Why I Feel Rohith Vemula's suicide: It's an ugly truth of campus politics in student life

The world of student politics is not for the faint hearted. It is vicious precisely because the stakes are so small. Many believe university politics can offer a route to Downing Street. But while some have followed this path to Westminster - Margaret Thatcher and William Hague from my own university society, for instance - countless more have fallen by the wayside.

It is better, instead, to view it as a path to an impressive CV. To lead is a noble thing, and student politics will teach you vital life skills….Joe Cooke, former President of the Oxford University Conservative Association.

The above words were explained by Joe Cooke star of a new BBC Two documentary on "today on university politics /student politics" few years back while offering his five-point guide to mastermind the partisanworldof student elections for those students who are determined to climb the greasy pole of student politics.  

College/university campuses have always been a plinth of playing creepy game of politics. I remember in my graduating years, at the time of student union elections how the invisible Mr. Indias would totally control the atmosphere inside the campuses with money, manpower etc. leading to the victory of the candidate with less merit if not totally undeserved than the win of a deserving one with merit.  

Once it was really disappointing for me to see someone losing out despite been very active in addressing the real issues of students only because he had fought independently with the support of his few friends. He perhaps couldn't manage fund to do all those attractive banners, pamphlets etc and of course those "night before the voting day's things" to win the minds of students.  The student who had won was having the tag of ABVP and that's how I heard the name of the organization for the first time.

Subsequently I was made aware of the fact that how impossible it was for the college administrations to go against some students who would enjoy the strong political backing in spite of the unruliness they create inside the campus. Many times I had headed home as the college would stop lectures abruptly in the wake of a "student group clash".

We would enquire about the reopening dates from the local students and would return to resume our classes. The story would be same for other colleges and universities while the name of political backing system would be the only differentiators. I have some friends who opine that they shouldn't have wasted some of their productive years in all those nonsense.

Politicians from various political outfits literally use students as per their need and throw them out once their utility is over. Young, naive and aggressive minds are easy to be ignited a passion and that favors established politicians and political parties to push their ominous agendas…I guess. But in the process, careers, family and lives of many students actually face a disorder at some point of time. Baring few not many could make politics a career. Some would return to the track while some would lose themselves eternally.

Coming to the Rohith Vemula, the young PhD scholar from University OfHyderabad(UoH) - Dalit or not…as the debate is still going on - had been a victim of loathsome campus politics…I feel.

A clear case of student conflict (between groups) took an ugly turn with the "big boss" political interventions.  I wish had he not been a part of ASA or at least had not been one who assaulted another student of another political outfit landing him in the hospital that lead his expulsion from some vital part of the University Campus along with other four students.

I wish he would have been supported by his own sympathizers and supporting political bosses when he and the four others were through all those consequences, valid or invalid before becoming so much vulnerable. I wish the students and the politicians who are crying foul now and demonstrating nationwide against the disciplinary action taken by the University would have raised their voices then when he was alive. At least there should have been some noise when "Caste identity" was used as a divider among students that had made 9 more Dalit students commit suicide in the same campus in last decade.  

I wish Rohith Vemula wouldn't have lost hope in the ideology he was following and wouldn't have felt isolated. The irony  is the man who aggressively had protested against the "Hanging" of 1993 Mumbai blast accused, Yakub Memon, couldn't find strength to fight and protest against his own internal chaos that finally lead him to "Hang himself".

I can understand his anger against the discriminating University Administration but I still haven't figure out about his frustrations and hopelessness from his own people who didn't raise their voices and supported him. At least someone should have taken care of his finances keeping his humble background in eye….at least the Organization that he was fighting for.  The truth is when he was in the utter vulnerability; no one was there to stop him from taking that extreme step.

I wish being a bright research scholar Rohith Vemula should have gone through some really good books and articles to understand the twists and turns of politics in student's life, if not points given by Joe Cooke. I wish he would have been guided by some really good people about the multi-dimensional reality one might have to face when step in to the ugly world of politics. Had it been so…I think he would have fought well against his inner turmoil that lead him to hang himself and perhaps would have emerged victorious as well?  In short he would have been "alive" today though not enjoying the nationwide identity.

