An illustration of how censorship works. Let us say your platform to express your thoughts means something to you. Now, you know that that platform can be taken away if you express your thoughts against an entity.Then u self censor,which is the first step in slavery of the entity
This is how power perpetuates and more powerful gather more and more adherents because only the followers of the more powerful have access to something they value.
Political entities like BJP-RSS & Left, Cong and religious imperialists have the power to maintain platforms of individuals through power over big corporates. Means, only those pro XYZ will speak unfettered.
But even the reasonably honest among those associated with centers of power will not speak unfettered because they know that their ability to speak depends on the value they bring to their power centers. Thus, only views in certain categories would be expressed.
Exactly why one does not see cross over views. Example - all those speak on some token Hindu issues glorify Ambani & Adani & vilify only those big businesses who are opposed to Ambani & Adani. This ensures that their access continues through protection offered by BJP-RSS.
One can for example be genuinely economic left and oppose exploitations by all big businesses, owned by Indians or non Indians alike and also oppose discrimination against Hindus and care about Hindu civilizational continuity
This cross over view has no protection thanks to power to censor accorded to few powerful entities. This is why censorship is a huge threat for those without institutional powers. Hindus fit the bill today-the common Hindus, not the Ambani Adani Birla Jindal types big businesses

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More from @sarkar_swati

22 Feb
Ironically Kamlesh Tiwari is invoked to argue against FoE by those allied to one of the power centres today that is, BJP-RSS. I will argue next that no Kamlesh Tiwari would be persecuted in a society that associates a premium on FoE.
Kamlesh Tiwari was jailed under NSA for a post against the prophet of one particular religion. A society that values FoE would bar punitive actions against speech. So, NSA won’t apply and no jailing.
Next, Kamlesh Tiwari was assassinated because of the same post. In a society that values FoE, there would be an immediate extensive outrage which would force govt’s to act against actors of religious imperialism. A perfect case in point is France.
Read 7 tweets
22 Feb
Mamata is behaving as though she has taken leave of all her political senses. Once ED pays her Bhaipo visits, she says she is ready to go to jail singing Jai Bangla like Sheikh Mujibur Rehman. Playing right in2 BJP’s Whatsapp messaging that she wants WB to join Bangladesh !
Mamata could easily have said that she would happily go to jail singing Bande Mataram if she warned to talk about going to jail, which itself is redundant as no one threatened her with jail. Anyway looks like she is done for.
Meanwhile another joint political suicide is being committed by CPIM + Congress through their alliance with Abbas Siddiqui of Furfura Sharif. Effectively means that the anti Mamata vote of Hindus would go to BJP-RSS en masse.
Read 5 tweets
18 Feb
There is a big section of pro-BJP-RSS crowd who seek to stop demands for FoE in the name of Kamlesh Tiwari. This isn’t surprising because those on the side of power, which BJP-RSS has today, will not want FoE. FoE is a tool against power. A thread on their hypocrisy.
Kamlesh Tiwari was arrested under NSA because of his speech against a particular religion. How could NSA apply in this case? Because there is no First Amendment style law in India. 1st Amendment stops Govt 2 act against any form of speech or expression+
So Kamlesh Tiwari could be arrested and jailed only because there is no FoE in India. If there was FoE, the arrest could have been legally challenged on that ground.
Read 8 tweets
10 Feb
Mahua Moitra came up with another mostly banal and annoying speech in LS. I have no comments on her allegations on a CJI, that is between her and BJP-RSS. But the part on fascism charge on BJP-RSS is banal, cliche and unsubstantive +
There are 1000 of legitimate grave charges on BJP-RSS, but fascism is not one of them. They got a record breaking mandate twice in a row. In a transparent election. By calling them fascist, one is diminishing their voters, which is unacceptable.
Second, this Eurocentric frame of reference is the most offensive. When some one wants to describe a non-Democratic force, why doesn’t the Indian context count? British imperialism is relevant to India, so are Mughal e Azam, Nawab etc. How about using those to describe despots?
Read 6 tweets
8 Feb
What is Indic civilizational legacy on FoE? Sabitri debated with Yamraj, the God of death, won the debate and got her husband’s life back. Nachiketa questioned Yamraj. Draupadi debated the entire court when she was being humiliated, & eventually got her husbands free.
All these individuals were speaking “truth to power”, to the ultimate power, be it God of Death or be the monarch & his courtiers in a royal court. So that “truth to power” is intrinsic in Indic civilization.
In documented history, Shankaracharya rejuvenated Hinduism by defeating Buddhist scholars in debates in court after court.
Read 5 tweets
8 Feb
FoE has two pillars to rely upon - 1)laws protecting speech 2) social protection for speech.The laws invariably protect against Govt intrusion though there is no reason why such laws should apply on private companies, but they don’t today.Comparison between India & US wrt these:
US still has stronger laws on FoE. The First Amendment. Nothing remotely comparable in India. The Supreme Court of the United States has refused to define hate speech simply because of the subjectivity involved.
But the laws can take one only so far without social backing. In fact cultural ethos is any day a far stronger deterrent on free speech because social influence is pervasive while the Govt can sanction only so many. This is exactly where India today scores over US.
Read 16 tweets

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