The Jaipur Literature Festival (JLF) was threatened with closure after several writers decided to show their solidarity with Salman Rushdie, by reading out passages from his banned 1988 novel The Satanic Verses.
Ruchir Joshi, author of The Last Jet-Engine Laugh, who decided to read some of the most controversial passages from The Satanic Verses, told The Hindu: “I took a stand as did other writers. The book is banned in India and that's a matter of national shame.”
Police told the JLF authorities that the literary event, which began on Friday, could find itself in serious trouble for flouting the government ban imposed on the book. India, under Rajiv Gandhi, became the world's first nation to ban the book, even before Iran's Ayatollah Khomeini issued a fatwa against the Indo-British author, which sent Mr. Rushdie into hiding under strict protection for several years.
The Festival's lawyer, producer Sanjoy Roy, co-directors Namita Gokhale and William Dalrymple met the police to assure them that the readings were not scheduled and were the initiatives of the individual writers concerned. Such incidents would not occur again, they said.
Mr. Sanjoy Roy told The Hindu that the festival would henceforth obtain signed guarantees from participating authors and interviewers saying that they would abide by the organisation's rules.
The JLF's lawyers told the organisers that the government's ban on The Satanic Verses meant it was illegal to circulate the book in whole or part in any way or form in a public place, including through the reading of passages.
Earlier, novelist Hari Kunzru and writer Amitava Kumar both read some passages but were later asked by the festival organisers to refrain from reading further so as not to fuel the controversy.
In session after session, writers and moderators including personalities like Tarun Tejpal, author and publisher of Tehelka, The Hindu's Editor Siddharth Varadarajan, TV presenter Barkha Dutt and literature professor Amitava Kumar came out publicly against the way in which Mr. Rushdie was forced to abandon his Jaipur appearance.
Their condemnation of these events was met with loud applause from a public that included not just academics and book lovers but the local aam aadmi and schoolchildren from both English and Hindi medium institutions. An elderly Muslim gentleman from the audience declared: “I do not agree with Rushdie but I do not think he should be stopped from attending.” There was also a general condemnation of the government's “spineless capitulation and failure to give Rushdie the protection he needed” said Indrani, a visitor from Mumbai.
V.K. Karthika, publisher at Harper Collins-India, who is Ruchir Joshi's editor, told The Hindu: “No book should be banned and I stand by Ruchir, a writer I publish, who has taken a bold and courageous stand.”
Earlier, Mr. Rushdie, who received threats from Muslim extremists over what they describe as his “anti-Islamic writings,” decided he would not attend the Festival.
“I have been informed by Intelligence Bureau sources in Maharashtra and Rajasthan that paid assassins from the Mumbai underworld may be on their way to Jaipur to eliminate me... It would be irresponsible of me to come to the Festival in such circumstances; irresponsible to my family, to the festival audience, and to my fellow writers. I will therefore not travel to Jaipur as planned,” Mr Rushdie said in a statement read out by Mr. Sanjoy Roy.
JLF organisers clarify (Press Release)
This press release is being issued on behalf of the organisers of the Jaipur Literature Festival. It has come to their attention that certain delegates acted in a manner during their sessions today which were without the prior knowledge or consent of the organisers. Any views expressed or actions taken by these delegates are in no manner endorsed by the Jaipur Literature Festival. Any comments made by the delegates reflect their personal, individual views and are not endorsed by the Festival or attributable to its organisers or anyone acting on their behalf. The Festival organisers are fully committed to ensuring compliance of all prevailing laws and will continue to offer their fullest cooperation to prevent any legal violation of any kind. Any action by any delegate or anyone else involved with the Festival that in any manner falls foul of the law will not be tolerated and all necessary, consequential action will be taken. Our endeavour has always been to provide a platform to foster an exchange of ideas and the love of literature, strictly within the four corners of the law. We remain committed to this objective.
