On Banning Books
The People's Union for Democratic Rights (PUDR) strongly protests the Maharashtra government's decision to consider banning a historical book on Shivaji on the grounds of 'hurt sentiment'. A shocking trail of destruction was left behind in the 87-year-old institute after the Sambhaji Brigade, a wing of the Maratha Seva Sangh, had vandalised the library on January 5. Prior to this incident, the Shiv Sena had blackened the face of a Sanskrit scholar, Shrikant Bahulkar, who was acknowledged in Laine's book. In November 2003, the book had been withdrawn and the author and publisher had both apologised for 'hurting' the sentiments of the people. So an unofficial ban was already in place. Since few people would have occasion to read the book, the government's decision to consider banning the book under Cr PC for "provoking public sentiment and creating tensions in society" and contemplating legal action against the author is clearly motivated for electoral purposes.
What is at stake here is a historian's right to publishing his research and a library's right to give access to scholars. These rights cannot be taken away simply because the findings are contrary to the sentiments of some people. If history writing is reduced to what people believe had happened then there is no need for debates in history, no need for archives or evidence. And the destruction of archival sources in Pune shows precisely this: complete contempt for history. Banning a book is not just arbitrary but goes against the very democratic right to freedom of speech and expression irrespective of political beliefs. The recent ban on Taslima Nasrin's book by the West Bengal government in November 2003 and the present one raise serious questions about the protection of these rights by the state and its institutions. By banning the book on the grounds of hurt sentiment and cultural pride, the Maharashtra government has given legitimacy to actions of the Sambhaji Brigade and has made a mockery of the rule of law.
Shahana Bhattacharya
-------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: <../attachments/20040217/dcee5148/attachment.htm>