After cracking its whip against the ‘terror ecosystem’ and choking their channels of funding, the Jammu and Kashmir administration has now trained their guns against the authors who have chronicled ‘The Story of Kashmir’ through ‘tumultuous’ times by declaring at least 25 books as ‘forfeited’ for propagating secessionism, glorifying terrorism, and posing a threat to national integrity and public order.
A notification (S.O.203) issued by the Jammu and Kashmir Home Department on August 5 invoked Section 98 of the Bhartiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, to declare the books “forfeited,” citing their “false narrative” and role in “misguiding the youth” of Jammu and Kashmir.
The banned books, among others, include ‘Azadi’ authored by Arundhati Roy, ‘Kashmir (The Case for Freedom),’ co-authored by Arundhati Roy, ‘The Kashmir Dispute 1947-2012’ written by AG Noorani and ‘Kashmir at the Crossroads’ by political scientist Sumantra Bose. Other authors whose books feature in the list include David Devadas, Hafsa Kanjwal, Ather Zia, Anuradha Bhasin and Tariq Ali.
Former Chief Minister and PDP Chief Mehbooba Mufti, reacting to the ban, said, “Democracy thrives on the free exchange of ideas. Banning books cannot erase history; it only fuels division. In Kashmir, suppressing democratic voices and fundamental freedoms deepens alienation and mistrust. Censorship doesn’t silence ideas, it amplifies their resonance”. Reacting to the ban, Chairman All Parties Hurriyat Conference Mirwaiz Umar Farooq in a post on X said, “Banning books by scholars and reputed historians will not erase historical facts and the repertoire of lived memories of people of Kashmir. It only exposes the insecurities and limited understanding of those behind such authoritarian actions, and the contradiction in proudly hosting the ongoing Book Festival to showcase its literary commitment”.
One of the authors, Anuradha Bhasin, in a post on X said, “ I’ve read most of these books & written one. They’re well researched & not one glorifies terrorism, which this govt claims to have ended. Scared of words challenging your lies!
A notification issued by the Jammu and Kashmir Home Department said that investigations and intelligence inputs revealed that these publications played a significant role in radicalizing youth by distorting historical facts, vilifying security forces, and promoting violence.
The notification S.O.203 issued by the Home Department read, “Whereas, it has come to the notice of the Government, that certain literature propagates false narrative and secessionism in Jammu and Kashmir. Available evidence based on investigations and credible intelligence unflinchingly indicate that a significant driver behind youth participation in violence and terrorism has been the systematic dissemination of false narratives and secessionist literature by its persistent internal circulation, often disguised as historical or political commentary, while playing a critical role in misguiding the youth, glorifying terrorism and inciting violence against Indian State”.
“This literature would deeply impact the psyche of youth by promoting a culture of grievance, victimhood and terrorist heroism.”
Some of the means by which this literature has contributed to the radicalization of youth in J&K include distortion of historical facts, glorification of terrorists, vilification of security forces, religious radicalization, promotion of alienation, pathway to violence and terrorism etc”.
“In the above context, 25 books have been identified that propagate false narrative and secessionism in J&K and need to be declared as ‘forfeited’ in terms of Section 98 of Bhartiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita 2023; and Whereas; the identified 25 books have been found to excite secessionism and endangering sovereignty and integrity of India, thereby, attracting the provisions of sections 152, 196 & 197 of Bhartiya Nyaya Sanhita 2023”.
“Now, therefore, in exercise of the powers conferred by section 98 of the Bhartiya Nyaya Sanhita 2023, the Government of Jammu and Kashmir hereby declares publication of 25 books, forming Annexure “A” to this Notification, and their copies or other documents to be forfeited to the Government”, the notification added.
The books, whose copies or other documents will be forfeited by the Government include Azadi by Arundhati Roy, Kashmir (The case of Freedom) by Tariq Ali, Hillal Bhatt, Angana P Chatterji, Pankaj Mishra and Arundhati Roy, The Kashmir Dispute 1947-2012 by AG Noorani, A Dismantled State (The Untold Story of Kashmir After Article 370) by Anuradha Bhasin, Human Rights Violations in Kashmir by Plotr Bacerowicz and Agnieszka Kuszewska, Kashmir’s Fight for Freedom by Mohd Yosuf Saraf, Colonizing Kashmir, State-Building under Indian Occupation by Hafsa Kanjwal, Kashmir Politics and Plebiscite by Dr Abdul Jabbar Gockhami, Do You Remember Kunan Poshpora by Essar Batool & Others, Mujahid Ki Azaan by Imam Hasan Al-Bana Shaheed edited by Maulan Mohammad Enayatullah Subjhani, Ali Jihadul Fil Islam by Moulana Moudadi, Independent Kashmir by Christopher Snedden, Resisting Occupation in Kashmir by Haley Duschinski, Mona Bhat, Ather Zia and Cynthia Mahmood, Between Democracy and Nation (Gender and Militarization in Kashmir by Seema Kazi, Contested Lands by Sumantra Bose, In Search of a Future (The Story of Kashmir) by David Devadas, Kashmir In Conflict (India, Pakistan and the Unending War) by Victoria Schofield, Kashmir at the Cross Roads (Inside a 21st Century Conflict) by Sumantra Bose, Resisting Disappearance (Military Occupation & Women’s Activism in Kashmir) by Ather Zia, Confronting Terrorism by Stephen Pcohen Edited by Maroof Raza, Freedom Captivity (Negotiations of belonging along Kashmiri Frontier) by Radhika Gupta, USA and Kashmir by Dr Shamshad Shan, Law & Conflict Resolution in Kashmir by Plotr Balcerowicz and Agnieszka Kuszewska, Tarikh-i-Siyasat Kashmir by Dr Afaq and Kashmir & the Future of South Asia Edited by Sugata Bose & Ayesha Jalal.