CITY OF DREAMS IS NOW RULED BY NIGHTMARES

Once the pulse of India's freedom and creativity, Mumbai cowers in an atmosphere of fear and control

- BY SWATI CHATURVEDI | Special to Gulf News

Saif Ali Khan, a Bollywood “A”-list actor, is attacked — stabbed with a knife inside the fortresslike confines of his penthouse home.

Non-Marathi-speaking employees of a bank are beaten up on camera by goons of a regional political party that has failed to win a single seat in several successive elections.

Audience members who watched a comedian's routine are sent notices by the Mumbai police (a dubious first in India), because while we take huge pride in being the world's largest democracy, our dear leaders must not be mocked.

All this happened in Mumbai - the beating heart of India Inc., which accounts for more than half the corporate taxes levied in India. Mumbai is also the centre of Bollywood India's undisputed soft power and our cultural ambassador to the world.

Mocking power comes at a price

Take the ridiculous notice by Mumbai Police to audience members who watched comedian Kunal Kamra's routine. I can only compare it to breaking a butterfly on a wheel.

Now, you may find Kamra unfunny and feel angry that he mocked you but Freedom of Expression (FoE) is meaningless without the right to offend. Even unfunny jokes are FoE.