Offending people is the easiest thing in India. India’s core value resides in the diversity and traditional culture. We as Indian strongly believe in living together in peace. The strong cultural backgrounds and our belief in tradition make us different from others. We as Indians don’t hesitate to react to something that we don’t like. From books to articles to films, we never spend too much time trying to digest it rather we come out all guns blazing in criticizing it. Today, we’ll talk about 11 books that are banned in India.
1. Lajja by Taslima Nasrin
This book by Taslima Nasreen was banned in 1993 because it was hurting sentiments of the Muslim community. The book talks about the anti-Hindu riots that took place in Bangladesh post demolition of Babri Masjid.
2. The Polyester Prince: The Rise of Dhirubhai Ambani by Hamish McDonald
The unauthorized biopic of Dhirubhai Ambani depicts how he built his empire. Ambanis threatened with legal action saying that the book was defaming the family.
3. Who Killed Gandhi by Lourenco De Sadvandor
This book was banned in 1979 and described as poorly researched.
4. An Area of Darkness by V.S. Naipaul
The book portrayed Indians in a negative way, which resulted in the book getting banned immediately.
5. The Ramayana by Aubrey Menen
This book was banned in 1956 owing to the liberties taken by the writer from the sacred text.
6. The Heart of India by Alexander Campbell
The Government of India banned this book in 1959 calling it “repulsive”.
7. Lady Chatterley’s Lover by D.H. Lawrence
This book was banned on the ground of “obscenity”. However, the ban was lifted in 1960.
8. The Satanic Verses by Salman Rushdie
In the book, Salman Rushdie fictionalized one of the most disputed episodes in Islam. On the grounds of hurting religious sentiments, the book was banned in the country.
9. The Moor’s Last Sigh by Salman Rushdie
Shiv Sena banned this book saying that one of the characters in the book resembled party chief Bal Thackeray.
10. Shivaji: Hindu King in Islamic India by American historian
This book was banned in Maharashtra for “promoting social enmity”. However, the Supreme Court of India lifted the ban in 2010.
11. The Lotus And The Robot by Arthur Koestler
This book talked about the writer’s experiences in India and Japan and was very critical of both nations. It also showed Gandhi in a bad light, which prompted its ban in the country.
