Relevance of censorship

In this age of information, who decides what is relevant and proper? The internet of things and data, has become too much to handle. With the ever increasing expanse of media, more and more people have found voice. But at the same time it has also created a wider set of opinions and diverse views. The need of censorship often arises when there is threat to citizen's interests and hurts public sentiments be it religious or otherwise. It is often debated upon whether censorship also curbs our basic right of free expression.
 In a country like India, which is home to diverse cultures and traditions, the conflict of appropriateness rises too often. Unruly actions and speeches often make headlines in daily news. Intolerance and malice run deep in some sections of the powerful. Many artists and speakers have often faced their spite, which comes in the way of artistic expression. M.F. Hussain, a celebrated painter had to flee from the country fearing threat to his life. So has Taslima Nasreen, who had to flee from her country after being threatened by extremists. This kind of atmosphere is inhibitory for art and innovation.
In movies too, the censor boards are set up to filter out content which may harm the viewers. Some film makers and critics argue that refining may take away the actual message. The recent debate on the ban of a film on a self proclaimed god, has added fuel to the fire. His followers would most certainly demand to see the movie release, whereas for others it is just ridiculous and improper.
The question is how far can we go to protect the interest of public. The information is all too freely available and accessible. It is high time we put a thought to what we are sharing on social media and other social platforms. It is in the interest of everybody to be conscious of our rights and their appropriate use. We have to in the end act to the best of our judgement, make informed decisions and be responsible individuals.