I know Rohith Vemula isn't the first nor will be the last being the victim of nasty campus politics. The politicians and political parties should at least now refrain from using students as the pawns to push their agendas (i know it's impossible for them) if they really feel bad for Rohiths. I wish there should be no more Rohith Vemula who would be pushed to an edge because of politics, discrimination and isolation.

I hope the culprits who are responsible for abatement of suicide of Rohith will be stringently punished so that it acts as a deterrent in future. I also hope Rohith Vemula will be a lesson for all those young aspirants who dream of stepping into politics from the dais of their colleges. At least they will do a research on themselves if they are fit into it or not before jumping on the podium. Till then…let the stillness of graveyard resonate in the commotion soul of Rohith Vemula....I feel.

#ShaniShingnapur temple: Who says women are not allowed inside, I had been there

While the entire India was busy in celebrating 67th Republic Day on 26th January 2016, a group of women from Bhumata Ranragini Brigade, a women organization, created law and order issue at Shani Shingnapur temple in Maharashtra's Ahmednagar district in the name of "equal status for women to do worship".

Of late the Shani Shingnapur Temple has been hitting headlines for all wrong reasons. It started with a CCTV footage going viral few months back showing a girl climbing to the sanctum of the Shrine and touching the Deity Shani Maharaj (which is in the form of a Black Rock). After that the Temple Trust did a "Shhudhhikaran (Purification)" of the God as it has been a tradition there that "Women are not allowed to touch the idol".

Well…I'm a strong believer - if not a Feminist - of Equality, no gender discrimination and equal status for women in all spheres of life. But what I couldn't really understand about the controversy surrounding the Shani Shingnapur Temple is the "timing of the protest".

Before coming to my opinion over the controversy let me share my personal experience at this temple. A decade ago (in 2005) I had been to this place for the first time. We had a "Shiridi trip" along with four friends of my husband. After the morning Aarti at Shiridi…we headed for Shani Shingnapur temple and reached there in the afternoon. There I was told that ladies were not allowed inside the temple premises. I stayed inside the vehicle while all men took bath wearing a typical saffron cloth available there and proceeded with wet cloths to temple for prayer. That's how I came to know about the tradition. After that also we had been there for many times and followed the same.

However 4 years back when we shifted to Mumbai from Delhi…we again had a trip to it (2011) and were surprised to see the change. There was no restriction for women to enter inside the temple premises and no "compulsory" wearing of that typical saffron colored wet cloth for men. We went inside the premises. I saw a unique open temple which had no walls or roof. A self-emerged five-foot high black stone stands on a platform and is worshiped as Lord Shani.

Everyone was in queue for their turn to handover the "sesame oil" which is used to pour on the deity as a part of the ritual" to the priests who were doing so on behalf of the people. Nobody (both men and women) were allowed to climb that platform.

So the "fact" is both men and women are allowed to enter the temple while "no one" is allowed to climb the platform for any reason by the temple trust. That's what I have seen personally.

That's why I was surprised to hear the controversy on "Women Entering the Temple" which was there ten years back and not now. One can check out the Congress veteran Shashi Tharoor performing rituals at Shani Temple with Sunanda Pushkar (when she was alive).

Also had women not allowed to enter in the temple, how could the CCTV girl climbed onto the platform?

Well…coming to the protests by the women brigade of Bhumata Organization, I feel it's just an attempt to get "Recognition" and not at all getting any "Reformation" in such tradition. Had it been an attempt for reformation, they would have been taken the path of debate and discussion and not the confrontation.

By creating a law and order issue which they called "protests" they only ruined the sanctity of that place and the peace of those people who were staying there. Also it appears to be an attempt to malign the image of temple itself.

Shani Shingnapur is also a village known for "not having doors in the houses" as the people believe that there would be no theft as the Lord Shani himself protects the houses. I know it may sound bizarre to many but it is a reality and a matter of faith of the people of that place. The politics has only ruined the peace of the local people here.

