Are Indians over-sensitive?

Hi,

There have been many debates about whether indians are too sensitive when it comes to our national flag or national anthem. Sania Mirza decided not to play from india because of so many controversies surrounding her, fatwas being given to her for wearing short skirts, pictures of her putting her legs near the flag floating in the media creating a havoc in public. Protests taking place because Sachin tendulkar cut a cake on which tiranga was made, effigies being burnt etc. And there can be many more examples-Narayan Murthy, Mandira Bedi etc.

All these people have had to apologise in public for a few statements that they made.

The question is- Do we over-react in a situation like this?Or is this right?What role does the media play?

Originally posted by: liza93

Hi,

There have been many debates about whether indians are too sensitive when it comes to our national flag or national anthem. Sania Mirza decided not to play from india because of so many controversies surrounding her, fatwas being given to her for wearing short skirts, pictures of her putting her legs near the flag floating in the media creating a havoc in public. Protests taking place because Sachin tendulkar cut a cake on which tiranga was made, effigies being burnt etc. And there can be many more examples-Narayan Murthy, Mandira Bedi etc.

All these people have had to apologise in public for a few statements that they made.

The question is- Do we over-react in a situation like this?Or is this right?What role does the media play?

We are a cultured nation so out feelings are well placed... Sania is a pest... who thinks little when behaving.. she hasn't won a major grand slam to act high-handed and snobbish... she has pissed off her own religious people, her nation ...etc... if she got as much attention for winning something that would be more worth while...

I feel we have right sense of patriotism and right check points...

whatever we are whatever we do.. we shouldnt forget our basic behavior...which is integral part of our culture... so I think we dont overreact in such circumstances....

Originally posted by: return_to_hades

I would not say we are over-sensitive. We have the right amount of sensitivity towards the national flag. We are one of the few nations that takes deep pride in flags and other representatives of our nation.

However, we definitely over react not just in regards to the flag but everything else. We have not learned how to handle situations and how to constructively express when something offends us. We have also not learned to accept different perceptions of the flag.

To some people a flag is something of great importance and must not be altered or incorporated into everyday things. To many people flag insignia in everyday articles is an expression of patriotism.

Finally we have the eccentrics who take everything the ridiculous extreme, but which nation doesn't.

Nicely put Rth...👏

Indians are so innocent, passionate, sentimental and more authentic group of people.. India is always considered a peaceful and authentic country.. I think these are small issues some media try to make or create these kinds of issue sensitive...😳 We give enough freedom to media...even the US media dont have that much freedom....Media should follow the rule 'Hide what to be hidden.. Show what to be shown' cos some sensitive issue effect whole nation.😊

[YOUTUBE]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FFnnnMqFCBc[/YOUTUBE]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FFnnnMqFCBc

Originally posted by: qwertyesque

We are a cultured nation so out feelings are well placed... Sania is a pest... who thinks little when behaving.. she hasn't won a major grand slam to act high-handed and snobbish... she has pissed off her own religious people, her nation ...etc... if she got as much attention for winning something that would be more worth while...

I feel we have right sense of patriotism and right check points...

whatever we are whatever we do.. we shouldnt forget our basic behavior...which is integral part of our culture... so I think we dont overreact in such circumstances....

I agree when you say that Sania hasn't won a major tournament, but there is ALWAYS a controversy surrounding her. She isn't acting snobbish, but she is just upset to know that people of her own country protest against her when they should be encouraging her. Tennis players from all over the world(female) wear short skirts and play, how does does that disrespect religion? you don't expect them to wear salwar kameez and play, but still muslims were agitated over this issue and created a big havoc. She plays for INDIA and not for a particular religion.

If we would have a sense of patrotism then we would be doing something for the country and not waste our time protesting. This is a time when we all should unify and fight together against corruption, discrimination, child labour, illitracy and other social evils. Half of these protests are publicity stunts, gathering huge public, burning effigies, shouting and screaming and BANG! next day all of this is being discussed on all news channels, is there on the frontpage and unnecassary weightage is given. Debates take place, human rights activists, sociologists etc also get involved and you have your hot news for the day.

Who bothers when, after the celebration of republic day or independence day, we have numerous flags of india(the small plasttic ones) lying scattered on the ground, forget picking them up, everyone just walks over them. Is this our sense of patriotism?

Originally posted by: liza93

@ bold

If it s really happening then it is lack of patriotism. here it is not happening because there is the presence of media and the after effects.

Edited by nitasuni - 17 years ago

i agree with liza93 actually; we do tnd to get overly sensitive about issues. So what if Sania Mirza wears short skirts...she's a tennis player and its protocol. Not only our national flag, we have people getting overly emotional about our ntional anthem, national animal...just everything!!! AR Rahman produced his version of the national song.....it was a fresh version and reintroduced the song to the public..but what do we have??? Certain people with nothing better to do started to protest....

Look at the controversies surrounding Jodhaa-Akbar....no one really cared to look at the 'disclaimer' shown at the beginning of the movie...they just wanted to protest for the sake of cheap publicity. We aren't nationalistic people, as many poeple believe we are. Infact, ours is a very selfish society indeed, who just care about their particular region, their particular religion and their particular way of thought!!! Look at the way our soldiers are treated...that should give us enough of an understanding of how'patriotic' and 'nationalistic' we really are....

My father was a member of the Indian Army and I'm glad he left. Why am I glad...what was he fighting for; what was he putting his life on the line for???
After a lot of deliberation, I'm sorry to say that my answer was quite cynical but true indeed....
The Indian Army is fighting and ptting their lives under risk for a country which is only country by name; it has no sense of national pride, no sense of national unity and is divided on the basis of its own beliefs. No one thinks about Indians, people think about OBCs, elitists and whatnot...but the term 'Indian' has never been used....
Sad, is it not???

Originally posted by: gauri92

i agree with liza93 actually; we do tnd to get overly sensitive about issues. So what if Sania Mirza wears short skirts...she's a tennis player and its protocol. Not only our national flag, we have people getting overly emotional about our ntional anthem, national animal...just everything!!! AR Rahman produced his version of the national song.....it was a fresh version and reintroduced the song to the public..but what do we have??? Certain people with nothing better to do started to protest....

Look at the controversies surrounding Jodhaa-Akbar....no one really cared to look at the 'disclaimer' shown at the beginning of the movie...they just wanted to protest for the sake of cheap publicity. We aren't nationalistic people, as many poeple believe we are. Infact, ours is a very selfish society indeed, who just care about their particular region, their particular religion and their particular way of thought!!! Look at the way our soldiers are treated...that should give us enough of an understanding of how'patriotic' and 'nationalistic' we really are....

My father was a member of the Indian Army and I'm glad he left. Why am I glad...what was he fighting for; what was he putting his life on the line for???
After a lot of deliberation, I'm sorry to say that my answer was quite cynical but true indeed....
The Indian Army is fighting and ptting their lives under risk for a country which is only country by name; it has no sense of national pride, no sense of national unity and is divided on the basis of its own beliefs. No one thinks about Indians, people think about OBCs, elitists and whatnot...but the term 'Indian' has never been used....
Sad, is it not???

Atleast someone agree with me... and you are absolutely right about the fact that the word "INDIAN" is never used.