‘Books don’t threaten states — lies do’: Banned Kashmir authors speak to MNTV
In exclusive interviews, scholars condemn India’s sweeping book ban as an assault on truth, memory, and freedom of thought
SRINAGAR, Jammu and Kashmir (MNTV) — Authors of books recently banned by Indian authorities in Jammu and Kashmir are breaking their silence — and warning that the government’s attempt to erase critical thought is a deeper assault on history and democratic values.
In exclusive interviews with Muslim Network TV, several of the authors denounced the move as “fascist,” “unjustified,” and “driven by fear,” underscoring what they see as India’s wider campaign to control the political and historical narrative of Kashmir.
The Home Department of Jammu and Kashmir issued the ban on Aug. 5, targeting 25 books that allegedly “glorify terrorism” or threaten “national integration.” But many of the banned titles — written by respected international and Indian scholars — are standard academic texts in universities worldwide.
“This is a deliberate attack on truth,” said cultural anthropologist Mona Bhan, co-editor of the banned book Resisting Occupation in Kashmir.
“It’s a hallmark of fascist regimes to suppress ideas that question their power. This move is not about protecting national security — it’s about burying Kashmir’s truth.”
Bhan, who has extensively researched militarization and nationalism in South Asia, said the book ban is consistent with India’s broader strategy to “re-engineer Kashmir’s political identity” and choke public debate.
“By silencing Kashmir’s scholars, incarcerating rights defenders, and now banning books, the Indian state is working to suffocate any space for credible inquiry or dissent,” she told MNTV.
‘Explaining disaffection is not glorifying terrorism’
British historian Victoria Schofield, whose book Kashmir in Conflict is among the banned, expressed deep shock at the government’s decision. The book, based on three decades of research, is widely regarded as a foundational work on the Kashmir dispute.
“The bedrock of democracy is freedom of speech and expression,” Schofield said. “By banning literature, India is moving toward dictatorial, not democratic, practices.”
“My book doesn’t glorify terrorism. It explains why there is disaffection — that’s an important distinction,” she added.
“Countless readers across the world have told me how it has helped them understand the Kashmir conflict. Clearly, it’s that understanding which now seems to threaten the authorities.”
‘There is no justification for this’
Anuradha Bhasin, editor of The Kashmir Times and author of A Dismantled State: The Untold Story of Kashmir After Article 370, also finds her book on the banned list.
“There is absolutely no justification for this ban,” Bhasin told MNTV.
“My book doesn’t glorify violence. It critiques contemporary politics, and that seems to be the real issue for the government — they are afraid of honest scrutiny.”
Bhasin’s book provides a critical account of the aftermath of India’s 2019 decision to revoke Jammu and Kashmir’s special constitutional status. Her work, and her newspaper, have long drawn the ire of Indian authorities for challenging the official narrative.
‘They fear ideas, not weapons’
U.S.-based anthropologist and poet Ather Zia, co-editor of Resisting Occupation in Kashmir, also reacted with anger — but not surprise.
“The Indian state hasn’t just banned books — it has invoked draconian laws that allow police to raid homes and seize copies,” she told MNTV.
“In a digital world, these actions are symbolic. They show that the government fears ideas, not weapons.”
Zia called on readers worldwide to engage with the banned books.
“Now, more than ever, people should read these works and ask themselves: what kind of state feels threatened by history, memory, and facts?”
Growing backlash
The bans have sparked political outrage.
Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, the prominent Kashmiri cleric and politician, pointed to the irony of hosting a state-sponsored Book Festival while simultaneously censoring academic literature.
“This ban won’t erase historical truths or lived memories,” Mirwaiz said.
“It only highlights the insecurities and intellectual bankruptcy of those trying to silence Kashmir’s voice.”
The Communist Party of India (Marxist) and other opposition leaders condemned the move as a dangerous erosion of democratic rights.
“This must be resisted by all democratic forces,” said CPI(M) MP V. Sivadasan.
“The government’s move is not only painful, it is anti-intellectual and authoritarian.”
Analysts say the book ban marks a critical moment in India’s approach to Kashmir — shifting from political control to narrative dominance.
“This is not just about books,” said one political commentator. “It’s about who gets to tell Kashmir’s story — and what version of that story survives.”
With academics, journalists, and now authors under scrutiny, the move has been seen as a chilling signal to intellectuals across India.
As the Indian state intensifies its campaign of arrests, surveillance, and cultural censorship in the region, scholars warn that the stakes are no longer just political — they are epistemological.
“When you erase stories, you erase people,” said Mona Bhan.
“But as long as there are readers who care, and writers who resist, the truth will find its way.”
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