An inalienable right to question

With the killing of 12 members of a satirical magazine in France, January has seen a continuation of a series of blowbacks, when existing ideologies—especially fundamentalists are questioned. A case in point for us Indians were the protests against the film ‘PK’.

I write this article not because I support Charlie Hebdo’s brand of humour but because I support free speech and the right to question.

Charlie Hebdo—scathing in its satire of the Pope, was lambasted innumberable times for its almost-racist like comments on the Prophet Muhammad. It was taken to court and allowed to continue its publication.

PK as a film hurled questions at most religions currently practised in India and was especially stinging in its criticism of the ritualisation of Hinduism. Consequently, right-wing Hindu groups like the infamous Bajrang Dal and Yoga guru Ramdev called for it to be banned. Its screening was allowed to be continued by the Delhi High Court.

France holds strong to its principles of Liberty, Equality and Fraternity—and a cornerstone of its societal structure is absolute freedom of speech. However, with a burgeoning migrant population—mostly from muslim countries, the country is facing a divide between its native, liberal population and a young, migrant, conservative section. If as a country, France wants to move forward and prevent the alienation of its masses, respecting the minority religion should be encouraged rather than imposing its own set of values on newcomers. France has to hence think deeply, for the killing of the journalists is not just a national security issue.

India on the other hand propagates respect for all religions. In an effort to not offend, self-censorship has evolved to such an extent that Penguin Books India, one of the most respected publishing houses decided to pulp Wendy Doniger’s book—The Hindus: An alternative Story after an outcry by Hindu conservative activists. Penguin took the easy way out while the makers of PK stuck to their guns and were helped by the government in preserving their right to freedom of speech.

We as Indians do not know any other way of living but a multi-ethnic way. Yet, we still have bomb blasts, riots, death threats, vandalism and more. Neither does France have the right formula nor do we. But, silencing a questioning voice is not the answer.

Marisha Dolly Singh is Content Manager at Gateway House

This blog was exclusively written for Gateway House: Indian Council on Global Relations. You can read more exclusive content here.

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