Creative freedom or freedom of intentional offence?

Creative freedom or freedom of intentional offence?

Creative freedom is a trendy topic since the controversy of the movie ‘Padmaavat’ broke out. The word ‘freedom of expression’ includes creative freedom for the artists to explore the beauties of art. While the film makers retain on their statement that the movie does not dishonour the sentiments of any religion, caste or society, and that they have preserved historical accuracy, the protesters refuse to believe it.

Now, this is not the first time this particular director is accused of playing with history or in this case, a historical epic poem. Even during the production of his previous movie, he was accused of the same. However, he got away then. But the movie turned out to be poorly researched with having flaws in historical facts. Apart from that the movie obscured the parts that were, in fact, more exciting to watch.

Therefore it is natural for people to anticipate the same thing again from the director’s next movie. However, it is not the only case where Bollywood has gone a bit further with the word creative freedom. And it is certainly not only the Bollywood. Even Indian Television Industry have been playing around creative freedom for quite a long time. Fortunately for them, those shows both lose their TRPs and get shut down or they just end terribly.   

Using 'creative freedom' TV Industry have been showing a fictionalized life-story of the greatest emperor in the Indian History, Chandragupta Maurya, without even slightest historical accuracy. His love saga with this fictional character not only obscure the great conquests of Emperor Chandragupta Maurya, but it also ignores the most inspirational side of the Chandragupta and Chanakya.

Bollywood has shown the most prestigious monarch of Indian Subcontinent, Ashoka Maurya, whose name glorifies the most number of awards in this nation, whose emblem is the national emblem of India and whose wheel of Dharma adorns our national flag; as their mainstream Bollywood love boy, who chases after a woman he falls in love, while completely ignoring the motivational part of his life and tragic part of his old age. Although TV industry also came with a similar concept few years ago, where they showed some absurd sequence of stories leading nowhere closer to the actual history. Fortunately, the show was taken down due to lack of popularity.

Using the same freedom, they have been showing distorted Vedic and Puranic Stories in the name of mythology. For past few years, it had become a trend on TV that once a mythological show ends, another comes up. And the crucial part is that they all are poorly researched, which also seem to be designed only to accomplish the modern agendas through mythological medium.

In times like this, when the current generations are illiterate in history and mythology, it is expected that their creative freedom feeds them with the stories that emerges in their own heads, which unfortunately leads them to believe that the history is what is shown to them on screen.

For the ‘Padmaavat’, well, a poem or a work of literature, if remembered for over a century, attains a great place in culture. And if it is still remembered after half a millennia, it is an epic. And when adapted, it becomes the responsibility of the creator/director to follow it honourably. If your creative freedom crushes the heart of that story, it is no longer an endeavour to revive it.

The similar thing can be seen in modern literature as well. Some writers are coming up with the assurance that they are retelling the epics of the Ramayana and the Mahabharata, while in truth, they come up with some absurd fantasized storyline that crushes the soul of those epic stories. People, who are learned or familiar with history and mythology, those stories come as the utmost shock. And yet, there is a shocking amount of enthusiasm among the youth for those books. One might wonder why would they want to read fantasized retelling over the original work, but then we know the answer. Our youth wants to read ‘simplified’ versions, which can easily get into their heads. And that is what fulfils the purpose for such writers. They feed them whatever they like and earn millions out of it.

It is quite clear that this ‘creative freedom’ is being misused by the artists in numerous ways, and yet they get away with it due to lack of knowledge in youth. But should they get away with it? Our constitution allows freedom of expression in order to let our creativity explore the new worlds of art. But if that creativity is in any way disrespectful to the history and the culture, it must be regulated. Unlike those western countries dawned in the era of modernity, India carries the breath of thousands of years old culture and is the northern star that has enlightened the world with its knowledge. The modern knowledge in our youth may fail to inform them about the greatness of ancient India, but they must not disgrace it with their mocking words. Their ignorance would be bliss. But the day they start stating foolish statements like ‘Jauhar was patriarchal and forced onto women’, one really wonders what their IQ level could be. For our youth, honour is not important; fulfilling one’s ambition is. They fail to realize that the roots of our country, our culture, lie in truth and righteousness. If our civilization has survived so long and has attained such great thing, it because we believe truth to be the paramount existence and righteousness to be the greatest path of life. They do not and will never realize what it requires for a civilization to survive and cherish for these many years.

