SD-Man, What I object to is this sort of non-democratic reasoning espoused by some self-styled Sajha democrats. These democrats are all for political freedom ONLY so far as others do exactly what reinforces their own agreeable political ideologies. They say: a) What you do or say is offensive to MY political sensibilities. b) Therefore, let me call you names and come up with a theory that explains your "shocking" behaviour. c) Let me also gather my friends too so that we can all gang up on you for having this 'offensive' political stance. I find all this pretty anti-democratic, and this is what I object to. I wonder whether these people would have reacted differently if the photo had shown Shiva doing the same to: a) Girija Prasad Koirala, or b) Anuradha Koirala c) Manisha Koirala d) His own mother In other words, isn't every social action context- and culture-dependent? ***** Assuming no force/coercion is involved and assuming Shiva is prepared to accept the consequences himself, I, for one, remain INDIFFERENT to whether he does somersaults, or lies on his stomach or thumbs his nose to any of those and above people. oohi ashu