Censor And Sensibility

When will politician learn to leave art alone?

Subscribing to liberal values means respecting free expression. If that's a truism, the link doesn't seem very obvious to the Congress. The party has been accused of forcing cuts in Prakash jha's movie, Rajneeti. One of the reasons reportedly is that the heroine's character resembles Sonia Gandhi. Now even as it tries to fob off charges of curbing creative license in cinema, the party's courted yet another controversy over a book. Congress wallahs reportedly want Javier Moro's novel, based on Sonia's life, off store shelves abroad and its publication in India stymied. None of this does their image ny good. If anything the congress has only itself to bleame if its political rivals are gleefully describing the Rajneeti fracas as a throwback to the Emergency. That was when gag and ban orders - recall films on politics like Aandhi and Kissa Kursi Ka - were par for the course.

True, certain film makers have been known to screen films for Maharashtra's Sena politicos, to avoid post-release trouble. Does the congress wish to be bracketed with outfits that are openly intolerant, violently disputing film shows and art exhibitions whenever their narrow views are challenged? A British film. The Queen, portrayed the British monarch and government in the dark days following princess Diana's death. Not only was it made without rouals or politicians making a fuse, it went on to win many awards, including a best actress Oscar for Helen Mirren who played the queen. Celebrities  themselves, if the Nehru-Gandhis inspire works of art they should take it as a compliment. Nor should they seek to silence critique. The Grand Old party has long sought to build its political brand as a votary of ideological openness and pluralism. Let it also set  better record of practicing what it preaches.

Out of the way

Make your mind one pointed in meditation, and your heart will be purified.  (Bhagavad Gita 6:12).

We need to free ourselves of practical interests that are bound up with our exterior and material life. The chief concern is a disciplined disinterestedness. We need to develop the power to see things as a free, undistorted intelligence would see them. For this, we must get ourselves out of the way.  (S Radhakrishna).

Have you ever sat very quietly with closed eyes and watched the movement of your own thinking? Have you watched your mind working? Or rather, has your mind watched itself in operation, just to see what your thoughts are, what your feelings are, how you look at the trees, at the flowers, at the birds, at people, how you respond to a suggestion or react to a new idea? Have you ever done this? (Jiddu Krishnamurti).