Over the years India has seen various books being banned for several reasons, ranging from defamation to offending religious sentiments of a community. The law commonly used to ban books/ prevent sale and production of certain books is Section 95 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973, which confers powers on the State Government to ban a book if a book contains content that may “promote, or attempt to promote, enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, or disharmony, or feeling of enmity, hatred or ill-will between different religious groups and the publication of such matters is punishable under Section 153A of the Indian Penal Code.” Section 153A of IPC provides punishments for acts which promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, place of birth, residence, language, among others.
We have curated a list that contains books that have been banned in India since independence of India, the data for which has been gathered from secondary sources mainly.
A lot of times, instances of censorship and banned books are not reported by the media, and therefore we are creating a citizen reporting mechanism. Write to us at mail@sflc.in or send us a DM on our twitter handle (@SFLCin) if you come across any book that has been banned in India.
|
S.No. |
Name of the book |
Author |
Year |
State |
Description |
|
|
Godman to Tycoon: The Untold Story of Baba Ramdev |
Priyanka Pathak |
2017 |
Nationwide |
It was banned on the ground that it was extremely defamatory in nature for the protagonist. |
|
|
Madhorubhagan |
Perumal Murugan |
Previously banned,currently available on E-Commerce websites. |
Nationwide |
It was alleged that the book contained materials that hurts the sentiments of the community, defamed women and outraged religious feelings. Subsequently after several protests, the author withdrew all the unsold copies of this novel. Petition were filed in the Madras High Court in order to ban the book but the petition was dismissed and book didn’t got banned.1 |
|
|
Korkoi |
Joe D’Cruz |
2015 |
Nationwide |
|
|
|
Sahara: The Untold Story |
Tamal Bandyopadhyay |
2014 |
Nationwide |
A stay order was ordered on the release of this book by the Calcutta High Court. Though the book was released, but with a disclaimer given by Sahara. |
|
|
The Descent of Air India |
Jitendra Bhargava |
2014 |
Nationwide |
The author who worked for almost two decades with Air India brings out his insider view about the ground reality of the company. All the book was withdrawn later on by the publisher because of defamation charges. |
|
|
Santsurya Tukaram and Loksakha Dnyaneshwar |
Anand Yadav |
2014 |
Nationwide |
A magistrate in Pune ordered to destroy the copies of these two novels which is based on the lives of Sant Dnyaneshwar and Sant Tukaram. It was alleged that the contents of these novels were defamatory.2 |
|
|
The Hindus: An Alternative History |
Wendy Doniger |
2014 |
Nationwide |
The book was withdrawn from the Indian market, prompting widespread concerns about the state of free speech in India. But after a period of twelve months, the book was republished under a different publisher. |
|
|
Dhundi |
Yogesh Master |
2013 |
Nationwide |
Several Hindu organisations protested against this book and accused it to contain objectionable materials against god Ganesha. |
|
|
Meendezhum Pandiyar Varalaru |
K. Senthil Mallar |
2013 |
Tamil Nadu |
It was alleged that certain contents in this book was abusive against other castes and in the nature of spreading hatred and disharmony. SO, the Madras HC ordered to make alterations in the book and lifted the forfeiture.3 |
|
|
Great Soul: Mahatma Gandhi and his Struggle with India |
Joseph Lelyveld |
2011 |
Gujarat |
It was interpreted and suggested in this biographical book that M.K. Gandhi was bisexual. Whereas according to the author the book only says that he was deeply attached to Kallenbach and did not explicitly stated that Gandhi was bisexual.4 |
|
|
The Red Sari |
Javier Moro |
2010 |
Nationwide |
Originally published in Spanish by the name ‘El Sari Rojo’, this book was alleged to be violating the privacy of a person for monetary gain. However, it was released in India in Jan, 2015 as it was not officially banned. |
