If PK has rights to offend religions; why does it target only Hindu Religion?

First things first. Why there is a controversy around the Aamir Khan starer movie "PK"? Some people are saying that the controversy is because Aamir Khan is a Muslim and yet he led this movie which appears anti-Hindu. But I think the protest is because every time the Indian movie makers target only Hindus and Hinduism. Controversy is not because of Khan's surname or religion - which some of us conveniently assume because it is easy to counter in debates. And the movie makers do it not to make any changes in the society but to make money. I don't know why we should encourage ridiculing only one particular religion in the name of making money.

If the movie industry was conscious about removing superstition etc - why do they produce ghost-movies one after the other? They show ghosts, vampires, souls, bhoots etc as if these really exist. So what is wrong if some cheats come up and claim to provide protection against such things which are reinforced in our mind by the movie industry?

And btw, I read Aamir's statement in the news where he was replying to the protesters. He said, "If you don't like the movie, don't watch it!" How hypocritical? Can one really 'like' or 'dislike' a movie without 'watching it'? And once one has watched it and disliked it, can one go back in time to 'unwatch' the movie? They have not even started the scheme of 'get refunds for your movie ticket if you dislike it after watching it'!

Throughout the promo phase, they kept showing us cute little Alien Aamir, sleek Anuskha, cheeky Sushant - moving around in the background of very nice songs! People went to watch these and what do they find? Rajkumar Hirani's personal tirade against Hindu Gods and Hindu Godmen? Come on! At least be honest during the promos!

I think govt should control the way these greedy movie makers do promo of their films. I am sure if they highlighted that PK was a tirade against "Hindu Gods and Hindu Godmen" - it won't have been this much successful... So are not pk-makers unethical in misguiding the viewers?

The manner in which such movies are being made, it appears that the movie makers want us to get provoked. Perhaps so that it makes "news" and controversy and so that they can call us stupid and generate more news and controversies... Otherwise they won't have released Aamir's nude picture so many weeks in advance and tried to cook up all controversies, nominating Salman to do the dare of getting nude and all...

In Hinduism we have long tradition of self-criticism and social reforms. Genuine criticisms are alright and necessary. But as I said, these movie makers are only interested in money and target one religion more liberally than others because "they can get away with it" easily. And they do get away with it each time with more money than their previous movie. And we keep clapping at their "noble" intentions while their bank balances laugh at us.

Some people who are supporting this movie call themselves rational thinkers and accuse the protesters as blind believers. But logically it appears that:

Rational thinking – people who question the intent of the movie-makers are doing rational thinking; they are daring to question.

Blind Belief – people who think movies are made to do social and religious reforms; they don’t question the movie makers but indulge in full blind faith that intention of all movie makers should always be noble.

Now we come to an important part - what things in the movie offend us?

I read that the movie shows a person dressed as Lord Shiva is chased in the toilets, underneath chairs and tables, near people's feet and his rear is shown in awkward position. Can you tell if people dressed as other religions' gods, goddesses and messengers are also shown being chased in this manner too in this movie?

Someone said how is it different from the Raam Leela programs where at some places the person playing Hanuman ji's role goes around collecting money from people. I think the difference is in "intention" of the organizers. Ram leela and other events spread the religious message apart from protecting culture. Therefore Lord Hanuman's character is not seen in negative light there; even if he collects money as daana - accepting daana is not considered negative. Still in Raam leela also Lord Hanuman's character won't be abused in the manner done in the movie right? Now compare that with this movie and intention of the movie makers. They make movies to the ultimate goal of making money. Therefore insults done to Lord Shiva's character is not similar to anything done in Raam leela etc.

Some people said that it mentions why we need to give money in order to see God's idol in temples? I ask in which temple do we "need to give money to see god's idol"? I know we can buy tickets to reach there faster than others; we are asked for donations also; but do we really "need to give money"? Did the movie name any particular temple or did it only make a false statement which we did not question?

The controversy was primarily because the movie was reported to be more charitable towards (or against) one particular religion and its gods than being equal towards all. You can search what Taslima Nasreen said about Aamir and this movie - to get a sense of rage in some people and its reason. The bottom line of accusation is that the movie makers were "biased".

