Sunday 13 November 2011

Hypocrisy of the so called Moral Police!

Since the beginning of time, there has always been those who have taken the path less trodden and made a difference to the World at large. These individuals be it a Gautham Buddha or a Gandhiji or a Martin Luther King questioned the normal way of life and inspired people to rise up above petty issues and address the larger issues plaguing society. They abolished certain practices, made people understand their roots and be proud of what they are while also understanding the need to move forward as a group, community or a Nation. In a way, they were Moral Police of a certain nature.

Today, it baffles me that in this day and age, we have people who think they have the Moral authority to impose their line of thinking on free minded individuals. There are a lot of such groups operating in this country and I would be lying if I said I do not support a few of them myself. I am an ardent supporter of organisations like the RSS for reasons that I don't have the time to justify at the moment. Ours is a democratic country and our constitution grantees us 7 fundamental rights like Freedom of Free speech, Religion and so on which means every individual has a right to express their views. Of course in a country like India where we value our traditions and culture, one has to compromise on a few wants to get along in society.

Growing up in the technology era, we are far more exposed to the world at large. I studied in a Christian school in Tamil Nadu since class 5, did my college in a Government college in Bangalore and have been exposed to a whole lot of situations and these situations and people around me have influenced me and my thinking and way of life and this has helped create my own individual identity. I listen to Western Music, have friends across all communities and religions, have woman friends who smoke and drink and no I don't think its demeaning for me to have a woman friend who does what I do. I belong to a community that is very tightly knit, where marrying outside the community is generally frowned upon though the family comes around it is another matter altogether. I understand as a community we have our compulsions but what I do not and don't want to understand is how can a few individuals dictate terms to an entire community and get away with it. I am no less a Coorg than anybody else. I go for my Guru Karana every year, put Kali at Kunde Namme and Bodu Namme, can dance a traditional Coorg dance like any other Coorg, touch every elders feet in the way it is to be done but of course I don't go around branding and bashing people that I am a Coorg and showing my big fat stupid ego.

Now to get to the point, I want to attend a Music Festival in Coorg that was scheduled for the 10th and 11th of November 2011 but has now been postponed to the 20th and 21st of January 2012 due to an act of God. But it is surprising to see a few individuals or the so called Moral Police opposing it because apparently it will spoil the serenity of Coorg, affect plants and animals and in a way will destroy our culture. So, over the past week or so, I have been pondering on the merits of their claims and unfortunately all I can see is the total hypocrisy of the so called Moral Police.

I do agree in saying that in today's day and age, Coorg needs a few of these so called Moral Police to control and save Coorg from becoming just another filthy tourist spot. But where are these people when we actually need them for a cause. The lucrative Real estate market is already destroying the serene beauty of Coorg, a highly non regulated tourist industry has wreaked havoc and destroyed the serenity of some of the most pristine places in Coorg to an extent that one does not even feel like visiting places like Dubare and Abby falls anymore. These so called Moral Police pull up tourists if they misbehave but until today, I have not seen a single one of these organisations doing anything about regulating tourism. These places are still intact because of the locals of the area and not because of these Pseudo social activists. The Roads in Coorg are in a state where driving on these roads is next to impossible. And these Pseudos have done nothing about it except for a letter submitted to the Chief Minister which is more of a PR exercise for themselves and their organisation rather than actually addressing the present problems. I wish these organisations would actually bring life to a stand still by blocking the roads for a couple of days until work actually begins instead of blowing their trumpets and making money on the sly. Instead, they are worried about a bunch of peaceful music listening people having a good time. It makes me wonder if they they are jealous because of their insecurity of not being able to fit into the crowd.

I don't mind these guys around but not at the cost of my Freedom and right to live my life they way I want to do it. These Pseudos are not present when you need them but want to protest against a clean Music Festival organised by people from Coorg with the best of artists from across the Globe. And apparently are even taking credit for the event being postponed (Guess these Pseudos have a direct line with God). They probably fail to realize that this Festival will help in showcasing Coorg in a whole new avatar while also reminding people from and Outside Coorg the need to conserve and do our bit to prevent further erosion of the natural beauty of Coorg. I do understand reservations in terms of Noise pollution but to call the Festival as leading to your version of the Goa way is saying far too much and that too even before it has begun. Don't we have loud music playing late nights at our weddings with drunk people dancing?

So, my dear Pseudo Social activists, let us be and do our thing. We care as much for a lot of issues as you do, if not more but unlike you Pseudos we do not look at monetary gains through these issues.

I rest my case with a poem from Robert Frost that will probably help you understand my point of view

I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I,
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.