Are we ready for a moron Prime Minister?

The Indian Supreme Court has given a landmark judgment with far reaching implications. Readers might recall that artist M.F.Hussain had made a series of paintings showing Hindu goddesses as well as Bharat Mata in the nude. This was violently opposed by a section of people. The situation became so alarming that Hussain had to flee to Dubai.

The artist professed respect for Hinduism and said that he did not mean to hurt Hindu sentiments. His supporters the so-called secularists - added that an artist had freedom of expression. All this was countered - and this counter argument has been bolstered by the government’s subsequent handling of the Taslima Nasreen episode — by some who said that people cite the freedom of expression defense selectively when the persons complaining are Hindus. The Government for instance banned Salman Rushdie’s book even before Islamic countries had banned it. Nasreen was hounded out of India by the same people who defend Hussain’s freedom of expression.

The court judgment reiterates the great Indian tradition of tolerance. Where our national resolve to uphold this tradition will be tested is when an occasion arises in the future where some minority group violently opposes an artist who gives the ‘tolerance and freedom of expression’ argument. Our country has to painstakingly evolve a code of conduct in such emotive matters. Personally I feel we ought to nurture a spirit of challenging existing orthodoxy since all progress has come by challenging the existing paradigms. You will notice that all Prophets including the Prophet of Islam challenged existing beliefs and practices. I am not sure we as a nation are ready for this spirit of challenge.

I cannot help recalling this joke—maybe it is not a joke - that was seen by millions in the US. Some expert was asked on US TV if America was ready for a woman or Black President. The expert replied, without looking over his shoulders in fear, that the question itself was superfluous.

‘Did anyone ask in 2000 if America was ready for a moron as President?’ he asked.
Is India ready for this kind of humor?
For the best answer ask Arjun Singh.