This is not a condemnation of either previous articles in anyway so do not construe it to be so.

I just want to say that all the rallies & effigy burning brought about against this incident was 'probably' politically initiated since I would like to bring to everyone's attention that Bollywood has been given a very free hand to put on the big screen whatever they feel the 'public' wants. There was an article to this subject the other day that compared 'older' movies to the trash that is now being passed to the general public as movies. Any rating system is only as good as the people who enforce that system. I grew up in Patna and there were never any usher in any theatre that stopped underage kids from entering to see 'A' rated movies. On the other hand since the influx of 'foreign' - aka Hollywood' movies without any bar is being copied by filmmakers (with the addition of a little desi masala) does nothing to reduce the situation prevailing in the country. I think the politicians (and the media) should have the sense to tell the public that it is not in our culture and that is not 'normal' for Indians to act that way in their own country. They are free to do so when they go overseas and the local culture is more accepting of that kind of PDA.

The stunt pulled by the Bhojpuri actors was absolutely un-called for but again I guess they did that since they were trying to promote their film (good or bad) and it has always been the best way to get in the limelight by doing something scandalous. Seriously, if that incident never took place then only the people following Bhojpuri films would have heard about the movie whereas now due to the medium of the internet a lot more people in the world know about the film as well as the actors involved. Bottom line-----FREE PUBLICITY.

This kind of behavior cannot be stopped by these rallies and traffic disruptions; it has to come from good parenting and good school guidance. - Johnny Chiang - May 4, 2007

Dear Ravindra ji:

I am a little confused about your comment "We are not God to pass final judgment on fellow humans".

Are you saying that we should throw away all our norms, cultural values as we know it out of the window since 'we are not God' and have no right to judge others?

Let's look at it from a different view. How do/would you feel if you see two people making love (and I mean it in its complete sexual connotation) in full view in a park/mall/cinema hall etc? Is that okay with you? After all who are we to judge them, right? Where do you draw the line what is acceptable/appropriate and what is not? Or are you suggesting we should not draw that line, period?

From time immemorial, each nation/civilization/religion had its own customs, taboos, and behavior that were acceptable or unacceptable. Even Sita had to go through an 'agni pariksha' because Lord Ram and others thought (or wrongly assumed) what she did (or did not do) was morally wrong. It's another story that she came out unscathed but the fact remains even she was judged by none other than a man we, the Hindus, consider God. Judging other people's behavior is neither a new concept nor it's going away anywhere in the future.

Morality, the sense of right or wrong, differentiates human beings from animals. Animals do it in public; you surely don't expect the same behavior from humans, do you?

While these days it's a fashion to go against the time-established old fashioned values and morals, morality is here to stay just as it has survived for millions of years. Calling someone's behavior wrong is not playing God, in my humble opinion.

If you don't believe in judging human being's behavior or actions, then you should follow it to the hilt, not half-heartedly. I am inclined to say that if it comes down to your own sons or daughters, you would be the first one to advise them to not do certain things in public.

Please understand that my comments are not about kissing in public per se. I am taking umbrage to your statement that we must not pass judgment on fellow human beings because 'we are not God'.

As for Shilpa-Gere controversy, I think it was a matter way overblown by media and our self-appointed moral police in India. Gere is not an Indian and his acts were not lewd by any stretch of imagination. What the two Bhojpuri actors, however, did was abhorrent and despicable for obvious reasons. - Rajiv Chandra - May 4, 2007

The Romeos of different Indian towns & cities have decamped from public places as the police have launched various operations against them. One such on-going operation aptly named "Operation Romeo" has picked up many love birds from public places and put them where they belong - inside the cages in the thana. Earlier it had become embarrassing to take a walk with your family in a public places as love birds were found on the benches in various poses. The more indecent the pose the more the attention from people around and the more the thrill for the cheapy love birds. The Indian system is fighting back now. - Rajesh - May 4, 2007

If you see the video, you would find that it was not just an honest peck on the cheek, but more like a hungry smooch. It gave the impression that given some privacy, Richard Gere could have gone even further, Shilpa willing. But if you have just seen the pictures in the newspapers, it looks harmless. So, in a sense, the outcry is justified. - Shitanshu - May 9, 2007

There is no need for anybody to bang their heads against each others on such trivial topic like this one because it only shows how much we are concerned by such acts which have no meaning in day to day life.

There are many and hundreds of such incidences happening across India and other places in the world going unreported which does not imply that such acts or more despicable acts do happen and it depends on some vested interests to raise such a hue and cry.

