the last six to eight months, whereas the fact is that all indices point to hope returning in most Indian hearts in the last 18-odd months. Arguably, a few unfortunate blips were recorded wherein some persons were senselessly murdered by criminals who deserve all the punishment that law can mete out to them. Although no murder can be excused, and those that take place in the name of religion or ideology are appallingly despicable, nothing of a significant magnitude has happened to justify the well-choreographed breast-beating by a minuscule section of artists and “intellectuals” banded together under the award-wapsi brigade.
Mr Khan does not seem to realise that comments like the one he made merely act as ghee to the burning embers of communal mistrust. India is a profoundly tolerant society more diverse and accommodating than most Western societies, leave alone the Islamic. As a member of the privileged class of celebrities, Mr Khan should realise that it is India’s tolerance that enabled even his controversial (some would say offensive) film PK rake in dollops of money at the box office. To then equate a few criminals in Karnataka or Uttar Pradesh as representative of the psyche of 1.25 billion Indians is an insult to the intellect and sentiment of the Indian people as a whole.
Mr Khan, you have a right to express your opinion. You have a right to indulge in politics. Your views are as sacrosanct as those of the person standing next to you. That is the essence of democracy, which you know doesn’t exist in most of our neighbourhood. Normally, a comment like yours would not be worthy of taking note except for two factors: One, you are a role model for many, who will be confused by your remarks. Second, you can propagate the brand of politics that seems to be spilling out of your comment, but why drag your motherland, which has given you so much, into itIJ It is as much your motherland as it is ours.
Mr Khan, you have caused us pain. All patriotic Indians expect you to make amends for the hurt you have caused Mother India.