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<pre wrap="">EPW Letters to Editor February 7, 2004
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withdrawn and the author and publisher had both apologised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
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