When Orkut Buyukkoten designed this interactive site, we wonder if he knew it would turn out to be so controversial across the globe in years to come. Orkut also known as Google's best buy has more than 57,431,788 people and the numbers are increasing by the hour. Orkut defines itself as an open forum for people to connect with each other through a trusted network of friends. The site has proved profitable for zillions to meet their old school pals and make new ones. Many have lobbied for better jobs and even found life partners through this forum.

However there is a flip side to everything: Orkut has no way to authenticate the users or verify their motives. However to compensate that an icon is placed on the main page encouraging to report any abuse encountered. As it is an open platform (like a blog) there are varied communities to voice their opinion and disgust. Be it supporting child porn or agitating against America's neo-imperialism. In addition there are hate clubs catering to people who wish to ventilate their grudge: the targets are often actors, movies, politicians, countries (including India) and historic personalities.

Orkut recently made headlines as the right winged Sena in Mumbai decided to protest against the slander of Shivaji (a Maratha warrior icon) and Sena chief Bal Thackeray. Their form of protest was by vandalising the cyber cafés across the city, claiming that youngsters access Orkut through them. The means may not be right but hidden concern was the lack of respect shown for the country and its leaders. Fact is that all freedom comes with barb wires, liberties can't be taken and national pride can be compromised.

There have been mixed opinions over banning of Orkut; however most consider it to be unjust to shut out the site. The pragmatics claim that it's the age of World Wide Web and Orkut is just one of such interactive sites, "if it shuts there will be others like Ryze, Linked-in, Fropper etc… what are we going to do about the blogs that write stuff unimaginable to a patriot?" quizzes Karan Grover.

We asked our telly stars whether they think that Orkut in India has become a menace and should the ban be exercised? Is freedom of speech being exploited or the right-winged are just blowing it out of proportion? Here is what they had to say:

Moni Roy :

I think its okay to place your comments on Orkut as it's a friendly community. I have many friends on Orkut, and in fact, thanks to the engine that I am now connected to all my old friends since kindergarten. I understand that there are offensive comments that some people post but there is also an option provided to block and report abuse that should be used. Banning Orkut won't help, if something bothers someone they can just ignore it.

Karan Grover :

I think it is outrageous to protest like this over a site. There are bigger issues to fight like infanticide in the child labour. Fight over the water shortage in Mumbai, the economic capital of the country has power cuts, protest over that! Democracy in India is what I don't understand: it takes years of court battle for Anurag Kashyap to release a film on the factual incidents that shook the city and here they have problems with a stupid site! Orkut demands a certain level intelligence and education: 70% of them are sensible people. The ethnic groups are doing it just to create headlines.

Shveta Slave :

First of all you can't ban a site. Secondly, banning a site is not a solution: others will mushroom as the cyber world is infinite. And I don't see comments as problem. Even though I am not an Orkutian, I understand that it is for chatting and making friends. For certain remarks that may be offensive for a section of people, a huge site can not be blocked.

Indraneil Sengupta:

Everybody has a right to opinion. It may not be morally right but then who is to decide what is morally right? Just because some opinions do not fit into the social moss of the certain hegemonies, they don't have the right to crush them. As I understand the situation, hate clubs may be problematic in future but there are other ways to handle it. We are a democracy and that means we have the freedom of speech, not violent acts. Like there are hate clubs, people can oppose them in a civil way, destroying cyber cafes is no way to protest! This will curb the movement of free exchange which should be encouraged irrespective of opinions!