What does Anupam Kher think?

Dear Anupam Kher,

I read your comment on The Hindu questioning why anyone should support Shah Rukh Khan during the recent Shiv Sena controversy. You said “Why should we come out together? We come out together when there is a national calamity. We come out together when there are issues related to the nation”.

First of all, I would like to understand your idea of a national calamity – perhaps you imagine that only earthquakes, genocidal riots, terrorist attacks and the like can damage our 2000 year old civilization and therefore it is only the occurrence of these events that call for a show of national unity and support.

• But I ask you for a moment to consider these acts of vandalism perpetuated time and again by the Shiv Sena on anyone who does not toe it's line. Is this something that you consider normal in the modern Indian nation?
• The fact that an Indian citizen, artiste or a producer in BOMBAY (now deal with that, Sena!) cannot express his/her/their opinion without being subject to ugly threats reinforced by vandalism and violence, isn’t that a more fundamental and more dangerous threat to all that our country represents?
• If every movie, every sports event, every public service examination in India's most happening metropolis must gain the hallowed blessings of a few bigots... do you think this is not cause enough to protest in unity?
• Must we wait for extreme measures like these to be enacted or can we be more civilized in unifying and expressing our dissent?

Unless, of course, if you believe that our prerogative to unite as a nation is limited to natural disasters or wars in which case I think you are surely underestimating and almost insulting the intelligence of the Indian people.

Secondly, I completely agree with your other comment that “It’s important everybody has an individual (opinion)”. In this context, I would like to know what your opinion is...

• As a respected artiste who has commented in media about why this may not be worth supporting, you no doubt have formed a well thought-out opinion about the Sena’s threats and vandal actions against any form of cultural expression that does not fit in with their specific world-view.
• Do you believe this is right or wrong? Do you think this is justified or should it be punished? Or will your opinion on this be always politically correct and/or forever withheld?

What do you really think, Mr.Kher?

PS: Sorry, Amit, for riding on your format - will buy you a beer if ever we meet.