Apologies

Jay Leno cracks a joke on the ‘Golden Temple’ on his TV show in US, and Sikhs are upset, and demand an apology. It was from this same temple when Sikh militants staged their demand for an independent state, Khalistan, which did cost the life of Indira Gandhi then Prime Minister of India. In retaliation to her assassination hundreds of innocent Sikhs were killed, with Amitabh Bacchan justifying and fanning the murderous frenzy seeking blood for blood in revenge. For this who, do we ask for an apology, and who would apologize to whom?

US on the other hand have even gone on record to defend Jay Leno under its constitutional rights of ‘free speech’. Just few days ago an Indian lady named Lyvita Gomes dies in US, due to starvation in Lake County Jail. Her death was not even notified to her kin in India. Who we ask an apology from for her death? Is such a death also defended under US constitutional rights? Is India only seeking apologies for jokes made on India from foreign shores, and deaths of Indians over there do not matter?

BBC TV show depicts India in derogatory poor light on its program ‘Top Gear’. Indian diplomacy as always gets into ‘Top Gear’ seeking an apology as the program insulted the whole society, culture and people.  Indian High Commission in London complained that the show was “offensive” and had “toilet humor”. It was only humor an in reality in Bombay anyone can squat anywhere on the railway tracks and take a dump. If you want to urinate you just find the nearest wall or a bush, and just take leak. Who will apologize to whom for this “toilet reality”?

A cartoon in a Danish Newspaper depicts Prophet Mohammed, and there is hysteria in India. Salman Rushdie writes the ‘Satanic Verses’ and there is a hue and cry over it in India. Some Russian groups raise an issue over Bhagvad Gita, and the Indian Government machinery gets into diplomacy to resolve the matter. In India if youngsters want to celebrate Valentine’s Day they get roughed up, as it is branded as Western evil cultural influence, and if at the same Westerners have a problem with our culture and beliefs we have a problem. Now who is going to apologise to who for this?

Indian students in US are made to wear tracking devices on their foot like criminals for visa violation; Indian students are killed in Australia, Indian Fishermen and caught by Pakistani and Sri-Lankans are put in inhuman conditions in jail and no one is making a scene like what is being done for some as insignificant as Sulman Rushdie. Indian criminals are calling the shots from foreign shores and no one is issuing ‘fatwas’ to kill them. Foreign terrorists come and blow up Bombay city are lodged in special cells with special treatment given and no one is having an issue, or demanding apology. Again who is going to ask whom an apology?

Indian movies can show Westerners in poor light and one movie even went to the extent of showing the Queen gassed at an event with Nitrus Oxide (laughing gas), and she rolling on the floor with laughter, and we enjoyed it. Pakistan bashing in nothing new our movies, and no one asked us for an apology, then what are we asking for one. Instead of defending our culture and religious beliefs by satirical jokes by foreign media, and seeking an apology, let us look at the reality in our country and feel sorry for ourselves.