Even with the strongly nationalist feelings rubbed into me since a young age by various cousins, I find many of Shiv Sena’s actions grossly moronic even for a political party.
The latest is the attempt at blocking Orkut. The person in the report (who looks no less than 40) is, I suppose, the leader of the sena’s student wing. He wants Orkut blocked because groups have been formed on Orkut to spread “hatred among Indians”. This reminds me of a Tenali Rama story (or is it Birbal?) where the king jokingly suggests that Tenali cut off his big toe when it gets soiled in mud. Tenali, of course, with his indubitable wit, waits for a fine opportunity and suggests a similar cutting off of body parts when the king falls neck-deep into mud (pushed by Tenali? I suppose.)
After the sena’s attempts to convince people that matter failed, they have begun to hit out at hapless cyber cafe owners. With logic, that would make a caveman proud, the student wing leader says “You see, if X person is running a hotel and Y person brings a prostitute to that hotel, don’t you think it is the responsibility of X to stop this immoral act? In the same way, we feel cybercafes should be responsible and ban Orkut. After all, we are Indians and we should not allow sites that are against our country to run.”
Digging up of cricket pitches to stop cricket with Pakistan, vandalising gift stores selling valentine’s day gifts, trashing young couples to uphold “culture”, blocking orkut.
What should the Shiv Sena do next in the interest of the nation?
- Block the internet in India (Hate communities in Orkut. Orkut on the internet. Am proud of my logic. I’m getting there.)
- Vandalise and stop co-ed schools from functioning
- Vandalise McDonald’s
- Impose a complete ban on the English language (corrupting influence on young minds, you know.)
- More?
Tell me.
Meanwhile, The Reluctant Fundamentalist, by Mohsin Hamid, a Pakistani author is a good read. Though, I’m not exactly crazy about the monologue style of writing.