I am really amused at the hashtags "#RightToPuja or #RightToPray - which I believe the media and the activists in India have found a new muse these days.

Okay, Okay…they are putting across the Right to Equality - Article 14 of the Constitution that says "Equality before the law -The State shall not deny to any person equality before the law or the equal protection of the laws within the territory of India". But does it ensure "Equality before Religious Practices?" Because Article 25 of the Constitution says freedom of conscience and free profession, practice and propagation of religion.

Every temple (in fact places of worship) has their own code of conducts and guiding rules which are ensured by the Constitution. Many temples (for example Jagannath Temple in Puri, Odisha) don't allow "Non-Hindus", given to the insecurity they have since ages, as in past various Non-Hindu forces attacked the temple. You can't force them to allow everyone as it doesn't come before any law for that matter.

I personally believe there should be no such rules that women can't be allowed inside the inner sanctum of a Place of Worship or any rule that differentiates between man and woman or Humans in general as I feel before God…everyone is equal. Change can be brought out with healthy debates and discussions and not at all "Confrontations" that to selectively. Remember even Gandhiji never approved "Force Entry of Harizans" in the temples though he was against the idea of not allowing them inside them.

I have been taught from my childhood that "Jadya Narjasthya Pujyanti, Ramyanti Tatra Devata". If I need to force myself inside a place, I don't believe it remains a "Place for worship" at all. I would respect the religious feelings of others. I hope good sense prevail on Trupti Desai and her tribe who wants gain recognition through such acts. 

Dear Aamir Khan, India has actually become incredibly intolerant!

"India will remain incredible with or without me – Aamir Khan." The "Perfectionist" actor Aamir Khan recently accepted his exit as the "Incredible India" campaign brand ambassador, quoting the above line.

So, better late than never!  At last, Aamir "Intolerant" Khan has been kicked out from the "IncredibleIndia campaign" (Okay, I can read between lines "contract not renewed" to be politically correct). But more than to it, I really wonder why didn't he break the contract by himself, with all those repercussions when he and his wife had found that "India had become Intolerant" few months back? I mean how could he still remain a face of "Incredible India" while in reality he believed it was "Intolerant India"?

Let me clear, before anybody tags me with anything opposite to "Liberal or Adarsh Liberal (I hope you all are aware of these terms)" how I define "free speech". My definition of free speech is very simple- You are always free to move your hands the way you wish to and at any speed if you're standing alone. But if someone is standing near in less than a hands distance, you need to restrict the movement of your hands because it may hurt the person near you. Because in that case there will be an immediate reflex action and you can't say that your freedom is restricted.

In simple terms there is always a sense of "responsibility" attached to "free speech".

But human are humans. It seems that some people have forgotten this sensibility may be because of abundance of fortunes bestowed upon them in terms of wealth, accomplishments and affluence. Our age old wisdom says "too much of everything is always bad". It's a universal truth that everything should fall into a range. You can reach the boundaries of the range but as soon as you decide to cross that boundary, you just end up disturbing the general balance of life. For example…Excessive drinking leads to falling down a lot and cursing yourself in the morning. Excessive eating leads to bellyaches and obesity. Excessive speed leads to cliff edges and telephone poles. These are aspects that most people would agree are harmful.

I wish the perfectionist Aamir Khan would have given some nit-picker thought to his "specific and substantial" utterance in terms of "perfection" before imperfectly making his "private" conversations with his wife Kiran Rao "public".  Before jumping into the podium to play the sinister game of "Intolerance", he should have thought about the mega success of his movie Pk that had released on 18 December 2014. At least after seeing the public reactions to Shah Rukh Khan's statement he should have restricted the movement of his tongue thinking that it would badly hurt the already wounded fans. Sigh!! He didn't do anything like that.

When he said "India has become Intolerant and his wife wants to leave" it was clear at that very moment that the "intolerance misadventure" itself had crossed all boundaries.