On one side, Bollywood makes and supports each other for such creative freedom, but when it comes to the books or movies that features other religions, they hide in their luxurious homes. It has been also seen numerous times from Salman Rushdie’s book ‘The Satanic Verses’ to Rahman’s cartoon on prophet. All these things were banned and yet no one came to defend their right of creative freedom. That shows the hypocrisy of Bollywood. When they are certain that this would eventually be accepted by tolerant people, they just raise their voice in support. But when they know that something will aim to actual intolerant people, their mouths get dry.

Call it a lesson, or a request; these so called artists must learn one thing from such protests.  Protest is also a part of freedom of expression and a fundamental right to the citizen. But if artists’ ego is more important than the public order, it provokes them. If you can't pay them (history and culture) an honorary tribute, leave them out of your creativity. Your greed of wealth will be satisfied by feeding people with some love stories. 

Departure of Mahendra and Sanghmitra

Departure of Mahendra and Sanghmitra

“You’re my eldest son and an heir to this throne, Mahendra,” the emperor said. “Whom would people of Magadh look upon with a hope now? They see their emperor in you. They need you.”

“They need you more than they need me, father,” Mahendra said. “You know that, don’t you? I know that you had a chance to leave your responsibilities and walk out of all in search of peace. Toward Nirvana. But you didn’t. Because if you had walked away, then this empire which you’ve made the greatest empire in the entire world, would’ve perished again. All that you’ve endured, all that you’ve dreamt of, would’ve been gone in vain. You chose the tough path. But I can’t. I know that I’m your eldest son and an heir to this throne. And I’m doing my duty as both. An ideal son should follow his father’s path and achieve what his father couldn’t. An ideal heir-apparent should do what his empire needs the most. And it needs Dharma. It needs righteousness. It needs you. There are very few people who could establish and re-establish righteousness in this world. But there are even fewer who can maintain the balance of that righteousness. Apparently, you’re the only one who has both power and knowledge to accomplish this. I didn’t deserve this throne anyway. No one deserves this throne. You… Your glory has made it so pure that no man could think of staining it with impurity of his heart. Not even me. Besides, I’m passing my crown of heir-apparent to Kunal. So allow us, father, so that I and Sanghmitra could spread yours and Lord Buddha’s messages around the world.”

The emperor sighed and glanced at Sanghmitra.

“Sanghmitra! You’re married. You’ve a family. Then why do you want to go?” the emperor asked.

“Firstly, I’m your daughter. And it is my duty to accomplish my father’s dream, just like Brother Mahendra has,” Sanghmitra replied confidently.

“I named you Mahendra – the conqueror of the worlds. I hope you conquer the world with your Dharma,” the emperor said and glanced at Sanghmitra. “If your mother were here, she would have been proud on both of you.”

“She is always with us,” Mahendra muttered. “However the history will remember only one man as the conqueror of the worlds, who has conquered three worlds with his purity and righteousness. You, O father! We have never seen Buddha. But we’ve seen you. We have seen the worst and the best of you. We’ve seen what divinity looks like.”

“Very well. Start your journey from the southern boundary. Beyond the ocean, there are kingdoms who awaits for righteousness to knock on their doors. Take a branch of Mahabodhi Tree and plant it there. It’ll grow into a great tree of righteousness. May you both succeed in your journey!” the emperor blessed.

Both Mahendra and Sanghmitra bowed before their father, their emperor for the last time before departing to a new world.

P.S.: The Scene has been created based on the true events.

~Bhargav Patel 

Maya's Dream

Maya's Dream

Queen Maya fell asleep as soon as she lied on her bed. It was a full-moon night and the moon was shining brightly upon her through the balcony. It seemed as if the moon were bestowing blessings upon her. Suddenly she saw a bright white light emerging from nowhere. It overshadowed her vision and it felt like she was looking at the ocean of milk. ‘A beautiful dream!’

