Surve's sharp poetry struck an instant chord

Narayan Surve, who passed away in a Thane hospital on Monday, August 16, after a prolonged illness, will long be remembered for transforming the post-1960 Marathi literary scene with his acid-laced poems.

Surve's debut work, a collection of poems titled Aisa Gaa Me Brahma (1962), is considered a milestone in Indian literature. The self-taught poet, who grew up on the streets of Mumbai and was subsequently adopted by a mill worker, chronicled the life of the city's plebeians-their arduous struggle to eke out a living in a fast-paced, industrialized society, their fears and fantasies, travails and triumphs.

Taking on the prima donnas of Marathi literature, Surve wrote, "I am a labourer, a blazing sword. I wish to commit an offence.'' The rebel poet struck an instant rapport with readers, who loved his stark images and his colloquial, robust Marathi which was reminiscent of legendary saint-poets Dnyaneshwar and Tukaram.

Full report here Times of India 

'Bankrupt caste politics led to ban on Shivaji book'

Bookshops are afraid to stock James Laine's Shivaj i: Hindu King in Islamic India, even after the Supreme Court struck down the Maharashtra government's ban on it. Film-maker Anand Patwardhan, one of three petitioners who challenged the ban, speaks to Jyoti Punwani :

What prompted you to challenge the ban? 
Ambedkar gave us a Constitution. It is up to us to protect its spirit. Whether it is Ambedkar's Riddles in Hinduism or works by Taslima Nasreen, we must not allow bullies to dictate what we read. I would oppose a ban even on books i abhor, like those by Golwalkar and Godse. The real inspiration and the legal hard work, however, came from human rights lawyer P A Sebastian. We have won many court battles against the censorship of my documentaries. In each case, the courts upheld my right to freedom of expression and the public's right to information. Naturally when we heard about a book banned under pressure from right-wing groups, we intervened.

Shivaji is revered in Maharashtra. Didn't you anticipate an adverse reaction? 
Bankrupt caste politics led to the ban. An academic book on Shivaji would have remained largely unnoticed. But our politicians have many economic crimes to hide and identity politics is a convenient public diversion. An emotive rumour that Laine had questioned Shivaji's paternity spread, since no one had actually read the book. A research institute was attacked, historical manuscripts destroyed, then the publishers were attacked and books burned. The government, dominated by the same caste forces that rampaged in the street, banned the book.

Maharashtra is right tosquash 'Shivaji'

The recent judgement of Supreme Court to end a ban on James Laine’s book on Shivaji has received belligerent reactions from political parties in Maharashtra, ruling party and opposition alike. The Maharashtra government banned the book in 2004 following an attack on the Bhandarkar Institute of Oriental Research where the author conducted his research for the book.

In Maharashtra, Shivaji is the symbol of Maratha pride and has a similar status as George Washington has in the U.S. or Subhash Chandra Bose has in Bengal. A number of major establishments in the state - airport, railway station, roads, schools, colleges — have either been named after him or were rechristened with his name. Owing to this revered position, any remarks which diverge from the age-old opinions about his life are deemed sacrilegious.

Full report here WSJ blogs

Shrinking Heroes

Once again we have a display of the insecurities of the Maratha people. Even after having their own state for fifty years, the leaders of the Marathi speaking people are out agitating against one page of a book written by a foreign scholar on their hero Shivaji.

On a previous occasion too, these agitators had already destroyed a jewel of Maharashtrian, indeed, Indian scholarship when they burned down the Bhandarkar Institute’s Library in Pune. This sort of self abuse continues. Now, even the Congress has joined in the demands that despite the Supreme Court judgment, the book be not sold in Maharashtra. The idea that the Constitution guarantees the right of free speech and within that, access to books which are not banned, is beyond the intelligence of Congress chief ministers nowadays. What matters are vote banks and knee-jerk populism.

Full report here Indian Express 

Librarians approach Ashok Chavan for better salaries

Most people imagine them as bespectacled, serious-looking people who know exactly where that out-of-publication book is stashed away in rows upon rows of moth-eaten wooden shelves. While the stereotype may be true only to a degree, it is a certain fact that librarians of government-aided libraries in the state are increasingly feeling like the worn-out leaves of a book no one wants to read.

To make their presence felt, this disgruntled workforce will take out a protest march to chief minister Ashok Chavan’s bungalow, Varsha, on July 19. They are demanding better pay, and want the state frame a library movement policy which clearly defines the methods and ways to reach and educate villagers through the medium of books.

“We want our remuneration to be revised. We do not get salaries. There are insufficient funds to buy new books. Ours is a thankless job, in spite of us giving readers a perspective,” said Dr Ramesh Janmabandhu, Maharashtra Rajya Granthalaya Sangha.

Full report here DNA

Govt promises new law to counter SC verdict

The Maharashtra government announced on the first day of the assembly’s monsoon session, Monday, that it will introduce a law by the next session to prevent literature defaming public figures from being published.

