By Anuriti Sarkar
All of us should be allowed to give our own opinions, our own expressions without fearing the government or anyone else. That’s what the article 19 of the constitution conveys. But won’t our opinions and freedom be subdued if they don’t go by what people want to hear?
A similar case related to this can be seen with the Muslim woman from Bangalore, Suhana Sayeed who had taken part in a Kannad reality show for singing. She had sung a very beautiful Hindu hymn.
The judges were amazed by her performance and also by her courage, to come up on stage and sing a Hindu hymn in front of so many people.
But few people associated with a facebook page called ‘Mangalore Muslims’, instead of appreciating her wonderful voice and applauding for her, trolled her, by putting up her picture and writing a long post on how she is a disgrace to their community. And why is that, you ask?
Because apparently, she had disgraced her religion by singing a ‘HINDU’ devotional song, being a ‘MUSLIM’. Now that is a harsh truth to take in for the discriminating clan. So to top it up, they even added that she has done a sin by showing her beauty to the public and especially men, for her own selfish needs.
Wait, it doesn’t end over there, she had also been told to take off her ‘Hijab’ as she doesn’t have the right to wear it anymore and that she doesn’t deserve it. They cursed her parents for encouraging her to show her beauty to men for her enjoyment and because of this on the day of judgment, they will be sent to hell.
A song doesn’t change your religion! Singers can sing any song they like and it has nothing to do with religion. Talent decides whether a person goes further or not, not religion. There shouldn’t be any restrictions to this.
Singing a Hindu devotional song, in a reality show, by a Muslim woman, I guess the whole sentence sums up exactly how brave is she to take this step. What this woman did was to take a stand in building the friendship and unity between the two religious rivals.
But even then, her expressions are being suppressed by these people. Isn’t that a sin now? And what if it had been a man in her place? I don’t think that this issue would have been raised, ever!
Freedom of expression applies to everyone, irrespective of gender, caste, religion etc. Then why is it so difficult for people to understand this?
Many people did respond to the post, in her support and encouraged her bravery, and also have decided to file a case against the people who had put up the post, but till now we see no such case being filed.
On one hand we say that everyone here has the right to express their own opinion or showcase their own talent, instead, such a beautiful talent is subjected to these harsh trolls and mockery. And this is not the first time that someone’s right to express have been suppressed. There are many similar cases like this which can be seen, even in this generation, where we are not allowed to express our opinion.
What I am trying to say is that if we all are given the freedom of expression, then why when someone tries to actually express themselves be suppressed?
Religion is in one’s belief and faith. But some people, in the name of religion satisfy their ego and try to curb the talents of others. We should be free to express ourselves and our opinions without any fear and only then we can proudly call ourselves humans.
Picture Credits: Google Images
You’d also like to read: QuoraED: What Do Indian Muslims Want People Of Other Religions To Know About Them
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