00:00 In spite of certain resistance from certain quarters, I think it is appreciable that the
00:10 progressive writers, progressive thinkers and progressive groups are making their presence
00:17 felt and they are making it very obvious that there are many things which they don't approve
00:22 of and they don't appreciate.
00:24 As far as I don't know what is the meaning of this word nationalism, you know, if it
00:30 is not acidic, if it is not full of hate and vendetta, some kind of bitterness which is
00:42 either real or imaginary version of history, then it is not good.
00:51 But if nationalism means caring for the nation, loving the country, loving your people, then
00:57 it's good.
01:02 Not at all.
01:03 You see, I mean, there can be one individual or two who may have their agenda or whatever,
01:11 but you see, show business and any mass communication by and large cannot be successful if it is
01:18 sectarian, if it is prejudiced and biased.
01:24 Cinema, poetry, art, they have to be secular.
01:31 They have to be.
01:32 It's almost, I mean, mandatory.
01:36 Look at cinema.
01:37 It's an expensive exercise and it should be appreciated by most of the people.
01:44 So your consideration is that you should reach as many people as possible.
01:50 And you cannot do that by propagating deep hatred or prejudices.
01:56 Sometimes people try it and sometimes one of these pictures and some films can become
02:02 successful in spite of that because there are some other elements which have been appreciated
02:07 by the audience.
02:08 But ultimately, cinema or literature or poetry are the language of love.
02:16 Yes, to some extent, it's true.
02:19 I must accept that.
02:21 And there are right-wing forces.
02:25 There are some toxic ideologies that definitely have risen their heads and they have some
02:34 propaganda machines in their hands.
02:36 They're doing it, but it doesn't matter.
02:39 It doesn't matter.
02:40 You see, we should not see any society, any country in a period of 10 years or 15 years
02:49 or 20 years.
02:51 India is ruled by a man called Aurangzeb for 50 years.
02:57 But India remains India.
02:58 It did not change.
03:00 So I think if we see a nation or a country like India, as big as India, in a period of
03:08 two or three decades, that won't be fair.
03:12 You have to see them in centuries.
03:16 Well, to be honest, at the moment, I don't see much light at the end of the tunnel, but
03:23 I am totally convinced that it will happen.
03:29 Because this divide and this hatred and this distancing and these prejudices and suspicions
03:35 are illogical and unnatural.
03:40 So it will not sustain.
03:43 It may take another 100 years or 200 years, but ultimately better sense will prevail because
03:49 that's the reality.
03:50 [BLANK_AUDIO]
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