"Banned books in India". Thats an interesting feature in recent issue of "Hindu".
Since my dad and I started collecting, sharing and reading books (almost in a
Naipaulian way) we were always on the prowl for books. When I was growing up, my
wish was his command - to get books out of print and out of bounds. Now, when he
is slowing down, his wish is my command. I can track down a book down to its
bare... form
wherever on earth its hiding from my home. Over the years, its become a useful
skill but built an audacious disposition especially around banned books which is
what I wanted to ask of many of you. How many of you have such banned books in
India? "Hindu" gives a complete low-down on such banned books and I still don't
understand why only English books need be banned. Even vernacular press can turn
out vicious and seditious books in India probably with much more vicarious
consequences. There is more than a little adventure in seeking out banned books
- firstly, they are like liquor during prohibition days - you know where to get
after an effort and then you want to tell the whole world about it. Its almost
as intoxicating as the book-hunt and denouement that you have it in your hands
is more addicting than reading the book itself. Here are the books that my dad
and I read between the both of us -
1. "Nine Hours to Rama" - the story about Gandhi's assassination.
2. "The Polyester Prince: The Rise of Dhirubai Ambani". I heard about this book in my second job. I got to read it during my sixth job. It was never allowed during Dhirubhai's tenure. Only during his last days did it re-surface as a pirated copy on Mumbai streets.
3. "Such a long journey" by Rohinton Mistry. Didn't know why Shiv Sena found it derogatory.
4. "Lajja" by Taslima Nasreen. Again mysteriously banned for "secular" reasons. Its a nice piece of literature by a woman writer.
5. "Lady Chatterley's Lover". It is not a book on porn, I repeat, and both of us enjoyed reading it.
6. "Jinnah: India, Partition, Independence" (banned in only Gujarat but not worth the ban).
Now that the "Hindu" has given some amazingly interesting books banned in India that is longer than you think, it should make my dad several years younger in assigning me to ferret these out. His choice commands from the list are salivating to say the least:- 1. "The heart of India" 2. "Shivaji: Hindu King in Islamic India". 3. "Hindu heaven" 4. "The land of the Lingam". 5. "Soft Target: How the Indian Intelligence Service penetrated Canada." Its interesting what is concealed seeks to reveal itself.
1. "Nine Hours to Rama" - the story about Gandhi's assassination.
2. "The Polyester Prince: The Rise of Dhirubai Ambani". I heard about this book in my second job. I got to read it during my sixth job. It was never allowed during Dhirubhai's tenure. Only during his last days did it re-surface as a pirated copy on Mumbai streets.
3. "Such a long journey" by Rohinton Mistry. Didn't know why Shiv Sena found it derogatory.
4. "Lajja" by Taslima Nasreen. Again mysteriously banned for "secular" reasons. Its a nice piece of literature by a woman writer.
5. "Lady Chatterley's Lover". It is not a book on porn, I repeat, and both of us enjoyed reading it.
6. "Jinnah: India, Partition, Independence" (banned in only Gujarat but not worth the ban).
Now that the "Hindu" has given some amazingly interesting books banned in India that is longer than you think, it should make my dad several years younger in assigning me to ferret these out. His choice commands from the list are salivating to say the least:- 1. "The heart of India" 2. "Shivaji: Hindu King in Islamic India". 3. "Hindu heaven" 4. "The land of the Lingam". 5. "Soft Target: How the Indian Intelligence Service penetrated Canada." Its interesting what is concealed seeks to reveal itself.