Have I watched this movie? I wanted to and was planning to watch it assuming it to be a cool movie just like its promos and songs but when it turned out that its bottom-line was "do not believe in fake godmen" I thought why to waste Rs 200 to get this message when I have had already gotten this message so many times before? So I did not watch it. As you would have noticed, I have been discussing about religion more than the movie so far on BB - that was for some reason.

A Faking News asked why good aliens come to India? I think if PK were a bad alien and yet criticized religion - the movie won't make 200 crores... PK had to to appear like a cute little pet in order to win our hearts and if it did not win our hearts then how could it hurt our sentiments? :) Its because of Aamir's philosophy "Dil pe lagegi tabhi baat banegi".

Also, a question arises why so many educated people support this movie and do not empathize with the protesters? I think the problem is that we want to remain bound by all sorts of things except religion. We want to be slaves to social confirmation (clothes we wear; phones we buy etc); we are okay to be bound by employers rules (like dress code; protocols etc); okay to obey our parents and spouses and kids; but only we want not to be bound by whatever religion says... Because religions tell nice things which appear uninteresting; so we fear that we shall be labeled boring people - so we all must criticize religion for the sake of appearing modernist and urban individuals...

© Rahul

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Also read on the same topic: http://khabrii.com/a-hindus-open-letter-to-amir-khan/

Barbie depicted as goddess Kali in Buenos Aires (Argentina)

In an upcoming art show at Buenos Aires, Argentina, Barbie doll is being depicted as Goddess Kali of Hinduism. News report that Hindus are upset with this and they have called this inappropriate.

Rajan Zed, Hindu statesman and President of the Universal Society of Hinduism urged the artists to not include Barbie-ised Goddess Kali in the exhibition and remove it from their online postings and printed material as it trivialised the highly revered deity of Hinduism.

Zed further said that Hindus welcomed art world to immerse in Hinduism but taking it seriously and respectfully and not for refashioning Hinduism concepts and symbols for personal agendas. Barbie-fication of Kali was simply improper, wrong and out of place.

You can read more at News reference:

http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2014/09/28/hindus-upset-at-barbie-depicted-as-goddess-kali/

Forced Conversion and Marriage of Hindu Woman in Muzaffarnagar

Muzaffarnagar in Uttar Pradesh, India is the place where communal riots had taken place this year. And now in a shocking piece of news a nursing home owner has been arrested for allegedly forcing a Hindu woman to convert to Islam, forcefully marrying her and raping her for about a year. The woman informed the police that she somehow escaped from the man Abdul Kalam’s house where she was detained.

Detailed news and Reference: http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-others/muzaffarnagar-nursing-home-owner-held-for-forcing-woman-to-convert/

We hope this case is solved soon and the woman gets justice. Also such trends where Hindu women are forced to do religious conversion into Islam in the pretext of marriage and job must be highlighted and stopped (it is also called Love Jihad).

Forced Religious Conversion Attempt in Ranchi, Jharkhand

In a shocking case which has been tagged as "Love Jihad" by the media, a national level female shooter has filed a case alleging that her husband who claimed to be Hindu deceived her and indulged in violent behavior forcing her to convert to Islam since he was in fact a Muslim and his true name was "Rakibul Hussain" as used at many places. [Ref: News from Financial Express]

Tara Sahdeo (24) from Ranchi, Jharkhand reported that she married a man named "Ranjit Kohli" in July 2014 but within a few days into married life, force for religious conversion into Islam started. She was also physically assulted. Some TV news channels report that she was bitten by a dog for refusing to convert.

VHP and other social organizations have protested against this incident and the Police has arrested the man and his mother for the crime [Link1] [Link2]. We hope this incident is probed to make the entire matter transparent. Also if any international links exist which promote such forced conversions, it should be dealt properly by the government to close all such anti-national channels. 

Forced Religious Conversion and Marriage in Sonipat, Haryana

A news item published in Dainik Bhaskar tells about a horrifying news of forced religious conversion and marriage in Sonipat, Haryana.

