The Kolkata Book Fair authorities on Monday cancelled the release of a book on atrocities against women written by eminent feminist Jasodhara Bagchi, claiming that it has political connotations.
“Nari Nirjantan Pratirodh Mancha” (Forum against the Oppression of Women) had planned the release of the Bengali book “Parajayee Nari” in the book fair auditorium on Monday evening.
Officials of the Booksellers and Publishers Guild, the organisers of the book fair, said they took the decision as they did not want to be embroiled in any kind of political controversy.
“How can the release be stalled? This is shocking and a matter of great concern,” said Ms. Bagchi, the author of the book.
Being a leading feminist voice in the country, Ms. Bagchi had chaired the West Bengal Commission for Women and is the founder-director of the School of Women’s Studies at Jadavpur University.
Protesting against the cancellation of the book release, veteran Bengali actor Soumitra Chatterjee said, “Atrocities against women is not political, but a social issue. This is among the main issues being faced by the country today”.
The book, however, continues to be available at the book fair.
Last year, the launch of a book by another feminist author Taslima Nasreen was cancelled over protest by Muslim fundamentalists.