Keywords: Jaipur Literature Festival
I am an avid reader of Rushdie. I have read almost all of his works.Though banned,satanic verses is easily available in India.India is a very weak state as far as enforcement or implementation of any thing is concerned. India can not implement or enforce any thing. What is the use of such a ban which can not be enforced. Electoral consideration for UP election is the reason behind this controversy.Rushdie is a good writer but he is of quite inferior order compared to Mahasweta Devi, Nirmal Verma, Sunil Ganguli, Manik Bandopadhyay, Bhibhuti Bhushan Bandopadhyay, Surendra Mohanty and many of his vernacular counterparts. Rushdie is a good writer no doubt but he is completely ignorant about India. indeed shocking.
Literature binds humanity together.It is the finest expression of the human spirit. When it is used to split humanity asunder and pit one section against another, it becomes dangerously propagandist. A secular government committed to national integration and communal harmony in a multiracial set-up is bound to counter it. It is the duty of the citizenry including the writers to cooperate with the government in this. The writers gathered at JLF cannot ignore the fact that all literature is not real literature.
The writers and participants who believe that Rudhdie was forced out of the JLF should have boycotted the festival itself. That would have been a better way of expressing their solidarity with Rushdie. They couldn't forgo the limelight yet wanted to show that they are with Rushdie. Have the cake and eat it too. A total boycott would have had more impact than lip service to Rushdie by reading portions of Satanic verses illegally.
I am really amazed by the actions of these writers who are trying to take this platform to create controverseies. First of all these people are supposed to follow the law of the land . I am also soory to find that what we think about authors as people who have more sensitive nature should indulge in hurting the sentiments of large section of the people in the name of their own liberty.
It is a national shame if Indian government couldn't give protection to an eminent personality like Salman rushdie.It is equivalent to giving up in front of those called 'fundamentalist' terrorists.
I dont understand for what the elected govt's are for? Are they there to protect the people or protect their vote bank. This is a moment of national shame. This govt proves that its a spineless group of cowards who'll do anything to protect their future aspirations.
India is a BANANA republic.. Just have a look at the way European Union member states and other Western nations have protected him. We boast too much where as we could not provide asylum to even Tasleema Nasreen from Bangladesh. We are truly a BANANA republic.
While it is unfortunate that Salman Rushdie could not attend the Jaipur Lit. Festival, it was indeed proper for him to take the decision of not attending the same due to intelligence reports of threats to his life. Rushdie's book has been banned in India since 1988 & he has been 'punished' for hurting the religious sentiments of Indian Muslims. Moreover, he has come to India twice or thrice after his book was banned. Then, there were no 'threats' to his life. After all, why all this 'kolavari' for his present visit ? This is purely an election stunt & nothing beyond that. Eminent writers like Ruchir Joshi & others who read out passages from The Satanic Verses only stooped down to the level of groups opposing Rushdie's visit. The best thing would have been to forget these people for, according to Hinduism & Islam, patience & forgiveness constitute their essential principles. "Retaliation gives but a day's joy. Forbearance brings glory for all time". (The Thirukkural).
It is a shame when I read in a local newspaper here in Toronto that Salman Rushdie has been forced to cancel his trip because of so called threat to his life. How far India and the values it claims it stands for, will continue to be hijacked by irrational and mindless street sloganeering ? It is like bowing before fanaticsm. If India can not ensure safety of one person for a limited number of days within a specific area than we are no better than a Banana republic. Isn't it a joke that we are seeking a UNSC seat with this background ? Government must not be forgiven for its dubious role in the entire episode. It was never honest. If someone thinks that they have bought peace at the cost of making a mockery of our constitution they should understand that they have planted lots of landmines in the society for times to come.
The fundamentalists blocked Rushdie at the Jaipur literature festival as the government
was not confident to take a risk by his presence. But, in spite of his absence, it became
A RUSHDIE FESTIVAL and proved his worth as a literary giant in the field. That is a
Big blow to the fundamentalists, and a big question mark to all those in the corridors of
Power. Should we succumb to the fundamentalists or should we uphold the cherished
Values as enshrined in the Constituion of India.
