Dear Aamir, The penny dropped as you too raked up the issue of rising intolerance in India at an awards function on Monday evening. But honestly, it was least expected of you.
I had always been under the impression that you are a well sorted out individual who does like to speak his mind out on social causes but in a very restrained manner, while exercising maximum caution to avoid hurting sentiments of anyone. But I must admit that your comments on intolerance in India have crossed the fine line of sensitivity as they go not only against the current government of India, but against common citizens like me as well.
While speaking out against intolerance you perhaps failed to realize that your saying so could have much wider implications. Your comments seem to indicate that we as a nation are a bunch of bigots who never heed to a word that somebody speaks. I do though appreciate that you spoke on intolerance without mentioning particular unfortunate incidents like the Dadri lynching. I am a common citizen of India, a broad-minded Hindu and also a self-confessed atheist. Yes, I have no problems in admitting that I do not visit temples and shy away from hardcore religion.
I myself form a part of tolerant India, which you are now calling intolerant. I have been a fan of your films since childhood and have practically watched all of them, including the more recent PK, which challenged the very fundamentals of my faith. But did I complain or cry intolerance? Certainly not, as this tolerant nation comprises mainly of Hindus, who are totally self-critical by nature and tolerant towards the creative liberty enjoyed by actors and filmmakers.
Or how else do you think PK became a super-hit? It is only because tolerant people of this country who understood that PK was a comical satire, although a hard-hitting one as it relentlessly put to scrutiny the relationship between God and his devout. A famous dialogue of yours in PK which comes to my mind is `jo dar gaya woh mandir gaya', which means that a Hindu goes to a temple only out of fear and not by devotion. Allowing such a dialogue uncut should be exemplary of the amount of tolerance prevailing in India. I would not like to go into minute details of the content of the movie, as we both know about it. Even the censor board of India was tolerant towards PK and released it without major tweaks.
Can you imagine making a film which challenges the fundamentals of Islam in Pakistan and getting it released?
You also spoke about leaving the country due to intolerance, quoting your wife Kiran Rao, so that assumptions on the origins of this thought remain unclear. But, then where would you and Kiran go? Is there virtually any country left in this world where terror or religious turmoil is non-existent?
I suggest that you sit down with Kiran and peep into a world map and list out countries one by one. Only then you shall realize that India is a much peaceful country today in comparison. I totally agree with you that if a person decides to leave his homeland, the decision is never an easy one, but then don't you think that you are overreacting? But if you have decided so, it would be your personal decision.
In a largely populated and diverse country like India, law and order issues like Dadri lynching do happen, but then should we not strengthen our law and order to avoid them? Is running away from problems your way of dealing with such issues? I must admit that your approach to me seems melodramatic just like the cinema you make.
What was even more shocking for me was that you yourself have been a brand ambassador for Indian Tourism and are seen in TV commercials promoting the concept of `atithi devo bhava' (guest is God), and now you yourself are contemplating abandoning your motherland. Why preach what you cannot practice? What message are you sending out to foreigners who wish to visit India? I guess, not a very welcoming one.
Senior actor Anupam Kher yesterday in reaction to your comments tweeted, "When did Incredible India' become `Intolerant India' for you? Only in the last 7-8 months?"
You are Aamir Khan because the tolerant people of India have made you so. Your very existence as a superstar is because of this tolerant country and its tolerant people. But India does not exist because of you.
So, my suggestion to you would be to stick to acting, your chosen profession, which you are good at too, rather than raking up complicated issues like intolerance, which are debatable and questionable in many aspects. Even then If you are so interested in taking up such issues then I suggest you give up acting and join mainstream politics, nobody is stopping you. As, remaining away from filth and talking about cleanliness is the easiest thing in the world, but cleaning that filth with your own hands is a difficult proposition.
The backlash from tolerant Indians that you have been receiving after your controversial comments should serve an eye-opener for you to put to rest this entire debate on intolerance as it would not solve any purpose other than maligning the country internationally. Instead of saying `intolerance' you should tell people `all is well.'
Ikshit
Original Source: http://www.merinews.com/article/an-open-letter-to-aamir-khan-on-raking-u...