As the white light began fading away, she saw four beautiful faces staring at her. Four men were standing there smiling. She sat up. They had worn rich and shiny clothes and their bodies were almost covered with gold. The messengers of God or perhaps the demigods, she thought. At the next moment, she felt herself floating up and a flow of milk fell slowly upon her body. The milk smelt like a sandalwood. She was being bathed in the milk of sandalwood. Those four demigods moved their hands in air and golden glittering particles appeared and collided into her clothes. After a blissful chime, her clothes were transformed into heavenly white clothes. For a moment, she kept looking at her own beauty. Her new clothes were scented with a mesmerising fragrance which she had never smelt before. It seemed as if it were made in heaven.

Then she stood up and looked around. She could see the beautiful night and the complete moon gazing back at her. But the city of Kapilvastu seemed too far and down, as if she were floating in one of the clouds. She turned at one of the demigods and asked in surprise, “Where am I?”

“In your sweetest dream, your majesty,” the demigod smiled.

Queen Maya walked further directionless. She saw something bright coming toward her. It was white and big. As she cleared her vision, she realized that it was a giant white elephant walking toward her. She stepped back in fear. But somehow her fear faded away as she saw the beauty of that elephant. It was not ordinary. White elephants are never ordinary. However it had six tusks. This was the prettiest elephant she had ever seen in her life. Besides, the elephant was carrying a white lotus in its trunk.

“Is that Airavat?” she asked one of the demigods.

“It’s your fate,” one of the demigods replied in a chiming voice.

The elephant stopped and kept staring at the queen. She also kept looking at it, unable to understand how to react. But the elephant made a move and bowed to the queen. Surprised by seeing so well-trained elephant, she bowed in response too. The elephant suddenly grabbed her hands with its trunk. Queen Maya was shocked. Her eyes fell wide open. She gazed at its face and it shook its head. The elephant loosened its grasp on the lotus and it fell on the queen’s palm. As soon as the lotus touched her skin, it gleamed like a celestial object.

“I don’t understand. What is it?” she murmured in bewilderment.

“It’s the boon,” the demigod replied.

“The boon?”

“The greatest boon of the supreme lord,” the demigod said.

“But what kind of boon?”

“Just accept it, your majesty! You’ll understand soon.”  

Queen Maya accepted the lotus and bowed to the elephant again. A white light appeared before her vision again and that white elephant walked into her womb. She could see a white light gleaming in her womb.

Nine months after Queen Maya saw this dream, she gave birth to a beautiful son named ‘Siddhartha’, who later became known as Gautam Buddha. In Jainism, Mahavir Swami’s birth mother, Trishala, also saw 16 auspicious dreams during her pregnancy.  

Uttar-Priyadarshi

Uttar-Priyadarshi

Indian history mentions the story of Emperor Ashoka’s transformation after the Kalinga Conquest. However, in Buddhist Culture there is another popular story which is based on Lord Buddha’s prophecy about Ashoka. A well-known Hindi Poet and Writer ‘Agyeya (Ajneya)’ wrote a play named ‘Uttar-Priyadarshi.’ And the story of the play goes like this:

After killing his brothers, Ashoka (Priyadarshi) went to win the rebels around the entire Bharatvarsha. He fought continuous wars for four years and then he ascended the throne in the fifth year. After his coronation, he still conquered kingdoms and imprisoned the ones who didn’t surrender. Then he ordered his men to make an execution chamber where these people could be executed according to the sins. That prison was known as ‘Ashoka’s Hell’. However, it was underground. The upper floor was flourished with gardens to make it look like a paradise. Then the emperor ordered to find the cruellest man who could be the executioner. They found a man in some village who had killed his own parents, whose name was Girika (Ghor). He was a giant man with anger filled in his heart. He was summoned into the court, where the emperor commanded him to take charge of the prison and torture and execute prisoners brutally. The emperor made him the king of prison and told him that he should torture everyone who steps into that prison. Even if the emperor stepped in himself, he should capture him and torture him. Girika agreed and he started his cruelty in the prison.

One day a monk was passing by the prison. He stopped to rest in that garden where Girika’s men came and imprisoned him. He was taken inside. However, the monk insisted those men to have lunch before they would torture him. Meanwhile, other men executed another man who had stepped in by crushing his bones and flesh. When the monk saw the blood coming out of a chamber, he learnt how mortal human bodies are. Later when those men tried to torture the monk, the monk remained still and smiling. They called Girika who threw the monk in boiling oil. However, the monk rose out of it, sitting in a floating lotus. Bewildered by this sight, the guards rushed to the emperor. When the emperor refused to step in, they insisted that it was some kind of magic. Eventually, the emperor agreed and came inside the prison. He saw the monk, sitting on a floating lotus. But before he could approach Girika laughed like a devil and wielded his sword toward the emperor. However, the emperor leaned aside toward the monk. There he felt an invisible bubble with forces of purity and eternal bliss. He felt complete. He felt his heart was calming itself. He bowed to the monk who preached the emperor about Dharma and peace. Emperor Ashoka was transformed and he followed the path of Dharma since then. His teachings of Dharma made him the most glorious emperor among the entire world.   

