League of Rotten Intellectuals

In last week, Kumar Ketkar, editor of leading Marathi newspaper Loksatta, once again proved that he is not the part of the League of Rotten Intellectuals.

After Kumar ketkar’s house was vandalized and trashed by few political leaders, I was expecting that all journalists will come together and will show heavy protest of this senseless political act. Intellectuals from media and other industry will gather on Shivaji Park, Azad Maidan or in front of Vidhan Bhavan and will form a human chain as a mark of solidarity for all watchdogs (like what lawyers did in Islamabad in Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry case). Nothing of any sort was happened, may be Mr. Ketkar was not lucky enough to get such support from their intellectual counterparts.

Even on next day, I could see only few articles in some corner of newspapers with mild protest. Reaction penned down by fellow journalists was just intense enough to ensure that their own houses won’t vandalize on next day.

No social agitation has been experienced as if nobody knows what happened or nobody cares about what happened. Then questions peeped in my mind, do people really value freedom of expression? Do they really know what is happening around? Do they read newspaper or see news channels? Are they supporting Shivsangram and their blind followers for attacking on Kumar Ketkar? But no, this is not the case. Then, are people dumb and illiterate? No, this is also not the case. In fact, we are possessing one of the largest pools of intellectuals in the world. Unfortunately, none of them come forward to support Ketkar except very few, but their voice was too low. (Now, Mr. Kumar Ketkar must be thinking who is right, myself or rest of the so called intellectuals?)

We have lots of intellectuals in our society, they are wise enough to differentiate between right and wrong and they know what is happening around them. Then why there is so much silence? Certainly this is not the silence before the storm because already storm has shown its effects.

Now I am sure, all these intellectuals must have signed secret unwritten treaty of being silent spectators. They must be conducting their secret meetings during midnights. I heard, in recent past they have passed a bill unanimously saying they will not participate in any social activity, they will not utter a single word against anything and will keep themselves busy in their personal life as if they are not part of this society. Day by day, they are attracting more members in their League of Rotten Intellectuals. The league members can be easily identified in society while asking phenomenal questions like, “Why I should care about others?” “What I will get out of it?” or “What’s my profit?”

Being intellectuals, often member of this league partially break their treaty and discuss social issues with afternoon tea but soon they realize their sins and smartly wind up their discussions by blaming either of the two Gs. Government or God.

In society, if you find somebody only blaming Government or God, then he must have signed the secret treaty.

Beware of such people!!! Beware of League of Rotten Intellectuals!!! Otherwise they will pull you in.