In Tolerance with Intolerance

“Sedition case filed against Aamir Khan over intolerance remark, claims he tried to divide India.”

“Intolerance Row: Fans To Boycott Shah Rukh Khan and Aamir Khan Films!”

“Snapdeal disassociates itself from Aamir Khan's comments on intolerance.”

For the past two days, these headlines have been cramming my TV screen, and honestly, I’m kind of sick of it. Aamir Khan is wrong. India, in fact, is the most tolerant country. It tolerates corruption, ridicule, bullshit, debauchery and frivolity. However, the only thing India is intolerant of, is logic and rationality.

I’m not someone who likes to share my so-called opinion just because the rest of the population is doing so. But this issue has really gone out of control. Let’s rewind to the initiation point of this 

controversy, shall we?

“When I chat with Kiran at home, she says, ‘Should we move out of India?’ That’s a disastrous and big statement for Kiran to make. She fears for her child. She fears what the atmosphere around us will be. She feels scared to open the newspapers every day.”

First of all, read the whole statement properly. If the rational side of your brain has been corroded by ignorance, then let me break it down to you in a simple way: all Aamir Khan meant was that his wife, who, by the way, is one of the most sensible filmmakers of our country, is worried about their child, and feels that maybe they should move out of India to provide a more secure future to their little boy. But, BUT, Aamir himself found this thought of Kiran’s appalling; which totally negates all the criticism being splashed at him.

Secondly, what gives the media or anyone else the right to protest against a decision made by two parents? What gives them the right to poke their long, jobless noses into a matter that is totally private? If tomorrow they do decide to move out of the country, nobody has the authority to stop them.

Thirdly, maybe it was a mistake on Aamir’s part to make such a comment without realizing how viral it would get considering his stature as a star, and our country’s preoccupation with blowing things out of proportion. But did the media just have to dwindle this to the level of cheap journalism?

Aamir Khan’s statement relating to his wife’s concerns towards their child was turned into a ridiculous game of Chinese Whisper. This simply proves that the world basically needs something, just anything, to talk about. A few days back it was people changing their Facebook profile pictures to show “support” towards those killed and massacred in Paris, Syria, Beirut, Japan, and so many more countries whose name didn’t make it to the headlines. Now it’s the whole Khan being anti-national hoopla; and tomorrow it will be something else. The media needs its fodder, and unfortunately we provide it with the exact amount, with a cherry on top.

Aamir Khan is one of the most socially aware actors of Bollywood. He not only makes movies that voice out social issues, but has also been associated with shows and campaigns that try to make our country a better place to live in. Yes, he charges bucket-loads of money for it. Why shouldn’t he? It’s his name and face that drives the audience to listen to him. He’s doing his job, and getting paid for it. I see nothing wrong in that. Please stop ostracizing someone for absolutely no reason.

Let’s wait till the next petty headline hits the internet and we all paint our walls red (pun indeed intended).