Redefining Patriotism

As social networks and connectivity platforms continue to strengthen their hold on Indians, the notion of most common people—that every post being shared on IM services like WhatsApp is authentic and true—goes on becoming more widespread. As newer and weirder ‘truths’ flood our cell-phones, we take a look at some of the myths that have been anointed as facts thanks to conmen that spread them, and fools that accept them.

Myth 1: The country of India is someone’s personal possession
Last I checked, the country of India is a democratic sovereign state that belongs to every single one of its citizens. India is as much mine as it is yours. It is a home to me, to you, and to 1.21 billion others. And no one can ask you to leave your own home. It is preposterous and inane. Mr Shah Rukh Khan is as much a citizen of this country as anyone else, and no one has the authority to ask him to leave this country.

Myth 2: You don’t love your country if you express your opinions
I hope everyone knows that the country is being governed as instructed in the Constitution of India. The very Constitution has bestowed upon us Indians, the freedom of speech and expression. It gives us the right to impart and receive information which includes freedom to hold opinions, through its article 19. It is this very right that Mr Shah Rukh Khan has practiced. If all that a citizen has done is exercise his constitutional right, how does that put a question mark on his patriotism?

Myth 3: Talking about tolerance is Anti-Indian
The Indian constitution advocates fraternity among its countrymen. Religious and cultural tolerance is the key to it. What’s wrong in advocating tolerance, or secularism? Isn’t that what the Indian constitution promotes?

Myth 4: Mr Shah Rukh Khan is a traitor
“Religious intolerance, or intolerance of any kind, is the worst thing that will take us to the dark ages. It is the worst kind of crime that one can do as a patriot,” said Mr Khan. What is wrong in this statement? It is an opinion, it doesn’t hurt sentiments, and it is in accordance with the Indian constitution. Then where is the treason? Where is the sedition he is being slammed for? Also, doesn’t opposition to these statements imply support for intolerance? Isn’t that what this entire ruckus is about?

Myth 5: Mr Shah Rukh Khan is an ‘agent of Pakistan’
Well, if he is, then the list should be very long, shouldn’t it? The honourable President of India has voiced his concerns about the same thrice. The revered governor of the Reserve Bank of India expressed similar remarks. Nobel laureate Mr Kailash Satyarthi, India’s leading business tycoons Mr NR Narayan Murthy and Ms Kiran Mazumdar Shaw, and several politicians, authors, filmmakers, historians and artists have voiced similar concerns. Why haven’t they been criticized to this extent? The farthest people went while criticizing the artists who returned their awards was accusing them of participating in a manufactured revolt and of selective outrage. But no one was claimed to have their ‘souls in Pakistan.’ Then why is Mr Shah Rukh Khan the only one being accused of being anti-national. Isn’t that selective outrage?

Myth 6: You become a patriot if you slam Mr Shah Rukh Khan
He is an artist. You may not like his art. You can criticize his art. He is a public figure. You may not like his ways of life. You can criticize his civic behaviour. He is a citizen of this country, and he has the right to express his opinions. You may not agree with him. You can counter his statements, and raise valid points. But how can one conclude he isn’t patriotic enough if he has some concerns about his own country. Aren’t there problems existing in our country? Yes there are. Aren’t there things prevalent in our country you are worried about? Yes there are. So what do you do about them? Stay mum? Is that patriotism? Or not letting people express their opinions—is that patriotism? I guess the very patriots who’re slamming him, should check their dictionaries for the correct meaning of patriotism.

Myth 7: Intolerance doesn’t exist in India
Cultural or religious intolerance may or may not be on the rise in our country. I don’t know. Different people have different opinions about that, and that’s okay. But as soon as Mr Shah Rukh Khan made these statements, people lashed out at him. Not even acknowledging his opinions, isn’t that intolerance? Calling him a traitor just because he has opinions on a particular topic that you don’t agree with, isn’t that intolerance?

Myth 8: Mr Shah Rukh Khan has been sent down on Earth to be hated and condemned
Sadhvi Prachi: “Shah Rukh Khan is an agent of the neighbouring country Pakistan as he reflects their ideology. Such a man should go to Pakistan.” (I just don’t understand what context this statement is in, barring the fact that it is outright absurd and ludicrous.)
Kailash Vijayvargiya: “Shah Rukh Khan stays in India but his soul is in Pakistan. His films earn crores here, but he finds India intolerant. Isn’t that anti-nationalism? Where was he during the blasts of 1993? Where was he during the attacks of 26/11?” (I hope Mr Vijayvargiya realizes someday that the topic of debate here is growing intolerance in our country, and not terrorist attacks in our country.)
Yogi Adityanath: “Shah Rukh Khan’s comments are similar to those of Hafiz Saeed. He should remember that if a ‘huge majority’ of people in this country don’t watch his movies, he would wander on roads like ‘normal Muslims.’” (I have absolutely nothing to comment on this.)

Myth 9: It’s after his recent interviews that Mr Shah Rukh Khan is being called anti-national
This has been going on for ages. He takes a decision about his IPL team; he’s called an agent of Pakistan. He writes an article about being a Muslim in India; he’s asked to go to Pakistan. He was even asked to leave the country for a statement he didn’t even make! How dare anyone question his patriotism? How dare anyone call him an anti-national? How dare someone ask him leave his own country? He is born in India, has always lived in India, and is a symbol of Indianness to people living abroad. His father was a part of India’s freedom struggle. People from some countries identify India as SRK’s country. Isn’t that the best form of patriotism an artist can exhibit through his art?
Irrespective of whether we like or hate his movies, his persona and the things he stands for, if a fellow citizen is been selectively targeted and ostracized for no fault, isn’t it our job to defend him/her? Aren’t we, as a nation, at fault when we stay mum when people accuse him of being a traitor? Isn’t it disgraceful when an upright fellow citizen of ours has to prove his patriotism every single time for no reason? Which is why, I take an oath. And I hope you do too. That I won’t ignore a Facebook post that calls him anti-national. That I will not let go of these untrue hateful WhatsApp messages that are being circulated, without making the sender realize the truth. That I will at least try to make people around me realize that his patriotism isn’t ours to judge. That attacking him and condemning him won’t make us better patriots.
People tell me not to take these things this seriously; to ignore such messages, because the society will forget these things with time. It’s best not to respond. Why? When will we realize the bitter truth? Are we going to wait till someone we personally know goes through the same? Would we do the same if we ourselves went through a similar experience? Wouldn’t it boil your blood if a friend of yours was being compared to Hafiz Saeed—a man believed to be the mastermind of a terrorist attack that killed hundreds and stunned so many? Won’t attacking Mr Khan in such a way scare away so many others from taking a stand in the future? Is freedom only a word mentioned in the Constitution of India? Is expressing one’s opinions and voicing one’s concerns sedition and anti-nationalism? If there is intolerance in India, it can be found in the very statements of these ‘patriots’ going all guns blazing against a citizen exercising his fundamental right. And in Mr Khan’s words himself, everyone who is questioning his patriotism needs to SHUT UP!