The Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi is a much - admired Chief Minister for his great success in the area of economic development of his State. It was, therefore, not surprising that he was elected as the Chief Minister of Gujarat for the third time despite the stigma of communal bias following the Hindu backlash that followed the Godhra train burning incident of 2002. Could it be that the much - discussed and condemned 2002 Gujarat communal violence was a spontaneous reaction to the death of Kar Sevaks in the train fire at Godhra? Well, not surprisingly, a documentary film was made titled Godhra Talk: The Terror Trail casting doubts on this theory about the communal violence.
Recently, “Film Southasia 2009” was organised at Kathmandu which had very good response from the Nepali audience, according to reports, especially for three films that touched on the goings on in Gujarat. All the three films expectedly are anti - Modi films in this documentary fest. Among the three that interested Kathmandu audience are, The Salt Stories (2008), Encountered on Saffron Agenda? (2007) and The Lightning Testimonies (2007).
From the synopsis of the story and the theme of the films, I have a suspicion that the theme and the story are contrived to damn Mr. Modi as a demon. According to the film, Modi had demonized minorities and encouraged the politics of hatred. However, those who are rational in their thinking and are not blinkered secularists, there is very little or no truth in their perception of Modi. He may belong to the saffron party BJP, but then, he cannot be downsized in the manner we demonize the terrorists and the Taliban.
It has indeed become fashionable these days for the secularists, communists and the opposition political parties, so also the minority communities to brand BJP as a Hindu party and for that reason demonize it. When more than 3000 Sikhs were killed in the aftermath of Indira Gandhi's assassination by a Sikh guard, did anyone brand Congress party as anti - Sikh party and demonize it? Let it be.
What we as Indian citizens should realise is that in a pluralistic society with different religions there is bound to be a majority religion and a minority religion and therefore whenever there is over - reaction to an incident by one or the other religious groups, there is bound to be a clash which may take a serious turn leading to violence and damage to properties. It should, of course, be eschewed by people belonging to different religions. Let us remember that, after all, the natural law, "action and reaction are equal and opposite"’ applies not only to physical objects but also to human beings as well. Hence, we must ensure there is peace and no action to precipitate or trigger a reaction.
To revert to the documentary films, what interest anyone will have if a documentary doesn't show life negative with warts and all? Therefore, it is a fact that almost all documentary film makers know the formula for winning an award. Rubbish Modi and you win a prize.
It seems one documentary film had gone to the extent of accusing Narendra Modi of attempting to dismantle democratic polity in Gujarat under the cloak of its much - touted economic development and the corresponding prosperity! It is time these documentary film - makers and the secularists took some respite and spared Modi of this kind of Modi bashing. More on Modi later.