Believe me, I had felt like he had tight slapped me particularly because I was the one of the few who had defended the controversy over his movie Pk on this platform before. I always believe "art, culture or any creative venture" is beyond any religion, cast or creed and the people involved with them have no religion other than the "religion of humanity". But probably my belief is wrong.

Well, as force breaks inertial the first law of Newton goes, I must agree that the "intolerance misadventure" was a really a boon for people because it broke their siesta and it was actually something that made people wake up from their deep slumber of "tolerance".

We know about the aftermath. The immediate reflex action was seen in terms of cacophonous outrage on Twitter. People realized that "speaking sensibly" was no more a rule of "free speech".  It was one of the most surprising and ironical moments for the Indian public to see "the brand ambassador of Incredible India" terming "India as an Intolerant nation". The first target of anger of people was Snapdeal, which had engaged Aamir as its brand ambassador. Millions down rated the Snapdeal app and uninstalled it. Snapdeal was late to react and issued a statement for damage control when the damage had already been done. The protest continued till Snapdeal was forced to remove Aamir from its Twitter home page. May be it was a recreated moment of "Ashahayoga Andolan – The Non co-operation movement" for Indians in recent times. It was the first time such severe commercial damage had been inflicted over a mere public statement.

Well, the positive side of this insidious episode of intolerance was that people broke their inertia of tolerance. It also cured the "Ghajini" symptoms (short term memory loss) of Indians who normally forget any kind of offence after a few days. People haven't forgotten about it so far. Recently the Shah Rukh starrer "Dilwale" fell flat at the box office and was not that successful like previous Shah Rukh movies. Irrespective of an apology note from the King Khan (though it was a business move) people were seen "tolerantly showing intolerance" in front of theaters urging movie goers to boycott the film. Never before the winning argument had to donate the ticket money to charity instead seemed to be catching the spirit of public.

 #BoycottDilwale and Snapdeal fallouts were clearly successful campaigns, resulting into commercial disasters and it was perhaps the first time shown what happens when people lose their tolerance and become "intolerant". Similar fate is perhaps waiting for the upcoming movie of Aamir Khan "Dangal" as well.  People now understand that "they should hit where it hurts the most".

Aamir Khan did not spare a thought before crossing the line, as if there was something waiting for him more valuable than the "pride of the nation".

India was always incredible with its pluralistic culture that was the hall mark of its "tolerance". But a few lost hypocrites (read the gang of people who jumped into the "intolerance debate") perhaps couldn't digest it and scratched it for mere self interests.

Moral of the story is "Dear Aamir Khan – India has really become incredibly intolerant, because it has stopped its "tolerance" to be taken for granted".

Well, while people are rejoicing the ouster moment of removal of Aamir Khan from "Incredible India" campaign, is there going to be any more award wapsi for this ouster?

#justasking

#Pathankot terror attack:A heartfelt tribute to martyrs!!

I really had a different plan to start with and write something delightful in the New Year. I was very excited also. But there are certain things which are not in our hands…right! I had never imagined that the New Year will start with such a sad note. The Pathankot Terror attack was really something that hurt me a lot.

I really had a different plan to start with and write something delightful in the New Year. I was very excited also. But there are certain things which are not in our hands…right! I had never imagined that the New Year will start with such a sad note. The Pathankot terror attack was really something that hurt me a lot.

I guess…every Indian will concur with me. This is not the first time a terror attack has happened in our country, and in fact technically we should feel used to it. But every time it happens…it refreshes all those "wounds and bruises" of previous attacks on humanity.

Paris attack is still afresh in mind. It seems as if some people's survival of identity is reliant upon the bloodshed of innocents. Actually the whole world at present is bewildered and confused, stuck and lost confined by fear and panic. The escape route seems difficult to be crafted.

Definitely Pathankot terror attack is a strong pointer towards our internal security system. I believe it happened more because of unknown enemy within than outside and known one. It is not so difficult to fight with a known enemy like the ISI and its affiliated terror groups in Pakistan, but it's really challenging to fight with the ISI and its links in India. Because the moves of known enemy is predictable but of unknown enemy not. Pathankot terror attack is an example of this.

