Aamir Khan's intolerance comment does not make him less of an Indian

I have been watching the breathless pace with which people are falling all over each other to comment on the newest traitor on the block, Aamir Khan. And, it is with some difficulty that I have caught my breath to write this.

In our new world of some breaking news every minute, every little sound byte is important. And the sound byte monster is served well when fine people talk too much.

"Words are singularly the most powerful force available to humanity. We can choose to use this force constructively with words of encouragement, or destructively using words of despair. Words have energy and power with the ability to help, to heal, to hinder, to hurt, to harm, to humiliate and to humble..." and when they are so potent, they must be used with care and certainly not overused. Many of us fall prey to such calamitous events, when our tongue gets away.

I don't for one believe for a moment that Aamir Khan meant anything anti-national or unpatriotic. He was merely dissing a conversation he had with his wife, probably on the dinner table. He said his wife even wanted to leave the country because she feels unsafe.

Now, if expressing insecurity or not expressing insecurity is a yardstick that measures patriotic sentiment, Kiran Rao is unpatriotic by some standards.

Aamir, the brand ambassador for Incredible India, the person behind the consciously structured and hugely successful programme Satyameva Jayate, the entertainer par excellence, the filmmaker with films like Rang De Basanti, Lagaan and many more in his repertoire, said and rightly so, that he was deeply disturbed by what his wife said.

Mind you, he was disturbed and did not jump with joy at having been handed a grand opportunity to do all the anti-national things he is being accused of.

Obviously, both Aamir and Kiran are Indians first before anything else.

Pause for half a second and think of all the conversations you have had, or your children have had or your friends have had and in no other place than your drawing room, when they have said they want to go abroad and live there.

Some have complained about the traffic, some have complained about corruption, some have complained about educational facilities, some about the taxes. Some merely like it out of India and have fallen in love with the blueness of the skies in foreign lands.

And yes, some have even complained about the lack personal safety they feel. This feeling can arise out of all sorts of situations. They may feel that their daughters cannot go out without them worrying about their safety, the incidence of rape and molestation is high, not only in the capital, all over the country. They may feel unsafe because of the hard fact of the existence of the mafia in various aspects of our lives. Trade, parking, medicines, education. Name it and there is a dark grey area everywhere. Many of your friends, relatives and children may have also gone to live somewhere abroad citing the above reasons. No, they are not unpatriotic.

Of late, there is this huge sense of unrest and distrust that seems to be fanning out between communities based on religion. Now, whether the person on the ground is communal is a question that one can only hope is answered with a resounding "No".

The common man is only interested in earning his daily bread and butter and living life and does not want to participate in any thoughts which create unrest. He wants a fine atmosphere around him, while he works, his children go to school and perhaps his wife cooks for all of them at home. He does not want to think that he can be in danger from another community and truly believes his neighbour is his brother, whether a Hindu or a Muslim.

This government was voted in with such a sweeping majority on the plank of development. Hindu's and Muslims alike voted for our PM's promise of progress. They did not cast their vote because they believed dangerous divisive politics would come into play. But, it has. That is what Aamir was saying. He was saying, guys, its getting crazy, please rein in your army of abusers and communally rabid people, else your purpose of forming a government will be diluted. That is what he meant.

I agree. All that the so called bhakts seem to be doing is gunning for everyone who speaks even a single word against the present state of affairs. The bhakts take it so personally. I have not see so much conversation about communities in the social media and in society as I see now. I wish the army that jumps up to lynch any well meaning person, who just pours his heart out, pointing at a valid growing fear in his heart, I wish that army gets down to do some real work. And then all will be well.