Such a long journey is an objectionable book,says Aditya Thackeray, grandson of Siva Sena supremo Bal Thackeray, drop it from the syllabus. The Mumbai university VC readily nods in agreement, calls in a meeting of his senior officials,and unanimously takes the decision to drop it. Yes, it is as fast as that.
No protests: not a murmur, let alone any howl. The VC of course does it to save his hide, ditto with his officials, but what happened to Mumbai intellectuals? Do we have any reaction from Rajdeep Sardesai, Barkha Dutt, and our ever-belligerent Arnab Goswami?
Of course, it's a risky venture to say anything against the Thakerays who, though out of power, still seem to rule Mumbai. If you want to live in Mumbai, you must learn to be afraid of Thackeray. That is democracy, Mumbai style.
But it's a moral victory for Gutad Noble, the Rohinton Mistry novel's protagonist, who struggled with what's right and what's wrong. What better proof to vindicate his experiences than this here-and-now display of Shiv Sena's strength!
