Exercise in futility

The Jammu and Kashmir government last week announced the banning of 25 books and or dered their seizures from bookshops and libraries. These include books authored by noted writers such as Arundhati Roy, A. G. Noorani, Anuradha Bhasin, Essar Batool and Shamshad Khan. The administration has mobilised personnel to forfeit the books from libraries, shops and academic institutions.

Some of the books portray the ground realities, aspirations of the people, deprivation in parts of the State lying on both sides of the Line of Control. They also document facts about corruption and human rights. The officials allege the books spread false narratives, manipulate facts and incite terrorism. In a networked world, bans on books serve no purpose.

People have multiple ways to access their content. They are available on websites. Audio books can be downloaded on computers. Soft copies too can be purchased. People can exchange their content on emails. All that the authorities can do is to prevent the circulation of hard copies which might cause a dent in sales for publishers.

Moreover, bans only make people more curious about books. Even those who did not have any basic awareness of the existence of a particular title, might covet either a copy or a glimpse into its content. There is no gainsaying that certain books, nay pamphlets, carry propaganda, falsehood and tweak and twist facts to misguide readers.

The best way to combat it would be to provide the right information and accurate facts through channels owned by the official machinery. The authorities have at their disposal official media such as Doordarshan, Akashvani, Information and Publicity Divisions or Departments. They have served the purpose well over the decades. Their potential remains under utilisied.

Of late, the people in the Union Territory have begun to counter falsehood and propaganda unleashed by channels from across the border and have openly protested against Pakistan’s designs against the people and the territory. Mere banning of books will be an exercise in futility in an age when information can be conveyed in myriad forms beyond borders.

Moreover, the government in a democratic polity should not be seen as an opponent of the freedom of expression as this notification is likely to be seen.