Definitely not DEMOCRACY!

“I deeply resent my book being used as a political football; what should matter to you more than my resentment is that you come out of this looking not only Philistine and anti-democratic but opportunistic.”- In his heartfelt letter to the then Prime Minister, Mr.Rajiv Gandhi in 1988, Salman Rushdie expressed his views and philosophies in a very emphatic manner. 

Recently owing to the controversial Jaipur Literature Festival the past is being revisited, the past that screams of how India has shunned her own set democratic principles and turned fundamentalist.

The issue of banning a book, sometimes paintings or for that matter the author of the book or the painter is not really new to the Indian democracy.  Prominent names like Farag Foda, Taslima Nasrin, M.F. Husain and Naguib Mahfouz are examples of the Indian intolerance when it comes to the showcase of artistic or literary work.

Salman Rushdie’s fourth book The Satanic Verses was banned by the Finance Ministry on the grounds of religious “blasphemy” in 1989! This magical realist was immediately shunned by society.

In his letter to the then Prime Minister, Rushdie was found explaining in details how the contents of his book had nothing to do with any of the blasphemous charges that he was charged with. The ban of Rushdie’s book is an annulment of the Right to the Freedom of Speech Act.

Soon enough the Iranian leader Ayatollah Khomeini issued a fatwa, or religious edict calling for Rushdie’s death. This decision of Khomeini was rigorously backed by the Iranian Government till 1998.

Salman Rushdie was forced to go underground after all his attempts to rejuvenate the basic facts of his book were lost on everyone and with the Muslim community thirsty for his blood. It has been more than two decades. India is changing her image into a highly progressive country. But in the recent case of Salman Rushdie and the ongoing Jaipur Literature Festival, this progressive country took several steps backwards into a rigorously regressive domain.

In his Twitter account Rushdie was quoted writing, ‘Rajasthan police invented plot to keep away Rushdie' I've investigated, & believe that I was indeed lied to. I am outraged and very angry.”

Thus, ended the episode of Rushdie’s visit to the Jaipur Literature Festival.  But the end of this highly controversial affair marked the beginning of several callous criticisms. According to many, the political parties did not want their Muslim voters upset right before the voting season especially in Uttar Pradesh, which will lead the elections.

Several writers including the likes of Taiye Selasi and Chetan Bhagat made comments. While the promising Selasi was found saying, ““I never expected Mr. Rushdie not to come”, Mr.Bhagat on the other hand smugly notified the Press that, “Let’s not make heroes out of people who have been banned. They have been banned for hurting people. They shouldn’t be banned but they are not heroes. You can say Muslims are backward, aggressive. That’s fine. But they are right to get upset when their gods are attacked. I wouldn’t like it if my gods are attacked.”
This shocking statement made by Bhagat makes one think. Is it just the Muslim community’s aggression, the political leaders egotistical intentions or for that matter intellectual brevity or is it more or less the dominant mind set of people?
While this question remains unanswered it is now a fact that Rushdie will not be attending the Jaipur Literature Festival. Although the authorities of the festival have declared that the festival will be inaugurated with a video speech by Rushdie, the prominent fact that India has abandoned her democratic philosophies is but obvious.