Biju Chacko wrote:
On Thu, May 15, 2008 at 6:24 AM, Charles Haynes <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
I certainly want to see art that is critical, even disrespectful of
religion, and I want to participate in the resulting dialog.
Suppressing the expression obviously does not suppress the thought.
The sad fact is that in India, not "offending sentiments" is more
important than individual rights of expression, or freedom of thought.
If you create something that offends any special interest group (read
vote-bank) whether it be Hindus, Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, farmers
or backward castes you can be guaranteed that it will get banned.
Because our weasel Constitution explicitly makes exceptions for those
things despite having "freedom of speech". Compare our first
constitutional amendment and contrast it to the American first amendment.
( http://indiacode.nic.in/coiweb/amend/amend1.htm Clause 3)
Here is the restriction placed on "free" speech:
<quote>
"(2) Nothing in sub-clause (a) of clause (1) shall affect the
operation of any existing law, or prevent the State from making any
law, in so far as such law imposes reasonable restrictions on the
exercise of the right conferred by the said sub-clause in the
interests of the security of the State, friendly relations with
foreign States, public order, decency or morality, or in relation to
contempt of court, defamation or incitement to an offence.";
</quote>
That needs to be changed first.
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