But in such attacks…either innocent people lose their lives or our bravehearts get martyred. That's really hurting!! And we helpless people are left to express our emotions on their bravery and valour.

We lost seven bravehearts in Patahnkot terror attack. Beyond any doubt it's a big loss to our country and the families of those martyred soldiers. They were indispensable in their families. Their family lost their dear ones. Their loss is irreversible. We must start recognizing the "loss of lives of our soldiers" as a major loss. Else we can't be a strong country. Human asset once gone …gone forever.

Let's stand with them and make them feel in the midst of distress a bit of solace with a thought that they are not alone. The nation stands with them today and forever….!! Let's all salute our martyrs and pray for their families and share their grief while we sleep in the security of our homes!

These are some of my heartfelt scribbles….I pay them as a Tribute to the Martyrs!!

The lifeless bodies of our martyrs might be resting in peace

The stillness of graveyards may be resonating in them

But the perplexed and anguished soul in me

Is struggling yet to come out of stun and shock,

From the nightmares of terror, agony and intense pain

It is really a terrible nightmare to wake up to a world

Where an ardent effort is made to prove God wrong

HIS claim that "Humans" are HIS best creation

As HE blessed them with "Hearts" that are filled with love

I really wonder… from where on earth or entire Cosmos

They outsource so much hell of hatred in them

To execute mindless killing of innocents and naive

And cheer in the midst of whimpers, cries and pool of Red

What chill and thrill they get by making lively bodies still

In the name of God, Religion and such Doctrines

The God might be finding it hard to hide his tattooed face

Carved with "Sanguine Fluid" from piercing bullets with blood stains

Let's not bow down before a few lost souls

With sunken consciousness and sick minds

To ruin our lives and instill it with fear of terror

Only to claim that they're enemy of mankind

Our strength grows when we dare

Our unity grows when we pair

Our conviction grows when we share

Our association grows when we care

Let's be united at this dark hour of chaos

Let's tirelessly speak about peace, harmony and love

Let's prove them that harmony still exist on earth

Let's diligently practice them as a mark

Let's gather the broken pieces of courage and hope

Let's tell them...

As many times they would tatter "peace into pieces" to vanish it from earth

We would assemble the "Pieces of Peace" to bring it back

Even if their untiring effort to reap us apart

We would "live in peace and not in pieces"

Our bravehearts martyred fighting the enemy on behalf of us…

Let's not allow the enemy to be successful in their endeavour...That will be the best tribute to the souls of our unsung heroes….

Ban, intolerance, award wapsi and the Congress

Only few hours are left for the new calendar of 2016 to take up the space of 2015. At this juncture while stealing some moments if we evoke about the most disgusting things that happened in the year 2015 in the political firmament of our country, I think many will agree with me that they are the nasty politics on three things "Ban, Intolerance and Award Wapsi".

Do I need to say, which party in India did all those politics? Obviously Congress, though it was also followed by other Modiphobics (anti-Modi brigade) individuals and parties.

Let's have a reminiscence of the story "Ban, Intolerance, Award Wapsi and Congress".

The spiteful episode apparently started with beef ban in Maharashtra. The Congress and all other opposition created much hullabaloo asking, "Why Government would decide what we should eat?" Ban on "slaughtering of animal" for two, four or eight days for a Jain festival "Paryushan" further strengthened their voice as some of the allies (read Shiv Sena) of ruling BJP-led NDA joined them. Then just beforeBiharAssembly elections Dadri lynching incident on the issue of beef happened, which added oil (I would say petrol) to the fire of "resentments for beef ban".

A new term "intolerance" from nowhere of hell took birth without any prior idea of its conception. Again a new brigade of intellectuals woke up from their deep slumber since eternity from nowhere else to feed this suddenly born child "Intolerance" while returning their awards given by the government to honor them. For many of these Award Returning Intellectuals…it was clearly a sign of "Achhe din" as returning awards earned them much recognition, which they never had earned while "receiving the award" (I am not sure if they have that guts to accept it as deserving a award on merit and buying it while lobbying are two different things). 

