The popular Oxford Bookstore in Connaught Place has pulled out from hosting a discussion on activist Teesta Setalvad’s new memoir on March 6, citing the “volatile” situation in Delhi.
The bookstore’s decision comes in the midst of a nationwide debate on free speech triggered by the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad, an RSS-affiliated student organisation, attacking a seminar organised at Delhi University’s Ramjas College on February 22.
The discussion between Ms. Setalvad and journalist Hartosh Singh Bal on her recently-released book Foot Soldier of the Constitution had been planned weeks ago by The Caravan, Oxford Bookstore and LeftWord Books — the publisher of the memoir.
But on Friday, managing editor of LeftWord Books Sudhanva Deshpande received an email from the bookstore saying it would not be able to host the event.
As per the email by Maina Bhagat, director of Apeejay Oxford Bookstores Pvt. Ltd., March 6 was “uncomfortably close to the forthcoming elections” and the situation had been “further exasperated by the recent student protests in the city”.
Setalvad shocked
Ms. Setalvad said she was shocked by the decision.
“The book was launched in Mumbai on February 24. We had events at the Assi ghat in Varanasi and at JNU in Delhi without any trouble. I feel Oxford Bookstore may have been under some pressure,” she said.
Mr. Bal, however, said that the event will go on, but that the venue may be shifted to the Press Club.
Ms. Bhagat declined to comment on the matter. “What is there to say,” she told The Hindu when asked for a comment.
Published - March 04, 2017 11:25 pm IST
