Banning Jaswant's book is an insult to democracy

If you do not agree with Jaswant Singh, take him by the horns, do not gag him. Let us have a society where the mind is free and without fear. We should be like an ocean that is all encompassing, rather than a pond that is stagnant


By M. Gautham Machaiah

The ban on Jaswant Singh’s book, ‘Jinnah-India-Partition-Independence’ by Gujarat, indicates that India is yet to mature as a democracy that accepts alternative thoughts which question the established order.

The BJP has expelled Singh, because his thoughts are in variance with the ideology of the party, while the Gujarat government’s stand is that the book questions the patriotic credentials of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel.

Keeping aside the politics behind this sordid drama, it needs to be pondered if the culture of banning books augers well for the world’s largest democracy. Such censorship of thoughts hits at the very foundation of the freedom of speech and expression, enshrined in the Constitution.

It is sad that even 62 years after the country attained freedom, the political class continues to behave like feudal lords, gagging every dissenting voice and independent thought. Even worse is that the BJP bandies about out-dated concepts like ideology which belong to the communist world. The message is clear: There is no place for those who do not toe the ideological line. Is this democracy?

In a democracy every individual is entitled to his views, right or wrong, good or bad, palatable or unpalatable. So is Jaswant Singh. If you do not agree with him, take him by the horns, engage him in a debate, criticise him, argue with him, challenge him, or simply ignore him, but do not gag him.

Dissenting thoughts, however uncomfortable, are the pillars of democracy. Let us not stifle this thought process for our selfish gains.

Jaswant Singh’s views might be contrary to public opinion, so what; there are no holy cows in a free society. Even in the case of Mahatma Gandhi, the Supreme Court has declined to evolve a code of conduct on showing respect to the Father of the Nation. Surely, no other leader, however big, can be taller than Gandhiji.

Mahatma Gandhi once said, “You can chain me, you can torture me, you can even destroy this body, but you will never imprison my mind.” Yes, let us have a society where the mind is free and without fear. Let us be an ocean which is all encompassing rather than a stinking, stagnant pond.

(Picture sourced from: www. indianexpress.com)

COMMENTS

This is cent per cent correct. Banning Jaswant`s book is definitely an insult to democracy. I fully agree with you
-Machaiah.B.U, Wayanad, Kerala

Do you think any of the BJP guys would have read the book? Unlikely. They must have ripped him for supporting Vasundararaje Scindia. Or something else altogether. I do not think they could have all read the book so quickly and then voted to take action. The book is the excuse not the reason.
-Vedam Jaishankar, Bangalore

Yes, banning the book is an insult to democracy and to a democratic country. What is the difference between India and autocratic countries? Jinnah was a gentleman and even in the movie Gandhi, he is shown as a clear and a straight forward person. It is time that such freedom fighters are brought into the limelight. The young generation should know of them.
-Maanan Desai, Dubai