सोनीपत. हरियाणा के सोनीपत में नर्सरी में काम करने वाली नाबालिग लड़की को बंधक बनाकर दुष्कर्म करने और बाद में जबरन धर्म परिवर्तन कराकर शादी करने का मामला सामने आया है। शादी के बाद भी आरोपी ने अपने दोस्‍तों से उसका बलात्‍कार करवाया और दोबारा उसका निकाह अपनी बहन के जेठ के साथ करा दिया। आरोपी पहले से चार बच्‍चों का बाप है। पीड़िता का आरोपी से पांच माह का एक बच्चा भी है। 

 

सदर थाना प्रभारी दलबीर डांगी ने बताया कि 18 वर्षीय पीड़िता को जब मुन्ना अपने साथ ले गया था, उस समय वह नाबालिग थी। मुन्ना की ही नर्सरी में काम करती थी। आरोप के मुताबिक बंदेपुर के रहने वाले मुन्ना ने हरियाणा के ही बहादुरगढ़ के एक धार्मिक स्थल में धर्म परिवर्तन कराकर शादी की। बाद में सहारनपुर ले जाकर अपने दोस्तों से भी उसका बलात्कार कराया। लड़की मूल रूप से यूपी के प्रतापगढ़ की रहने वाली है। उसके माता-पिता नहीं हैं। 

  

सोमवार को मामला मीडिया के संज्ञान में आया तो दो घंटे में ही पुलिस ने मुख्य आरोपी मनीष उर्फ मुन्ना और उसके भाई नूरा को बस स्टैंड के पास से गिरफ्तार कर लिया। सदर थाना पुलिस ने बताया कि तीसरे आरोपी को गिरफ्तार करने लिए लगातार दबिश जारी है। 

News reference: http://www.bhaskar.com/news-ht/HAR-PAN-molestation-with-kidnapped-minor-girl-in-sonipat-haryana-4724224-NOR.html

Historic Hindu temple facing demolition in Pakistan

A historic Hindu temple at Rawalpindi in Pakistan is facing demolition to make way for barracks for soldiers. The temple has existed from pre-partition era (creation of separate country Pakistan for Muslims). The temple along with a Hindu graveyard and 53 single-room houses could be demolished at the site. 

Zee News reports the following about this news [Link]: 

"Built in 1935, Maharishi Walmeck Sawami Jee Temple popularly known as Balaknash Temple is located at Gracy Lines of Chaklala, which falls in the municipal jurisdiction of military-managed Rawalpindi Cantonment Board.

The decision has caused anger among the Hindus as the temple is centre of religious activities of the small community in Rawalpindi, about 25 km from here.

A Hindu resident, Ashok Chand, told media that the temple and the houses were legally built before partition and there was no reason to demolish them.

"We refused to go to India and decided to stay in Jinnah's Pakistan, now our homes and sacred temple are being bulldozed. Are not we Pakistanis or at least humans?" he said.

About 60 Hindu families live in Rawalpindi which had a thriving Hindu population before the partition."

We hope the plan to demolish the temple and other structures belonging to Hindus is scrapped and Hindus are allowed their right of worship and practicing their religion. 

Stampede at Kamtanath temple, Satna, MP

In an unfortunate incident, 10 pilgrims have been killed in stampede at Kamtanath temple in Satna district of Madhya Pradesh. 66 people have been injured as reported so far.

Huge gathering of pilgrims at the temple site was due to the occasion of Somvati Amavasya. The unfortunate incident occurred at around 6 am. A judicial inquiry has been ordered into the stampede. [News Reference]

Poor facilities especially related to safety of pilgrims are very serious matter on which most big Hindu temples lack resources. At some places it happens due to poverty and at some other it happens due to inadequate planning. Let us hope that we learn some lessons from such accidents and improve the safety and facilities at and around Hindu temples in India. 

Temple demolition leads to protests in Ahmedabad

A Hindu temple is demolished in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, in the pretext that a larger building was built. In general I have a personal opinion that we should not build temples at government land, at on in the middle of very crowded road or junction, and temples should be built properly in a proper place where environment should be positive. Still, we can't stop people from worshiping and such situations arise. Looking at the details of the case at below link, it appears that the authorities should have at least served prior notice and abrupt demolition in this manner would only create disharmony and spread negativity in the society. Secondly, if a construction is illegal, it should be stopped during its construction, rather than after being ready and people starting to offer prayers. In my opinion, police action appears too harsh and they should apologize to the priest and immediately return the idol back. In fact not returning idol of a temple appears inhuman and dictatorial and it should be condemned. 

