Twinkle Khanna on Our Unending Ability to be Offended
Thanks to agyaat for sending this my way — Qalandar
LINK
EXCERPT: “In my heart my city will always be Bombay because that is what I have known it as, and it does not antagonize me that a political party decided that it needs to be changed to Mumbai because according to them it was a legacy of the British rule, but a few weeks ago even the word Bombay was bleeped from poor Mihir Joshi’s song and I have not been able to wrap my head around that.
In the last few months, we have been offended by Obama’s chewing gum, Modi’s suit, Kiran Bedi for various reasons and, of course, by the infamous roast.
If I had to be offended by a live show I would rather be offended by Arnab who invites people on his show and then doesn’t let them speak. I saw an episode where he is asking the education minister a question and then screaming over her answers.
Now that’s just bad manners, at least in the AIB roast they called guests over, let them say their bit, people laughed and went home. But we still have to get outraged even though they had made it clear that the show is for adults only.
We now also have an assortment of people up in arms about the gags made on a person’s sexuality but shouldn’t we be more offended by the fact that homosexuality is considered illegal in India and that Section 377 still exists?”
SATYAMSHOT 
February 16, 2015 at 12:46 PM
I must say, censoring the word “Bombay” itself is just crazy.
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February 16, 2015 at 1:22 PM
great column. In a related sense:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/cenk-uygur/my-ironic-defense-of-bria_b_6645320.html
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February 16, 2015 at 1:25 PM
Beauty with brains and heart. Great writing and good thinking.
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February 16, 2015 at 1:35 PM
barring the mild eye problem…true. She is level headed woman.
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February 16, 2015 at 2:56 PM
Eye problem?
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February 16, 2015 at 3:38 PM
I think Di is referring to the squint.
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February 16, 2015 at 8:48 PM
Agree. She is prettier than most actresses of today.
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February 16, 2015 at 7:10 PM
Oh, this is so good and very well written. Rajesh would be proud. I didn’t enjoy the roast but noone should be offended by it. The other points are well presented.
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February 16, 2015 at 7:10 PM
it’s a funny world where Twinkle is talking far more sense than Aamir Khan
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February 16, 2015 at 9:18 PM
aamir knew well that only the first part of his comment on Roast will be highlighted – still he went ahead – why?
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February 16, 2015 at 8:23 PM
I remember as a child how my ancient then aged grand kaki would say “Mumbai” instead of Bombay and I would be terribly embarrassed. Bombay was always Mumbai for old(er) gujjus and old-timers. Bombay was more for the English speaking ‘hip’ crowd. Today, I don’t mind the reversal even though I grew up in Bombay. Somehow Bombay doesn’t sound Indian at all to me now! Strange, how perceptions change.
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February 16, 2015 at 8:31 PM
Posted elsewhere : “I agree sentiment wise and on many issues but I will say she is naive and superficial on some of the topics. May be because she is raising too many issues.”
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February 16, 2015 at 8:47 PM
Agree with Twinkle here.
The profanity in the roast was mind numbing and often pointless but no need to get bent out of shape. This is a part of ‘New INDIA’. Some of it might grate but we have to learn to live with it. Even the females these days curse a lot more.
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February 16, 2015 at 9:23 PM
What are the topics you are talking about?
Agree Twinkle is somewhat naive. But she is also fearless to take a stand. Here she is sounding like Shobhaa de.
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February 17, 2015 at 9:45 AM
As long as we are free country, where we can roast and then we are also allowed to criticize the roast, I am ok. I think such events should be paid and private. So those who might get offended can stay away from it. People have as much right to hear it as much as right to not hear it. All the controversy happened only after it was aired on youtube.
On Twinkle: I love the way twinkle and akki’s marriage have unfolded. I think in the Bollywood couples, they are the most level-headed and have healthy marriage (inspite of occupational hazards). typical bourgeoisis. Her “akkha-boli” (watch akki’s KWK for that) or lack of diplomacy, adorable.
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February 16, 2015 at 9:43 PM
I am fine with both Bombay and Mumbai. Chennai and Madras. Bengaluru or Bengal uru Bengal’s Uru(city)? Chennai was Chennapatnam. Only Kolkata is difficult on the mouth, jaws and tongue. Calcuttais easy to pronounce. Ooty is Ootacamund.
Good old Burma became Mynamar. Ceylon became Sri Lanka.
Persia became Iran.
Peking became Beijing. New Amsterdam became New York. Siam to Thailand. Saigon to Ho Chi Minh city.
Russia became Soviet Union and then reverted back to Russia just like St.Petersburg. Constantinople to Istanbul.
Ever heard of Friendly Islands which became Tonga.
Our Delhi is Dilli and Indraprastha once upon a time.
Patna is Pataliputra and still they have not changed the name?
Bhagyanagar is now Hyderabad.
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February 16, 2015 at 9:56 PM
Those are official changes; you cannot force people to use official words in daily parlance.
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February 16, 2015 at 9:57 PM
The issue isnt name change here — but the censor board BANNING the use of “Bombay” is outrageous.
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February 16, 2015 at 10:09 PM
International flights still use Bombay.
Censor Board chief is too eager to please someone and punish others.
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February 17, 2015 at 5:45 AM
The only thing I don’t agree here is that – it is ‘NEW’ India. Or that India has to ‘Grow up’. Come on!! It is ‘copying’ the west as usual. As simple as that.
Anyway, how are they worse than inflamatory speeches of some religious people roaming free?
As for the article, it is well expressed except for some points where she’s running away with her idea as seen on *some* points in this quote;
>In the last few months, we have been offended by Obama’s chewing gum, Modi’s suit, Kiran Bedi for various reasons and, of course, by the infamous roast.
As far as I see only Obama’s chewing gum offended many (especially the Chinese). The rest – it WASN’T a case of getting offended. There she has spoken like a princess from her ivory tower.
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February 17, 2015 at 5:49 AM
Correction: by *the rest I didn’t mean to include the roast. Actually didn’t even mean to include it in the quote.*
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February 17, 2015 at 3:02 PM
Agree with Munna as she brought some unrelated and some irrelevant issues. It is a cogent piece yet a sentimental one as it mixes 2 very different topics in one. She mentions Arnab being more offensive than roast is misguided as those who come on the show are not dragged by Arnab but they come despite being aware of their subordination and maltreatment by Arnab in the show. Yet they keep coming, keep being humiliated and keep making returns as the show gives them high visibility and reach, however insulting it might turn out. So it’s not Arnab fault that his high octane voice tends to relish yelling at his guests and cutting them short and delivering VERDICT in such short span of time!! So why Twinkle taking offense when those who have been subjected to it have no grudge. So it’s very subjective to label offense as it would vary from person to person as what constitutes this term offensive.
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