|
|
Such a Long Journey |
Rohinton Mistry |
2010 |
Mumbai |
Withdrawn by the Mumbai University from its Bachelor of Art (English) syllabus. The book allegedly contained anti-Shiv Sena passages and remarks derogatory to Maharastrians.5 |
|
|
Jinnah: India, Partition, Independence |
Jaswant Singh |
2009 |
Gujarat |
Banned for containing defamatory references to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel.6 |
|
|
The Life of Sri Aurobindo |
Peter Heehs |
2008 |
Nationwide |
It was alleged that the book contains objectionable matters depicting distorted facts about the life and character of Sri Aurobindo. In 2004, a stay order was passed by the Odisha High Court on the release of the book. |
|
|
Islam: A Concept of Political World Invasion |
R.V. Bhasin |
2007 |
Maharashtra |
SC upheld the ban and said that the author had used insulting comments on Muslim community, which is an aggravated form of criticism and can hurt the religious sentiments of Muslims.7 |
|
|
The Da Vinci Code |
Dan Brown |
2006 |
Nagaland |
It was alleged that the novel could hurt the sentiments of the Christian beliefs. Ban was rejected by SC and several HCs . |
|
|
The True Furqan |
Al Saffee & Al Mahdee |
2005 |
Nationwide |
Islamic groups declared the book as a Christian propaganda and claimed that it slyly mocked at Islam. Some even claimed it was a US-Israel pact to insult Islam. Though it was essentially a Christian world versus Islam phenomenon, the Indian government took exception to it and banned its import.8 |
|
|
Shivaji: Hindu King in Islamic India |
2004 |
Maharashtra |
In 2004, this book was banned as it contained disparaging remarks about Chhatrapati Shivaji. But the ban was lifted in 2010 by the Supreme Court.9 |
|
|
|
Lajja |
Tasleema Nasreen |
2003 |
West Bengal |
Banned by the West Bengal government.10 |
|
|
Dwikhandito |
Taslima Nasreen |
2003 |
West Bengal |
Banned for allegedly hurting the sentiments of the Muslim community. On 22nd September, 2005, the Calcutta High Court lifted the ban.11 |
|
|
Five Past Midnight in Bhopal |
Dominique Lapierre and Javier Moro |
2002 |
Nationwide |
The book was banned after Swaraj Puri, the commissioner of Bhopal during that period, filed a defamation suit. Later, the ban was lifted by the Madhya Pradesh high court.12 |
|
|
Bhavsagar Granth |
Written by amost 30 authors under the direction of Baba Bhaniara |
2001 |
Punjab |
Banned by the Punjab government for hurting the religious feelings of Sikh community.13 |
|
|
The Myth of the Holy Cow |
Dwijendra Narayan Jha |
2001 |
Nationwide |
The book allegedly said that beef was eaten by ancient Indians. The author received anonymous threat calls and had to be provided a police escort.14 |
|
|
Towards Freedom |
Sumit Sarkar and K.N. Panikkar |
2000 |
Nationwide |
The publication of this book was temporarily withheld by the ICHR in 2000 because it portrayed Hindu Maha sabha in a bad light. |
|
|
The Moor’s Last Sigh |
Salman Rushdie |
1995 |
Nationwide |
The Indian government placed a de facto ban on the novel, claiming that the fictional Ramar Fielding seemed to be a thinly veiled version of Bal Thackeray, one of India’s most prominent Hindu nationalist politicians. But later in 1996, the ban was lifted by the Supreme Court.15 |
|
|
Understanding Islam through Hadis |
Ram Swarup |
1991 |
Nationwide |
It tackles the issues of political Islam. It was claimed that the book was offensive to Muslims.16 |
|
|
Basava Vachana Deepti |
Mate Mahadevi |
1997 |
Nationwide |
It was banned because she changed Basavanna’s pen name from ‘Kudalasangama Deva’ to ‘Linga Deva’.17 |
|
|
Soft Target: How the Indian Intelligence Service Penetrated Canada |
Zuhair Kashmeri & Brian McAndrew |
1989 |
Nationwide |
The authors argue that Indian intelligence agencies, determined to discredit the Sikh bid for an independent state, penetrated not only Sikh communities but also the RCMP and CSIS. The book claims the government of India was involved in the plane’s bombing.18 |
|
|
The Polyester Prince: The Rise of Dhirubhai Ambani |
Hamish McDonald |
1988 |
Mumbai |
