What is the joy in abusing culture?

By: Subhadeep Bhattacharjee

The protests by certain pro-Kannada organisations against the unveiling of Tamil poet Thiruvalluvar’s statue in Bangalore is shocking. This is a stark reminder of the divisive forces that exist in our society. Language, culture and religion have become bigger identity for each and every individual in a country where we stand by the tag “unity in diversity.” There seems to be a hypocritical love for 'Mine' and unbending hate for 'Yours'.

It is well known that there exists an undercurrent between the two states. There groups are against the unveiling of the statue Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Karunanidhi. Be it the decades old Kaveri water issue or the Hogenakkal integrated drinking water project the two states have always been locked in a battle ground. There are notorious elements on both sides trying to use a little bit of friction to create tension between the two southern neighbours.

It was very heartening to see prominent Kanadigas rally behind Chief Minister Yeddyurappa welcoming the unveiling of the statue in Bangalore. Tamil Nadu is scheduled to reply the gesture by unveiling the statue of Kannada poet Savajnamurthy in Chennai. Isn't this a good step towards bringing down the tension between the two states which was divided by politics rather than culture.

The question is what is the joy in abusing each other's cultures? What has culture got to do with the political problems that exist between these two states? How would these groups feel if one of their cultural icons was humiliated in some other state? These groups which declare themselves as the self styled protectors of culture must realise that it is important to respect other cultures so that their own culture is respected in return.

As far as such groups in both the states are concerned they should realise one fact, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu will have to remain neighbouring states even if someone doesn't like it. There will be lot of cultural exchange taking place between both the communities. It must be also realised that politics and culture are best when they don't come in each other's proximity. Abusing someone's culture is lending an invitation for your own culture to be abused.

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Another MMS scandal shocks the nation

In another shocking incident an MBA student in Noida sent out a video clip of his 23 year-old-girlfriend doing striptease for him to his classmates. The girl had allegedly refused to marry him. The clip has now become one of the hottest searches on the internet and is available on most MMS sites. The incident has reminded us of the DPS MMS scandal some years ago.

Now a chain of blame game will start from the educational institute to the person who invented camera phones, all will be blamed. Many 'custodians of culture' and 'over caring parents' will even demand the banning of camera phones and internet among ADULTS (at 23 these people were no youngster). Now the questions is technology to be blamed here?

No Sir, technology is for use and not for abuse. The culprit here are two individuals and not the entire students community. I don't want to sound like an anti-feminist but I blame the girl more here for her act. Was stripping the only option left for her to express love towards her boyfriend? Now the guy will surely be booked under cyber crime and other acts of the IPC but for the girl she had already been booked under shame and disgrace.

Being born in India the girl would have surely heard the phrase “for a woman her honour is her most precious ornament” but modernity has made many of us insane. The girl in question is just another example. She was the first custodian of her honour and dignity but she didn't care enough for it. Had this same girl been manhandled on the road the entire government and the police would have been blamed. Can the government or the police protect the honour of such individuals?

The point is police and the government are not always responsible for our sufferings. We individuals should me more responsible for ourselves before pointing the figure at the government. Many of us should shed away lifestyle which invites trouble in the name of modernity.

It is very important to evolve both culturally and socially but the pace for such things have to be set right. The society is no culprit for the shameless act of two individuals. They have just abused both technology and their freedom. To be honest the society is biased towards the darker sex so woman need to put in that extra effort not to invite trouble.

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The fuss about Valentine's Day

14 February has become synonymous with violence every year. There is a certain group of people fuelled by their own definition of culture who in the name of protecting it would resort to any amount of violence. On the other hand a huge chunk of people inspired by certain international trends feel it is the only day in the calender to express their love to their partners.

In a country struggling to eradicate poverty, prostitution and countering terrorism too much of attention is being given to the so called 'Day of Love'. The protesters want to draw political mileage out of the entire issue in the name of culture. The people celebrating days like these want to prove that we Indians are still fool enough to be victims of capitalism as such occasions makes sure that card and gift manufacturer smile their way to the bank.


Can the protesters deny the fact the Kamasutra was India's gift to the world? What is the culture that they are talking about? If they are talking about Hinduism then love is the core of the religion. We have always heard tales of Krishna flirting around with his Gopis. Can they run away from the fact that the 'Playboy' god was Hinduism's gift to mankind. They need to clear their stand whether they are against love or the day called 'Valentine's Day'


A possible solution to this could be celebrating the day on 'Janmasthmi' rather than on the Saint Valentine's Day. We cannot find a better day other than the day our very own Playboy Lord Krishna was born. This will ensure that the protesters cannot resort to violence in the name of Westernisation of India. At the same time the so called Lovers will have 'one day' allocated in the calender to express love even if rest 364 days have nothing to be in love about.


But this solution won't be accepted as our 'Lovers' won't find is 'COOL' enough. How can something Indian be 'COOL'? How can we not do what the Americans are doing? After all we are a country where the definition of being 'COOL' is eating out at McDonald's and watch Friends on TV.

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