राधिका

राधिका

निशा के तम में, ज्यों बजेगी तुम्हारी मुरली की धार;

मैं प्रकृति बन आउंगी, करने निज ईश्वर का साक्षात्कार |

जब पूर्ण शशि की प्रतिच्छाया होगी यमुना पर,

तब संजीवन होगी तुम्हारी प्रकृति, हे बंसीधर!

यदि ना भी गूंजा बंसी से, ब्रह्माण्ड का अनहद नाद,

झूमेगी यह प्रकृति फिर भी, करेगी ईश्वर को याद |

बहेगी यह प्रकृति तम के जलधि में,

तुम बन लहर अपनी भुजाओ में भर लेना;

पूर्णिमा की रात पगस्थिर रहूंगी यहीं,

तुम बन शशिधर निज शक्ति को धर लेना |

श्वास भरकर भेज रही हूँ समीर तुम्हे, श्याम,

युद्ध के हुंकारो में, यह भर देगा मेरा नाम |

उस रणभूमि से किन्तु, भेजना तुम्हारी चरण-धूलि,

ईश्वर को मिलने तृषित यहॉं, बैठी राधिका सब भूली |

जब पूर्ण हो जाए वह धर्मयुद्ध,

केवल एक बार ब्रिजभूमि पर आना;

युद्ध में मिले ज्वलित घावों को,

एक बार निहार लू, फिर चले जाना |

(कृष्णायन - भार्गव पटेल)

Can Indian people endure the World War 3 or any major war if it occurs?

Can Indian people endure the World War 3 or any major war if it occurs?

Predictions aside, let’s just here talk about the possibility of World War 3. It has been rumoured that the next world war can hit in next 20 or 30 years and no matter what, almost all the major countries would be participating in the war. Being a powerful nation, India will also be a part of it. However the real question is, can India endure the consequences of a world war? Wars always come with destructions and chaos and crisis. It’s how you deal with these thing that shows your endurance and approach toward such situations.

Yes, India has fought personal wars in history. However, we all know that world war is a way more dreadful than those wars. Moreover, we have suffered severely in those wars too. But are we ready to suffer the consequences of any major war? That would include a judgemental war against Pakistan.

For me, the answer is simply NO. India doesn’t seem ready to deal with such disaster. The reasons are quite simple and straight.

People’s mentality:

To be honest, most Indian People are hypocrites. They boast to handle any kind of tragedy, but when the tragedy hits, they complain about problems. Thanks to Prime Minister Modi that he has shown us how Indians would behave during real crisis. Apparently, the current generation has never seen an actual war. They don’t know what war looks like and how it impacts citizens of the country. The main reason behind their lack of knowledge is their lack of curiosity toward their own history. Our own history. Almost every Indian takes History as a boring subject and that is the reason why they don’t know anything about war, emergency, crisis and shortage of supplies.

Tolerance:

The recent act of Demonetization seems to have shocked many people. Though it has been a noble initiative by the government to curb terrorism and black money, people tend to be complaining about temporary inconvenience they have been facing. Such problems include long queues at banks and ATM, unable to access their money quickly enough and shortage of new currency. All the other problems are related to these three issues. Now, this act has shown us the real tolerance level of people. Most Indians boast about India-Pakistan judgemental war and claim to support the government. Whereas they can’t even endure temporary barriers.

Impact of wars:

There is a reason why knowledge is important. As Robert Langdon says in Dan Brown’s books that the knowledge of our past is the key of our future. We must know the history, at least the important history, so that we would not make the same mistakes again and again. I’d like to refer this to our youth.