Temple demolition leads to protests by residentsExpress News Service | Ahmedabad | July 1, 2014 2:19 pm 

Demolition of a Hanuman temple on the drive-in road in Ahmedabad by Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) led to prorests by residents Tuesday morning. The city police was deployed at the site to control the situation. 

The temple priest who is sitting on a fast near the demolished site claimed that there was no prior notice or information by the municipal authorities before carrying out the demolition drive of this 40 year old relatively small temple that took place on Monday night. 

Estate Officer H R Shah said, “The priest had built a much larger structure so it had to be demolished. There is no need to serve any prior notice for this kind of demolition drive.” On returning of the idol Shah said that if the temple priest assures the original structure to be retained they would return the idol. 

Complete news: http://indianexpress.com/article/cities/ahmedabad/temple-demolition-leads-to-protests-by-residents/

Tension after removal of loudspeaker from temple

All over India, prayers are offered from Muslim places of worship by loud speakers. Even in localities where majority of population are Hindus or non-Muslims, we find small structure or house from whose roof-top such loud speakers broadcast prayers in a language which most do not understand and several times a day. Even though this causes inconvenience to the population, this practice has been going on for a long time without Hindus protesting against this custom. In this light, it is surprising that Muslims should protest against loud speakers being used in Hindu temples in localities where they are majority. Below news item tells about such a sad news. We hope the police and the government allow the loudspeaker in the temple, otherwise at least treat each religion on the same standards. If Hindu temples in predominantly Muslim areas can't keep loudspeakers, then is it fine for Muslim places of worship keeping loudspeakers in areas dominated by Hindus?

UP: BJP calls mahapanchayat against removal of loudspeaker from temple

Express News Service | Lucknow | July 1, 2014 2:18 am

Tension started brewing in the area after police removed the loudspeaker from a temple in Akbarpur Chendri village of the district on Thursday. Protesting against the action, a large number of shops in the local market have remained closed since Friday and a group of locals, including some right-wing organisation members, clashed with the police in Kanth town the same day during a road blockade against the removal of the loudspeaker. Later, 19 people were booked for attacking the policemen.

BJP’s leader Bhupendra Singh claimed the loudspeaker has been at the temple for last 40 years and was removed at the behest of the Peace Party MLA.

Complete news: http://indianexpress.com/article/india/politics/up-bjp-calls-mahapanchayat-against-removal-of-loudspeaker-from-temple/

Three Hindu Temples attacked in Pakistan

New report from PTI tells about three Hindu Temples attacked in Pakistan. Five persons have been arrested for the crime. It should be noted that such news items prompt quite frequently and governments in Pakistan should do their best to stop this trend. 

3 Hindu temples attacked in Pakistan, 5 persons arrested

2014-05-30 05:30:00 Karachi:

Three Hindu temples in Pakistan's Sindh province have been desecrated, drawing strong protests from the community after which police arrested five persons in connection with the attacks. "Unknown men entered three Hindu temples in the Kot Ghulam Mohammad area near Mirpurkhas yesterday and smashed the idols of Hindu deities," SSP Jam Zafarullah said today. "The temples of Shiv, Khaitpar and Khusshal Puri were attacked," he said.

The attacks prompted a strong reaction from the Hindu community who demanded the arrest of the culprits. "The police used sniffer dogs to track down the accused from the area and five of them were under arrest," he said. 

When asked about the attack on a prominent Hindu temple in Larkana earlier in the month where the mob after looting it set it ablaze, the police official said they are two different cases. "Attacks on Hindu places of worship had grown this year in the area and this was a cause of great concern to the Hindu community," Khem Chand, a local Hindu leader, said. 

(C) Sify Ref:
http://www.sify.com/news/3-hindu-temples-attacked-in-pakistan-5-persons-arrested-news-international-of3vEjbeacf.html