In one of the comments our writer friend asks "what if we find some one in a compromising position in full public view and we must react or not."

Now kindly think has any such incidence been heard or recorded anywhere in the world? even in most liberal societies no one (even the most ashamed would not do it in full public view, it happens in many flights but again they are covered with blankets etc.)

Therefore to exemplify on this magnitude will not drive anyone anywhere.

Now coming to the reactions, India is a country of 1.5 Billion people and consisting of people from many schools of thought and beliefs so if at all there is some friction it is normal and we as sensible citizens should try to cool the atmosphere instead of fanning the fire.

Nevertheless, deep inside every civilised individual there is a desire and lurk for doing something naughty and something off the records and they do it simply and nonchalantly to either be a rebel of sort or just for the sake of it.

In case Richard Gere had that desire to go further but he did not because even in his society anything more would have been condemned as they also follow the church same as we follow the temple or a mosque. - Sonjjay Guptaa - May 11, 2007

Mr. Sonjjay Guptaa thinks that this issue is small fish. He'd rather bother his mental faculties with 'big fish' issues. How about stopping the senseless killing in Iraq ? With intellectually endowed individuals like Mr. Guptaaa, the war still rages, the killing still goes on.

For me, I can not make a dent on the issues in Iraq. Obscene behavior in society sure does make me speak up. Once a fox pup emerged out of his lair , a few hours after his birth. It had rained earlier that day and there was a puddle nearby. He exclaimed, "My God ! I have never seen a flood like this in my life!" A bird sitting nearby reminded him, "Well son, how long has your life been so far?"

Mr. Gupta mocked another reader's contention that unless checked people will bring indecency to the ultimate level of making out in the public. Like the fox pup, Mr. Gupta does not know that in parts of Europe people use the privacy of an umbrella on one side and a shrub in the park on the other to get on with it - their heads and legs sticking out. Ever wondered how easy it is to romp around naked in France? Well read this:

http://gofrance.about.com/cs/nudismnaturism/ht/nudismtips.htm

While Bill Clinton got severely rapped for indiscretions with an intern during his Presidency, the French elected a very openly promiscuous Nicholaus Sarkozy as President just last week. Even his wife is reported to be equally promiscuous. If one has to turn a blind eye to such thing by labeling them "petty", would you also approve of a womanizer living in Rashtrapati Bhawan ? After all you elect someone from the society. That person reflects the values, traditions and culture of the people who elect him. I probably would not be surprised to see Mr. Sanjjay Gupptaa carrying a placard reading "M. F. Hussein for P.M.!"

And how would you like to see 18,000 Indians stand naked in the Ramlila grounds in the name of art ? Sounds incongruous ? Well it should not be. Just last month 18,000 people collectively dropped their pants (and everything else) in Mexico City to be photographed by a moronic 'artist' who has been chased out of USA for trying stunts like this there.

http://www.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/americas/05/06/mexico.nude.ap/index.html

His next destination is Amsterdam. Would Mr. Gupptaa like to extend an invitation to India and have him stay over at his place ? Sometimes the exercise of thinking and doing one's homework before beginning to hammer the keys of the keyboard is worth one's while. - Aarcee - May 12, 2007

The scathing remarks by Mr. Aarcee to my harmless comments to this topic highlights the quantum of triviality which I had remarked in the opening statements of my response.

In fact Mr. Aarcee is commenting on the comments commented on his article which in my opinion does not reflect in good light simply because if one does not agree to one's views it does not mean that he will be forced to agree by piling the comment maker with so many examples and then making a joke out of it.

I did not mock anyone , if you read my comments carefully again you will figure out that the centre point of my response was not to make an issue of things which do not make any or little impact on others.

I have seen Mr. Aarcee commenting many times on his write ups on reader's response, he inundates this forum with very high standard of language which I am sure many people may not get to the bottom of it because we must not forget that we are Indians and one is most conversant in his native language than any other however knowledgeable one may be.

I am not that expert a writer than Mr. Aarcee and I respect his views on many topics and also admire his articles and write ups posted here.

The examples of indecent behaviour given by Mr. Aarcee (please read them after my my earlier response) across the world cannot be paralleled by the kissing scene of Gere and Shetty, he too admits that people in Europe do it in parks covered under umbrella and this is the point I wanted to drive when I commented on other reader's comment on getting away after laying someone in full public view.

Mr. Aarcee must be thanked for writing this piece

But I must say that "Much ado about nothing" must not be given too much attention by sensible people of this world. - Sonjjay Guptaa - May 24, 2007

Discussion on this topic is now closed.