The decision has been taken in the backdrop of the Supreme Court’s verdict lifting the ban on the controversial book, ‘Shivaji: A Hindu King in Islamic India’, by US-based author James Laine. The legislative assembly also passed a resolution condemning Laine for his derogatory remarks against the Maratha emperor and his mother Jijabai.

The opposition brought an adjournment motion in both the houses over Laine’s book. In the ensuing discussion, home minister RR Patil said that the government will amend the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) to ban defamatory literature. “Section 153 (a) of the CrPC deals with the act of spreading hatred among religions and communities, but the new amendment will enable the government to deal with indecent and scurrilous literature, and will entail stern punishment. The government wants to undertake the amendment on the lines of an existing law in Tamil Nadu,” he said.

Full report here DNA

Of books, court cases and fatwas

The decision of the Supreme Court to lift the Maharashtra government's ban on James Laine's 2004 book, Shivaji: Hindu King in Islamic India, throws up some interesting points.

First and foremost should books be banned in this day and age?The newspaper Mint has a rather interesting editorial on it. (You can read it here). The basic point the edit makes is banning books in this day and age does not work.

"The reason such bans do not work is because the nature of the books business has changed. Paper isn't the only medium through which ideas or stories can now be communicated. Many of them can be communicated through digital media. And while piracy (just to clarify, this newspaper is against it) prevents the creators of content from being rewarded for their efforts, it ensures that books and movies that aren't meant to be available in a particular region are-freely," the edit says.

A good case in point is Hamish McDonald's biography of Dhirubhai Ambani The Polyester Prince. The book is banned in India, but is freely available in the pirated form at most traffic signals across metropolitan India. It can also be downloaded freely from the web.

Full report here DNA

Maharashtra seeks law on defamatory books

After facing embarrassment in James Laine book case, the Maharashtra government has demanded that the Centre must a frame a law that will enable states to ban books that defame any person, dead or alive, who is revered by the people.

The Supreme Court lifted the ban on Laine's book Shivaji: Hindu King in Islamic India on Friday. Sources in the State's Law and Judiciary Department said the state's case had weakened because it did not have any basis like that applied in banning books of authors like Salman Rushdie. Opposition parties have been protesting what they call the state government's failure.

RR Patil, who was instrumental in banning Laine's two books, demanded a stringent law.

Full report here Hindustan Times

'State case had no basis'

The Maharashtra government's case against James Laine's controversial book on Shivaji in the Supreme Court had weakened because the state could not prove it hurt religious sentiments. Sources in the Law and Judiciary department told Hindustan Times that the state's case did not have any basis like it had when books of authors like Salman Rushdie were banned. "We couldn't e that Shivaji's defamation amounted to hurting people's religious sentiments," said an officer from the department on the condition of anonymity.

The state government had banned Laine's book, Shivaji: Hindu King in Islamic India, in 2004 but the Supreme Court on Friday upheld the Bombay High Court's verdict that the ban be lifted with immediate effect.

Chief Minister Ashok Chavan said, "As far as banning the book is concerned, we share strong sentiments with the Opposition. We will ensure that the book is not sold or circulated in the state." Chavan, however, did not have specific information on how the government planned to do that.

Full report here Hindustan Times

Furore over Shivaji book grows

A day after the Supreme Court lifted the ban, opposition to James Laine's controversial book Shivaji: Hindu King in Islamic India gathered momentum with political outfits of many hues demanding a complete ban.

While protests by right-wing Hindutva organisations like Sambhaji Brigade and Shivrajya Paksha that deify the Maratha warrior king is expected, many have been surprised by the number of Muslim organisations which have come together to protest the apex court's ruling.

All India Ulema Council General Secretary Maulana Mahmood Daryabadi said this support was in keeping with the tenets of Islam. "Islam says that we should support any effort which prevents the spread of hate in society.

The Koran is against disrespecting religious or social figures of other communities. This is why we are opposed to lifting the ban on Laine's book," he said.

Full report here Mumbai Mirror

Related news
Writers welcome SC judgment on Shivaji book Times of India

Laine’s book on Shivaji okay: SC

 In a blow to political censorship, the Supreme Court on Friday, July 9, rejected a plea by the state government to ban US author James Laine’s book on Chhatrapati Shivaji.

The apex court has upheld a 2007 Bombay high court decision allowing publication and circulation of the book, Shivaji -The Hindu King in Muslim India, in Maharashtra. Strangely enough, the state government had challenged the Bombay high court order almost two years after the ban was lifted.

It is far from clear if the book can actually be sold in the state, given the kind of jingoism over this issue. Maharashtra’s home minister R R Patil, said on Friday that the government was still in favour of the ban and would seek legal opinion on how it could be continued.

“I personally and the state government also feel that the ban should continue. We are seeking opinion of legal experts on approaching the court to ensure the ban continues,” Mr Patil said.

Full report here Economic Times


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SC upholds Bombay HC verdict lifting ban on book on Shivaji Hindustan Times