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Indian TV channels

4 May 2006, 18:00 PM
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
By Yahya, On email
4 May 2006, 18:00 PM
In my view, the call for banning Indian TV channels(Letter, April 24) is counterproductive. I was struck by the use of the phrase "to save our children from intrusion of foreign culture and ideas" in particular. Such sentiments are more at home in authoritarian societies and not in a liberal democracy. I do agree that Indian TV channels are peddling trash as culture. However, the cultural upbringing of children is the responsibility of the parents and not the state.

We should not adopt national policies that absolve the parents of their responsibilities. It is the duty of the parents to shelter their kids from harmful influence. On the other hand, some parents may view Bollywood as the epitome(!) of cultural advancement and want their kids to imitate that particular way of life. Call me a libertarian but we should not restrict the rights of the latter group by imposing any form of state sponsored censorship.

One has to ask the question, when it comes to entertainment why such prevalence and popularity of the prurient? Is it because of the restrictive nature of our society that leads to individuals seeking relief through means that are essentially vulgar? It certainly is symptomatic of something troubling deep within the collective psyche of the society. Merely treating the outward signs (such as appetite for Bollywood trash) by means of state sponsored censorship would result in self-denial.

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We do not need an authoritarian nanny state watching us while we watch the idiot box.