Is India A Nation of Bans And Censorships?

When asked – ‘Are Indians incapable of dissent and criticism?’ the survey revealed 59 percent respondents agreed while 38 percent thought otherwise. Three percent respondents had no opinion.

BJP veteran Jaswant Singh in his book titled ‘Jinnah: India, Partition, Independence’ was expelled from BJP after criticism over his remarks in his book in which he allegedly praised the founder of Pakistan. The book was then banned by the Gujarat government in the state.

The survey asked another question - ‘Is freedom of expression under threat in the country?’ 76 percent respondents agreed, while 20 percent did not agree and 4 percent went with ‘can’t say’.

What could explain this better than the celebrated painter late MF Husain. His depiction of Hindu goddesses in nude earned him a massive eight criminal cases. Furthermore his house was attacked and exhibition ruined by Hindu groups. Death threats and a charge of hurting sentiments of people forced Husain to leave the country and he died in self-exile in 2011. 

The ever controversial author Salman Rushdie has been unwelcome in the country too for his open criticism of Islam. The Satanic Verses got Rushdie fatwa and death threats since it was published in 1988. In fact the controversy refuses to die down even after 24 years. He was even stopped from attending Jaipur Literature Festival in January this year after Muslim groups threatened violence. 

The third survey question was – ‘Who should decide what to ban in the country?’

While 41 percent of respondents believed an independent tribunal should look into objectionable content, 52 percent respondents said nobody should decide what to ban and nothing should be banned. Just 7 percent respondents believed the government is the best agency to regulate objectionable content.

In the surroundings of religious bodies, state governments and regulatory bodies like censor board objecting to films, books, artists, plays, essays, ideologies being taught in schools and colleges, the question arises who should decide what to ban in the country.