When American Civil War was being fought, nearly 4,00,000 men died in that war and people started blaming President Abraham Lincoln for their deaths. Even the Republicans started opposing Lincoln on his amendment to abolish slavery. However, he stood by his decision and that resulted in the creation of United States of America and abolishment of slavery. The war concluded deaths of more than 7,00,000 men. If you’ve read the history properly, you know how many people selflessly contributed their luxuries and their comforts for the sake of their nation.

During 1960s’, while Vietnam War was being fought, it has been reported that even young fellows from college had enrolled themselves to participate in the war. Apparently, they did suffer dreadful consequences including lifetime injuries and heavy amount of deaths. What today’s youth has presented us is completely opposite thing. They don’t want to suffer temporary inconvenience and they boast about tolerance and courage.

Even in India, youth contributed the movements of freedom during early 1900s. However, youth was inglorious to choose violent ways in those movements, according to non-violent ones. And it was reported in the late 1940s that youth really did contribute in their own ways. However, considering the current youth, I hardly believe they’d ever think about leaving their comfortable AC rooms and contribute anything to nation.

I’m not denying the problems that a common man faces due to demonetization. However, if you think about major wars, not only army but the people also have to face troubles. And these troubles generally include money shortage, food shortage, long term financial crisis, deaths, economic downfall any many more terrible problems that we can’t even imagine. Yes, such problems CAN occur even in the judgemental war between India and Pakistan. The world war would be more hideous than that.

During the Second World War, the world almost sank in the crisis, while India had merely participated. Besides we were going through our freedom issues. Today’s youth who don’t read, who don’t want to glance back, they don’t know the real face of freedom. It may look like a nice scenario now, but back then, it was not a financially cheerful moment. After the wars with China and Pakistan, we’ve suffered a lot, which the current generation does not know.

Technology:

Internet would be the most important factor in future wars. Today people know how to boast on Social Media, but when they would see the dreadful glimpse of war, I bet their fingers will tremble while typing. Internet has power to spread the news quicker. And we don’t know if this would be an advantage or a disadvantage during the war. We can surely spread the information quickly enough, but so is with rumours. And believe me or not, rumours create anarchy. And during the real crisis, anarchy breaks our courage.

Here I’m not just talking about Indian Youth. Let’s take American Youth in count too. Recently Donald Trump’s Victory made them go crazy enough that they started destroying their own properties. They started protesting against him violently. Now, God forbids, but what would you do if Trump is the president and the World War starts? Would you protest against his every decision? America has rich history of strong presidents. President Lincoln handled the situation wisely. President Kennedy remained strong. Are we considering that today’s American People would even selflessly support the war as their ancestors did back in 60s? I’m not even talking about enrolling themselves, I’m just talking about moral support. The same goes with Indian Youth too.

Conclusion:

I’m just asking few questions. And if you figure out the answers, there is your conclusion.

Are we saying that these people, who can’t stand temporary inconveniences, are able to endure the consequences of any major war? Are we saying that these people could endure the shortage of supplies? Are we sure these people could endure deaths without blaming anyone? Will these protesters also protest against any decision taken during the war? While those young kids of college selflessly enrolled them in military to fight in the war, do we expect our youth to contribute even a little bit?

Valour, courage, selflessness, power… These words sound extraordinary. But when we have to prove them, we hesitate. 

Compromise is not a struggle

 Compromise is not a struggle

Once while I was sitting at bus-stop waiting for a bus, and suddenly a man around sixty-four or sixty five years old came by and sat beside me. Honestly, he was well-suited than me. I was just watching him. He was wearing a perfectly ironed shirt and pant and nicely polished shoes. I presumed that he might be a high profile government officer. 

I plugged out my earphone from my mobile and put it into my bag, while I realized that the man was watching me. As I glanced at him awkwardly, he smiled politely. Even his smile seemed too much professional.

“Young lad! College boy?” he asked.

 

“Yes,” I nodded, ignoring a strange conversation.

“Must have drowned yourself in fun and enjoyment,” he said.

“Not actually,” I shook my head. “I don’t do fun.”

“Pity then. You should,” he grumbled. He paused for a moment and then asked, “So what do you study?”

“Computer science,” I replied bluntly. 

“Tech people,” he sighed. “I really admire you people, but I curse you at the same time.”

Undoubtedly, I was surprised by that sentence. Why would an old man like him curse people like me? 

“Why is that?” I asked curiously.