Well…news channels went gaga over these during their prime time news shows. A senior journalist was seen drafting letters to advice one year old CM (read Devendra Fadnavis) not to focus on his platter (should he eat beef or not), instead the attention of CM should be on agrarian crisis. I still wonder why there was no letter to Karnatakaor Kerala CMs…probably everything was okay in these states. It seemed as if a dreaded force called "Intolerance" deadlier than ISIS aroused in India. Internationally India's image was negatively impacted.

Bihar election ended with surprising mandate. Debacle of BJP in Bihar finally came as a respite to the Congress and other opposition parties for a while. So "Intolerance and Award Wapsi" were just a part of "dirty electioneering ploy" and a trick (I must admit painfully…that was successful) to malign Modi-led central government and disturb its development programmes.

I heard jokes that someone lodged a "Missing" with respect to "Intolerance" as it disappeared immediately afterBiharAssembly Elections.

Well…Jokes apart. Point is from very beginning I was much clear on the fact that if someone or any political party inIndiais indeed "intolerant" then it is "Indian National Congress". It's a party that always keeps the interests of it and the Gandhi Family above everything…even the national interest. It's indeed the most intolerant party inIndiafollowed by other anti-Modi brigade. I am not saying this out of seer hatred to these parties or exaggerated love to my ideological inclination. Rather my statement is substantiated with "hard facts" and "incidents" that happened recently.

It has become a routine thing that the opposition parties in the Parliament, particularly Congress and the Communist party attack the ruling NDA for alleged rise in intolerance in the country. But, recently a incident of intolerance took place in the Congress ruled state Kerala. I wonder who will attack them?

The Congress Government inKeralabanned liquor in the state. If beef ban is "intolerance" then isn't liquor ban also a sign of intolerance? Will they answer "why government should decide what we should drink?"

I personally believe that "We can decide what we "don't" want to eat or drink but definitely can't decide what we want to eat or drink". State has every right to decide for us what should we eat or drink. So I don't see any intolerance in banning liquor or beef. But what about those who termed "beef ban" as an act of intolerance? Are they also calling "liquor ban" an act of intolerance? Well…I'm not hearing any cacophony on this. Has anybody returned award for this intolerance?

Recently also I heard that the studio of a Muslim Photographer in Kerala was burnt down for his provocative comment against Purdha system in Muslim community. Is it "Tolerance"? Is it the "free speech" shouted by so called intellectuals?

Recently Yoga Guru Baba Ramdev was blocked in JNU from speaking on the occasion of' "22nd International Congress of Vedanta". A student group came out with protest against the invitation terming the move a 'silent right-wing onslaught' on JNU and demanded university officials to withdraw their invitation to the yoga guru. Is it what is called "Tolerance"?

When everyone with any ideology (left, moist…etc) can deliver their speech, why there is "intolerance" towards right ideology? Does it mean that "tolerance" or "intolerance" is selective? Where are all secular and intellectuals who returned their awards? Why a person just because of his ideological inclination and a support for a particular political party should be blocked by JNU? Where is Congress now?

Last but not the least…Sudhir Joshi - The Content Editor of Congress mouthpiece inMaharashtra"Congress Darshan" was sacked, just because some articles published in it criticized Jawaharlal Lal Nehru and Sonia Gandhi and praised Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. The articles were also withdrawn from online world. Will the award returning gang say "this is the "Free Speech" they were talking about? Is this the "tolerance" they wanted in the country?

With an iota of "non-aligned status" one can clearly say that "yes…these are the incidents of "intolerance" and Congress is definitely a party with "intolerance" as it hallmark. But has anybody returned awards for all the above incidents?

Looks the Congress and its tribes are not able to digest the fact that they are out of power. They are intolerant of the fact that a tea seller is Prime Minister of this country. Their hatred towards PM Modi is much more than their love towards India.

