Days after his book came into controversy and announced to be banned right inside the Assembly, a number of civil society members have pitched in the support of Dr Hansda Sowvendra Shekhar.
The list of social activists includes the likes of Rajya Sabha member Harivansh, Professor Jean Dreze, noted writer Arundhati Roy, Harsh Mander, Kavita Krishnan, right to food activist Balram, human rights activist Gladson Dungdung, filmmaker Meghnath and hosts of others as signatories, advocates primarily over the right to freedom of expression provided under the Constitution.
“We are bewildered and dismayed to learn about the recent banning of Hansda Sowvendra Shekhar’s collection of short stories, The Adivasi Will Not Dance, by the Government of Jharkhand. This ban is absurd and sets a dangerous precedent.
Freedom of expression is a fundamental right under Article 19 of the Indian Constitution,” reads the petition.
The book had attracted ire of locals in Santhal Pargana and also among the members of different parties during the Monsoon Session stepping up pressure on the Government to take some action. It was said that some contents of the book which is a collection of short stories depicting lives and livings of Santhal people were derogatory to tribal women and of highly sexual in nature.
When asked about contents of the banned item, Jean Dreze said he was not defending nature of the literature. “We are not commenting on the contents of the book but defending the rights of a writer to express his views. Banning any expression is an extreme step which is going to suppress the freedom provided under the Constitution. In this way the democracy is going to collapse one day,” said Dreze talking to The Pioneer over phone.
He also mentioned that protests have taken place against the writer admitting that there may be some elements against Hansda Sowvendra Shekhar but such people should not be given a long rope under a free and civilised society. “Even if the story is derogatory in nature that would not constitute a permissible ground for banning the book under Article 19,” added Dreze.
The activists in the letter have admitted that the book included some sexually explicit scenes, “but calling them indecent would be extreme prudishness. If books that include love-making scenes were to be banned, hundreds of thousands of novels would have to be banned, not to speak of the Kamasutra. Those who think of sex as indecent are free to read something else.”
The letter of solidarity went on saying, “The ban on The Adivasi Will Not Dance is not only deplorable in itself but also adds to a series of dangerous precedents of books being banned on flimsy grounds in India. This ban mania (also targeted at films, events, statements, tweets, foods, relationships and what not) is an ominous attack on freedom, democracy and rationality.”