Unofficial biography of late Dhirubhai Ambani. Banned for being slanderous against the Ambani family. Never got published in India.19 |
|
|
The Satanic Verses |
Salman Rushdie |
1988 |
Nationwide |
Banned by Rajiv Gandhi’s government. |
|
|
Smash and Grab: Annexation of Sikkim |
Sunanda K. Dattaray |
1984 |
Nationwide |
The book dealt with India’s annexation of Sikkim. The Delhi High Court had stopped its publication after a political officer station in Gangtok at the time filed a defamation suit. The book was later allowed for release.20 |
|
|
The Price of Power: Kissinger and Nixon in the White House |
Seymour Hersh |
1983 |
Nationwide |
Banned for suggesting that Morarji Desai was a CIA informant.21 |
|
|
Who Killed Gandhi |
Lourenco De Sadvandor |
1979 |
Nationwide |
Considered to be “poorly researched” and “inflammatory”.22 |
|
|
India Independent |
Charles Bettelheim |
1976 |
Nationwide |
Banned for criticizing the policies of the Indian government.23 |
|
|
Nehru: A Political Biography |
Michael Edwards |
1975 |
Nationwide |
Government considered grievous factual errors in this book.24 |
|
|
Early Islam |
Desmond Stewart |
1975 |
Nationwide |
The book purportedly contains grievous factual errors.25 |
|
|
Man from Moscow |
Greville Wynne |
1970 |
Nationwide |
The book was banned for purportedly misrepresenting Indian policies.26 |
|
|
A Struggle between two lines over the question of How to deal with U.S. imperialism. |
Fan Asid-Chu |
1969 |
Nationwide |
This book cannot be imported into India. |
|
|
The Jewel in the Lotus |
Allen Edwardes |
1968 |
Nationwide |
Import prohibited absolutely.27 |
|
|
Lady Chatterley’s Lover |
D.H. Lawrence |
1964 |
Nationwide |
Banned on the grounds of obscenity.28 |
|
|
An Area of Darkness |
V.S. Naipaul |
1964 |
Nationwide |
Banned for its negative portrayal of India and its people.29 |
|
|
Unarmed Victory |
Bertrand Russell |
1963 |
Nationwide |
The book dealt with the Sino-Indian War which India lost.30 |
|
|
Nepal |
Toni Hagen |
1963 |
Nationwide |
Not much info. is available |
|
|
Ayesha |
Kurt Frischler |
1963 |
Nationwide |
Cannot be imported into India. |
|
|
Nine Hours to Rama |
Stanley Wolpert |
1962
|
Nationwide ban |
The book was thought to be justifying the actions of Nathuram Godse who murdered Gandhi. |
|
|
The Lotus and the Rama |
Arthur Koestler |
1960 |
Nationwide |
Criticized the Indian democracy. It cannot be imported into India. Also, this book has often been criticized as ill-researched.32 |
|
|
The Heart of India |
Alexander Campbell |
1959 |
Nationwide ban |
The book is a fictionalized and humorous account of Indian bureaucracy and economic policy-making. |
|
|
Captive Kashmir |
Aziz Beg |
1958
|
Nationwide |
This book cannot be imported into India. |
|
|
Rama Retold or The Ramayana (American edn.) |
Aubrey Menen |
1956 |
Nationwide |
It was a play which was a spoof of The Ramayana.33 |
|
|
Dark Urge |
Robert W. Taylor |
1955 |
Nationwide |
This book cannot be imported into India. |
|
|
What has religion done for mankind |
Watchtower Bible and Tract Society |
1955 |
Nationwide |
This book tries to refute Eastern religions and cannot be imported into India.34 |
|
|
Bhupat Singh |
Kaluwank Ravatwank |
1954 |
Nationwide |
Not much info. is available |
|
|
Marka-e-Somnath |
Maulana Muhammad Sadiq Hussain Sahab Sadiq Siddhiqui Sardanvi |
1952 |
Nationwide |
Written in Urdu, cannot be imported into India.35 |
|
|
Chandramohini |
Ansar Nasiri |
1952 |
Nationwide |
|
|
|
Pakistan-Pasmanzarwa Peshmanzar |
Hameed Anwar
|
1950 |
Nationwide |
Originally written in Urdu, cannot be imported into India.36 |
|
|
Cease-Fire |
Agha Babar |
1950 |
Nationwide |
Originally written in Urdu, cannot be imported into India. |
|
|
Khak Aur Khoon |
Naseem Hijazi |
1950 |
Nationwide |
This book portrays the true face of the Hindu fanaticism at the time of Independence when the Hindus tried to rob the Muslims who were trying to escape to Pakistan during the partition. |
1http://www.thehindu.com/opinion/lead/perumal-murugan-book-controversy-and-madras-high-court/article14476037.ece
2http://indianexpress.com/article/cities/pune/destroy-defamatory-books-on-saints-court/
