India is regressive? Deepika trolled but Sri Sri on homosexuality is proof we are

Deepika Padukone responded to the protests against the release of Padmavati and said that India has now become regressive and she was attacked for her comment.

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Deepika Padukone
Deepika Padukone

A clawing and dark regression has cast its shadow on us, and these past few weeks are solid proof of this. Be it the raging Padmavati protests, or Sri Sri Ravi Shankar's comments on homosexuality. it looks like India has gone back to the middle-ages. Deepika Padukone recently responded to the Padmavati rage, and said that India has become regressive. And instantly, a troll-attack was unleashed on her with people like Subramanian Swamy leading the pack on Twitter.

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But was Deepika completely wrong in saying that "we as a nation have regressed"?

PADMAVATI PROTESTS

Sanjay Leela Bhansali's Padmavati, starring Deepika Padukone, Ranveer Singh and Shahid Kapoor, has been in a bear-trap like grip, ever since they started shooting. Political groups have been so blinded by anger that they've completely shut their ears to any sort of reason. And what's their anger based on? A whim. A flimsy whim that there would be a romantic dream sequence between Alauddin Khilji (Ranveer Singh) and Rani Padmini (Deepika Padukone). Bhansali's numerous clarifications have had no effect whatsoever. Now, political groups like the Rajput Karni Sena are looking for a million other reasons to crucify the film.

They've managed to find fault with Deepika's dance in Ghoomar, and now the sentiment is: How can Rani Padmini dance like this in a court? And with such a "short" blouse? In short, how could the iconic Indian woman, who may or may not have existed in reality, dance like this in front of men in that social milieu?

LOVE FICTIONAL WOMEN, MISTREAT THE REAL WOMEN

This glowing respect for fictional, historical or even mythological women is laughable, as the real women in India suffer miserably every day. For the sake of Rani Padmini, people will go to court to ensure that a film doesn't release, but not for the women who have survived rapes and injustices. Hypocrisy, that's the long and short of it. If they invested half their time in the safety of their women, there could actually be more hope for the country. These are just narrow-minded groups masquerading as the torch-bearers of Indian history. Not to mention, the question of Rani Padmini's existence is another question altogether.

DISTURBING PATTERNS OF ABUSE

And so, there's the pattern of vandalism of sets, beating up Bhansali, hitting out at him and the actors in every way possible, and now trying to destroy theatres and intimidating distributors. All this, without even seeing the film, once. The cast and crew have been put under a magnifying glass, and any word can cause them trouble. Ranveer put a photo of himself, with words from the song Losing my Religion. People instantly connected it to Padmavati, and trolled him for it.

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Bhansali has repeatedly said that he has saluted the Rajput valour. The trailer of the film is proof enough. The Rajputs are portrayed in a powerful light, and the upholders of integrity and pride, and Khilji is a barbarian, who lives in a dungeon and eats meat like an animal.

EVEN if the Rajputs have a problem, is this the manner to deal with it? Beating up a reputed director and humiliating him? The misplaced anger and righteousness has blinded them all to such an extent, that they've gone back centuries, and are just resorting to violence as a form of a solution. In addition, to the ones protesting on the street, do they know what they're revolting against, or is it just a method to grab attention and footage on national television?

REGRESSION STORM IN INDIA

India is regressive and Deepika is absolutely right to say that. It is regressive to invade the cinematic freedom of an artist, to humiliate him consistently, and to make him justify himself repeatedly- especially when the clarification has already been given. This rage against Padmavati points towards the bigger problem that is enveloping India, and that is this dangerous form of regression.

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ENTER SRI SRI

And if you want more proof on the undercurrents of regression in India, a look at Sri Sri Ravi Shankar's comments on homosexuality is enough. At a conference at JNU, a student told him that he was ill-treated by family and friends for being homosexual.

The godman reportedly said, "You treat yourself better, doesn't matter how others treat you. You don't think you are sick or something's wrong with you. If you stand up, nobody can insult you. But if you feel weak and meek, and if you feel bad about yourself, nobody can make you feel better," Sri Sri told the student, adding, "This is your tendency now. Just acknowledge it and accept it, and know that this tendency is not a permanent thing. It may change. I've seen many men who were gay, later on turn into heterosexuals, and there are those who are normal - what are called straight people - end up being gay later in life."

He's drawn much flak for this, though many are now saying that he might have been misquoted. He isn't denouncing homosexuality outright. However, the reference to homosexuality as a button that can be turned off and on, is bizarre, especially for a man who has defended the cause of homosexuality. Plus, it looks like a strange consolation, "this tendency is not a permanent thing". Instead of treating homosexuality as a normal aspect of daily life, it is given this treatment of a 'condition', which may or may not wear off in time.

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Sonam Kapoor lashed out at him for this, and of course, was trolled by his followers.

Perhaps his words were chosen poorly, but the meaning doesn't change, and it definitely doesn't speak well about the condition India is in, right now.

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