Well, people may have objection to Salman Rushdie's views, some may find them blasphemous but that does not justify the extreme opposition shown by certain groups with regard to his attending the festival. Can an individual be condemned to stay away from the country of his origin forever just because a group of people does not agree with his views expressed in a novel 23 years ago? I also feel ashamed given the way the government meekly surrendered to such extremist forces baying for Rushdie's blood. However, the decision taken by certain writers to recite some controversial passages from 'The Satanic Verses' to express solidarity with the celebrated writer is equally unacceptable. The book hurt religious sentiment of a particular community and so is banned in India. It is an undeniable reality and it has to be respected. There's is no merit in just fueling discontent to make a point.
We have been guaranteed the freedom of expression by Constitution.
It is foremost duty of the government to safeguard it. But in India
when this issue comes it is viewed by the vote bank politics.We only
overwhelmingly say about our democracy as world largest but cannot
ensure the freedom of artist. In instant case government duty was to
invite Rushdie very respectfully as he is great Indian born writer
but government proved itself here as lameduck and very scared of
Fanatics ire.If we have to insure freedom of expression we should
ready fight for it.
It is a dicey situation. On the one hand there is the question of Freedom of Expression of the individual.. On the other is a coterie of extremists who decide what is acceptable.In this case they have issued a fatwa. The government should take the bull by the horns and see whether the passages objected to are really objectionable from the point of view of a 'reasonable person'.
Once a decision is made the government must not go back on it and not be brow-beaten by any group.
Choosing amongst votebank politics and a highly distinguished
personality.. eminent personalities do not stand a chance.. I truly
doubt he'll ever be able to set foot on this soil ever again.. same
happened with a well known painter.
Putting in simple words.........
It clearly shows the defeat of the our liberal, secular and DEMOCRATIC country to some fanatic, orthodox group. Our government clearly failed to show the world by which principles this country is being governed. We again succumb to some handful of fanatic people and did not produce a good example of secularism. In a country where every single citizen is entitled to have safety of their life by the constitution, one prolific writer did not get enough support from the government to have a safe feeling of his life. If a man of that status can not have it then what can we say about common people. I again emphasize on my words: we need to break the shield of orthodox thoughts which have made us mentally slave of some written lines which does not stand a chance in this scientific era.........
Consideing the "supari" offered by fanatics of the religion of " peace", I think it was responsible of Rushdie to have stepped back. His voice will be expressed in his writings. We need him to be around for a long time.
What a SAD development. IB/RAW can tell him about the potential threat but cant provide enough security. Just rubbish. I think it has got something to do with Congress vote bank politics in forth coming state elections. How different are we now to Pakistan, where Judges have to flee their country for annoying fundamentalists. Congress for sure is willing to go to any extent to win these state elections and their short sidedness will ruin our country.
It was his personal choice,true!there is threat to his life,very true!!but was it not our responsibility to provide him security?IB sources were right,infact any layman and Rushdie himself knows that his life is in danger anywhere in the world.He still accepted to come to Jaipur,because he believed he would be provided the security required,but what we did?Shame on Indian Politicians,shame on we Indians we call ourselves seculiar, it is politics what we did,we could have provided the security,instead we played politics because elections are round the corner.
Every person has the inviolable right to express his own views about life, living and the world as a whole. Rushdie is no difference. Anybody can write antagonistic ideas against him. But why threatening his life. No sensible and democratic minded person can support such atrocious attitude.
I have regard for Salman Rushdie As a person. I only wish he should be brave enough to come to India, even though it entails personal risk. His coming would send a strong signal to fundamentalists of all hues and colours.The Government should provide him with adequate security to ensure that he is not harmed in any manner. It is high time that people with conviction should take a bold stand against retrograde forces even if it entails personal risk.
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