Sometimes I feel the same for the ideological followers of the Congress as well. They are insecure as people have started asserting, asking questions and counter their stand with facts. The award returning brigade was just a "Crew of Congress Slaves" who were dancing to the music of their master.

"Intolerance was always there as Congress is an age old party in India"…will there be any prime time news debate on "Award Wapsi" for the above incidents? Nation clearly wants to know…! I guess not!! Isn't it speaking volumes on "Ban, Intolerance and Award Wapsi?"

The national anthem row in PVR Cinema: I don't support the action of the family but I do oppose the duality of the crowd's behavior!

It seems that the movie "Tamasha" has brought some real life tamasha in a PVR Cinema hall. It happened during a late night show of Tamasha.

In an inopportune development, an unfortunate video is doing rounds these days on social media where it is seen that a family – one man, three women and a child (possibly a Muslim Family) – who were made to leave a PVR cinema hall (probably in Juhu or Kurla in Mumbai) by people around them. The reason for their ouster was that "they had disrespected the national anthem" by "not standing up" while it was being played as a customary ritual before the beginning of the movie. The incident came to light when a moviegoer filmed the altercation and posted it on Twitter and Face book, leading to an online uproar.

I was stunned when a group member shared the video on WhatsApp. After that I observed the reactions of group members, which were mostly likes, super likes and thumbs-up in support of the crowd. In some other groups too, I noticed similar reactions. I read tweets and comments under many articles published on various platforms on this controversy, where I observed that there was a clear division between people in their responses. Some had cheered it, while some questioned the need for "playing the national anthem" before the beginning of a movie (a practice followed by cinemas in

Maharashtra since 2003).

But as I watched the video, I got upset not by seeing the family which was defending its stand of "not standing while the anthem was playing" but by seeing "the duality of the behavior" of the crowd, who were shouting at the family. It is really regrettable that the family was forced to exit the cinema hall and their ouster was applauded by those seated inside the hall.

The reason why I got upset was seeing the sheer duality of people who were in the hall and bullying the family. Many may not agree with me but the fact is that if I ask how many of them attend flag hoisting on Independent Day / Republic Day in their area, I'm sure I will not get a 100 percent yes. Let alone attending flag hoisting, let me ask those people and those who say "its unpatriotic" or "anti-national" if you don't stand up while the national anthem is playing, how many of them haven't considered "Republic Day" or "Independent Day" as a holiday?

Considering these national days as holidays…isn't it unpatriotic? Most of us also don't even go to cast our votes during elections. What should we call that? I mean the list will be a really long one…where we have sheer double standards to measure the "patriotism" with different yardsticks.

Again, in the cinema hall itself by forcing the family to leave the cinema…what exactly did they prove? Hooliganism! It can clearly be heard from the kind of language, sorry "vulgar language" being used by the self proclaimed "patriots". One of them was heard saying "thappad maroonga" (I will slap you). And since when did hooliganism become "nationalistic or patriotic"? And what would have been the scene had the family refused to leave the cinema hall?

Nothing but violence? And who said that you can take the law in your hands and become jingoistic?

As per my knowledge, it is not mandatory to stand while the national anthem is being played. But it doesn't amount to "disrespect" (at least legally) if someone choses to sit while the national anthem is being played unless he/she prevents others from singing it or create disturbances in between. No where it is written that it is "unpatriotic" if you don't stand when the national anthem is being played.

I think we should stop judging "patriotism" in this way. The fact is that if the video is an accurate portrayal of what actually took place, then the family could also consider suing the cinema under the Consumer Protection Act for physical threats as well as for the disruption in the cinema experience. That speaks volumes about the law of the land. How many of you really say that the "crowd showed patriotism"? It's simply felonious behavior.

