Free Speech is challenged Everywhere -- not just France.

In my previous post I discussed how India's post-imperialist developing democratic government is at a very pivotal point in it's development. With the success of the world's largest election and high aspirations and goals set by the newly elected Prime Minister Narendra Modi the question is now, is India moving in the right direction? In southern India, in the state of Tamil Nadu, a prominent writer in the region was strong-armed into silence by Hindu nationalists. Perumal Murugan is a prominent writer in Southern India who recently wrote a fictitious book depicting a woman partaking in alcohol and engaging in sexual promiscuity inside of a Hindu temple. This caused outrage amongst Hindu-nationalist, and violence and large scale book burnings within Murugan's hometown. After a long closed door meeting with government officials. Murugan announced he will be pulling all of his books from circulation and no longer have public appearances. Murugan was forced into silence. The question boomerangs back:  Is India moving in the right direction? After the public textbook changes in Gujarat to Hindu-centered teachings, and now the forced silence of a writer who fictitiously delineates an immoral hindu woman, it seems though the government is not looking out for the best interest of the gestalt of India, but only the Hindus of India. This is contrary to India's secular government's framework. What if in the United States the government forced Dan Brown author of, "The DaVinci Code" into silence, because it depicts Christ having a child, and the majority of the United States and politicians are Christian. I think that Modi and the Hindu-nationalists have extremely large shoes to fill, especially after the wonderfully executed election. Instead of limiting free speech, and indoctrinating children I think it would be wise to focus on more important national issues like pollution, and food and water insecurity.    

Adam D. Sothen

http://alj.am/1u89FXO