Samir With extremists and fundamentalists from both sides feeding on each other, it is those who are caught in the middle who are the victims. Unfortunately, we seem to have begun to accept that two wrongs make a right. We also seem to suffer from an inferiority complex that we always seem to compare ourselves with the lowest common denominator and benchmark ourselves and our values against what is lower than ours rather than what is superior or ideal for us. No wonder all our resources and economic gains are frittered away in destructive activities.
In a lighter vein, your question to Sandeep and me reminds me of an anecdote that I read. Khrushchev had just succeeded Stalin and was addressing the General Assembly for the first time. He criticised Stalin severely, denounced him and found upteen faults with his policies. At which point someone from the audience interrupted his speech by shouting out loudly 'what were you doing when all this was going on?' There was a stunned silence. No one knew what to expect next. Khrushchev, himself was taken off-guard and lost his composure. After a while, he composed himself, and looking in the direction from where the voice came, asked 'will the gentleman who said that kindly stand up and introduce himself?' There followed a pin drop silence. Khrushchev repeated his question once again, only to be followed by deafening silence. He then said ' I was doing exactly what this gentleman is doing now'. He then went on to complete his speech. Freedom of Speech or expression is not absolute. It is restricted and contained by the conditions around us. That is why Tendulkar and Gavaskar cannot speak freely on certain issues in Bombay. That is why Karan Johar, Amitabh Bachhan, Shah Rukh Khan and other artistes have to obtain 'clearances' even after receiving the Censor's certificate before their films can be shown. Regards, Marshall