“When I was like you, perhaps bit older than you, I was working in a private company. We used to make metal components of vehicles and automobile. I worked there for two-three years, and then I quit. I wasn’t really a smart man like you. I was just an ITI guy, who could work on those old instruments and machines. But then this new thing came. Computer Science. They assured us to change the face of technology. Well, honestly, we all were happy that something different was coming along. But when it did, many things were made automatic. They had reduced man power at considerable amount, and many of my colleagues became jobless. I was fortunate though. I had already learnt some new things which might have kept my job for few years. But those men were really poor and they couldn’t learn these new things without proper education and training. We saw many people switching their career and starting a business. Many of my friends took shops on rent and started business. But still, I heard many people went back to as worker at construction sites. Unfortunately, your technologies had reduced man power there too. But still there was a chance of getting a job that could feed you. But I was always pitied on those people who couldn’t make it through,” he explained.

I was quietly listening him. That man was making some really appropriate points, on which I agreed. That must be really unbalanced and chaotic situation back then. 

“Anyway, I decided to make my son a techy person like you. I could never learn that computer thing, on which my son mocked me for quite long time. But I made him an engineer, just like you,” he said.

“That’s good,” I spoke blankly. 

“Yes,” he nodded. “Although, he is quite older than you. He is currently working too. But still sometimes when we discuss with each other, he mentions the same problem with his generation. He once told me that they learn things and they get upgraded in few years and they don’t get time to learn those new things. And he also mentioned that nowadays, engineers have worst fate. Is it?” 

“Yes,” I admitted. Well, I knew that most of us don’t have that glorious future. 

“Do you know what people do in such situations?” he inquired.

I remained quiet and that said it all.

“Compromises,” he said. “Some compromise with money. Some compromise with knowledge. And some compromise with skills. It is not actually their fault for not being qualified for the job, is it? Yet they have to compromise.”

“I wouldn’t,” I grumbled out of pride. “I would never compromise any of these.”

He looked at me curiously and said, “But sometimes you don’t have a choice.”

“But compromise is never an option. It doesn’t just waste your hard work, it makes you dishonourable. One compromise may not seem a big deal, but when you succeed, you just prefer compromise at every point of your life just because of your obsession with success,” I said calmly. 

He kept staring at me, while I said that. “You seem like really good lad,” he whispered. “You know where these things lead us. Tell me, are you obsessed with success or peace?” 

“I don’t know what I want yet. But I do know one thing that I don’t want success that has no meaning of that word,” I muttered. “For me, success is not just achieving wealth and prosperity. The journey matters the most to me. People choose different ways to get success. We call them shortcuts. But if you walk with self-pride, it is very unlikely that you’ll get success. I have heard many people telling me that once you reach there, nothing actually matters. But I still can’t stand with this concept of getting success by faking things. I can’t be dishonest with myself to just reach there.”

“But most of the people don’t work that way,” he grinned. “You’re right that for some people even little bit of dishonesty ruins the joy of their success. Because everyone has different priorities in life. Some people make their success priority. But some people make their honesty their priority. Legends say that honest ways lead you to success. But those legends were made during honest world. This is just a dishonest world. Here, honest ways may starve you to death.”

“When I come to your age, I don’t want to feel that my entire life was worthless. But perhaps dishonest ways will put me in that feeling of worthlessness,” I confessed.

“Then you shouldn’t be dishonest with your life,” he advised.

“And it will keep me away from success, forever,” I grumbled in disappointment.

“I’m not going to lie just because you could keep your motivation. But yes, it is very likely that it will keep you away from success,” he admitted. “Honesty is not everyone’s cup of tea, boy. People think that their compromises are their struggle. But it’s not. Compromise is not struggle. Honest people are rare. No one stays that way. But even if they do, how many of us know about their honesty?”

“Perhaps we don’t want to show people our honesty. Why would we?” I said.

“Yes, we shouldn’t,” he agreed. “And that is the you live with honesty. You may never see the face of success in your life, but you know the face of honesty. And believe me, it is more assuring than success.”

We remained quiet for a moment, as a bus passed by. 

“You said you quit the job. What did you do then?” I asked curiously.

“I became an insurance agent,” he replied calmly.

There was a strange silence for few moments. We both knew that irony, and I honestly wanted to laugh, yet I didn’t. However, he started laughing and I joined him.