Point is "patriotism" can't be forced. It is definitely a mark of respect to "stand up and pay attention" to the national anthem but not necessarily a disrespect if you don't stand. I don't have anything to say to those who don't stand up for the national anthem. I would prefer to leave it to their call instead of taking law of the land in hand and spoiling the sanctity of the atmosphere where the national anthem is being played. I feel that way I would pay highest respect to the national anthem. It unites people and never divides them.

Terrorism has no religion, true! Then why to call India "Intolerant" for an isolated case of Dadri?

World is already in a state of shock and panic following the barbaric Paris terror attack on people who were eating dinner at a restaurant, attending a concert, watching a football game in a stadium on November 13. They were unaware of the monsters targeting their lives.

"It is really a horrendous nightmare to wake up to a world where there is an ardent effort to prove God's claim wrong that "Humans" are its best creation. One would really wonder from where on earth or in Universe they outsource so much hell of hatred in them to execute such bloodbath of innocent people. Sometime, it makes me feel, may be calling them beasts is an insulting tag even to the "beasts in jungles".

I found a mum in me (surely fell short of words) to express my grief and feelings for the victims of inhumanity. But they weren't. They don't feel the "terror of terror". In fact they've a validation for it.

Yes, in India we have champions of terror sympathizers. If one of them (read SP Minister Azam Khan) quickly came out with "action-reaction" logic almost quite effortlessly - pointing ISIS barbarity is a "reaction" to the Western foreign policy saying "The global super powers must realize that the terror attack is a reaction to their action in Syria and Iraq"

Then someone else (read Mani Shankar Aiyar) went a step further to describe it a backlash of powerless saying "We have to admit that ever since there has been a war on terror after 9/11, many innocent Muslims have lost their lives. This is what America did in Iraq and Afghanistan. It is, therefore, only to be expected that there will be a backlash. Countries like America can't do what they want just because they are powerful. Why should just powerful countries act this way? Why should those who are less powerful not respond? Powerless people will find powerless means of responding, when there are drone attacks."

They really deserve applause for their exceptional brilliant words and logics for being the Devil's advocate mitigating evil acts of barbarism.

We all remember another unfortunate event in UP on 1st October 2015 that almost filled the Indian political atmosphere with all hell broke loose. Yes, I am talking about Dadri lynching.

Azam Khan wrote a letter to the UN stating how India has become "Intolerant" of minorities even it happened in a state where his own government is in power. I hope at least now UN bodies will take a note of Azam Khan's definition of "tolerance" as he has already leveled US President Barak Obama's statement on Paris attack as "Shameful".

Mani Shankar in one of his articles in Times of India even called the mob that lynched Mohammed Aklaq as "Hindu Mob" (So mob has a religion Mr. Aiyar). Congress is still leveling India as "Intolerant".  

I just want to ask these two "Mahapurush - The great men of my nation (Unfortunately)" that how do they define the religion of these terrorists who killed people chanting Allah-Hu-Akbar. Also as the terrorists were Muslims who hate peace and love to create chaos by spreading terror and hatred, does that mean the entire followers of Islam are "intolerant" of peace?

Any form of violence can't be justified. Be it lynching, murder of someone by someone or terror attack on anywhere on earth. Does it mean that the mob, the criminal or the terrorist has a religion tag? Also just because of a nonsense incident like "Dadri" how can you call my India Intolerant" of minorities?

I urge the selfish (pseudo) intelligentsia, the award wapasi gang. The Congress and those who are leveling my country as "Intolerant" to realize how anti-national they  have become in the course of hating PM Modi.

We can never tag our Muslim brothers and sisters as terrorists just because of some mindless incidents of terror executed by some nuts who incidentally are followers of Islam. The same way how can you call the entire people of India “Intolerant" because of rare incidents like Dadri?

And for God's sake don't misunderstand me that I'm defending my India. Actually I'm showing you the "Mirror" and I expect "you still have something called Human in you" to understand that how much wrong you all are.

If terrorists think killing innocents mindlessly will serve any purpose of Allah, then they're actually living in hell.

For the victims of Paris terror attack and all those who faced similar fate due to violent acts of brutality …may their souls Rest in Peace.