3http://www.livelaw.in/cannot-lift-one-community-demeaning-others-madras-hcfb-lifts-ban-two-tamil-books-alterations-read-order/
4https://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/01/books/gandhi-biography-by-joseph-lelyveld-roils-india.html?pagewanted=all
5The Guardian, “Mumbai University drops Rohinton Mistry novel after extremists complain”, See: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2010/oct/19/mumbai-university-removes-mistry-book, last accessed on May 17, 2018
6The Hindu, “You can’t read this book”, See: http://www.thehindu.com/books/you-cant-read-this-book/article2953626.ece, last accessed on May 17, 2018
7http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/Court-upholds-ban-on-book/article15957487.ece
8http://www.sify.com/news/Books-banned-Of-words-and-woes-imagegallery-2-National-ocorvLcjeci.html
9http://www.dnaindia.com/mumbai/report-supreme-court-upholds-lifting-of-ban-on-shivaji-book-1407570
10Scoop Woop, “10 Books that were banned in India for various reasons”, See: https://www.scoopwhoop.com/inothernews/books-banned-in-india/#.sr5xttgtu, last accessed on May 17, 2018
11http://www.business-standard.com/article/current-affairs/taslima-nasreen-book-dwikhandito-once-banned-bengal-govt-now-in-english-118031100465_1.html
12http://www.caleidoscope.in/nostalgiphilia/banned-books-in-india
13http://www.frontline.in/static/html/fl1822/18220490.htm
14http://www.thehindu.com/opinion/columns/Ziya_Us_Salam/to-eat-or-not-to-eat/article7797190.ece
15https://www.deseretnews.com/article/477835/INDIA-REMOVES-ITS-BAN-ON-LATEST-RUSDIE-NOVEL.html
16https://www.revolvy.com/main/index.php?s=Understanding%20Islam%20through%20Hadis
17https://www.livelaw.in/sc-upholds-ban-mate-mahadevis-book-even-agreed-right-interpret-religion/
18https://www.huffingtonpost.ca/danielle-crittenden/banned-books-week_b_984910.html
19The Economic Times, “Some books that met a ‘banned’ fate in India”, See: https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/slideshows/advertising-marketing/some-books-that-met-a-banned-fate-in-india/slideshow/30518943.cms, last accessed on May 17, 2018
20https://scroll.in/article/820287/why-this-book-on-indias-annexation-of-sikkim-needs-to-be-read-today
21The Times of India, “Top 10 banned books in India”, See: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/life-style/books/nine-hours-to-rama-by-stanley-wolpert/photostory/58144882.cms, last accessed on May 17, 2018
22 The Indian Express, “Who Killed Gandhi’: PIL in Bombay HC seeks revocation of ban on book”, See: http://indianexpress.com/article/india/who-killed-gandhi-pil-in-bombay-hc-seeks-revocation-of-ban-on-book-on-gandhis-assassination-5014992/, last accessed on May 17, 2018
23The Hindu, “You can’t read this book”, See: http://www.thehindu.com/books/you-cant-read-this-book/article2953626.ece, last accessed on May 17, 2018
24Business Standard, “Nilanjana S Roy: Banned books in India: 1970s-2006”, See: http://www.business-standard.com/article/opinion/nilanjana-s-roy-banned-books-in-india-1970s-2006-106053001122_1.html, last accessed on May 17, 2018.
25http://www.business-standard.com/article/opinion/nilanjana-s-roy-banned-books-in-india-1970s-2006-106053001122_1.htm
26https://www.storypick.com/india-banned-books/
27https://web.archive.org/web/20120921231147/http://www.chennaicustoms.gov.in/imports/part3.htm
28https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/books/8066784/Lady-Chatterley-trial-50-years-on.-The-filthy-book-that-set-us-free-and-fettered-us-forever.html
29The Economic Times, “Some books that met a ‘banned’ fate in India”, See: https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/slideshows/advertising-marketing/some-books-that-met-a-banned-fate-in-india/slideshow/30518943.cms, last accessed on May 17, 2018
30https://topyaps.com/top-10-banned-books-in-india
32https://www.storypick.com/india-banned-books/
33https://scroll.in/article/817926/aubrey-menons-rama-retold-tells-us-to-laugh-at-the-ramayana-no-wonder-its-still-banned
34https://postcard.news/here-is-a-list-of-banned-books-in-india-for-various-reasons-why-are-these-banned/
35https://www.business-standard.com/article/opinion/banned-in-india-the-1930s-1960s-106052301151_1.html
36https://bobytg.blogspot.com/
