Isn’t it surprising that books can be banned for merely challenging common beliefs? It’s odd but not uncommon to see books getting banned in India despite the right to freedom of speech. It’s kind of ironic because books are meant to broaden our understanding, yet are sometimes censored to limit our perspectives. It’s like saying, “Here’s a book that could broaden your mind and make you think differently, but sorry, you can’t read it!”

As I write this, a quote by Oscar Wilde comes to my mind: “The books that the world calls immoral are the books that show the world its own shame.” ― Oscar Wilde

Books often become controversial if they talk about sensitive topics that challenge widely accepted beliefs. Book bans are popular among dictators who feel threatened by new ideas. Book banning in India has a complicated history influenced by a mix of cultural, political, and social factors. But you know what’s interesting? Despite all the bans, it shows that ideas are unstoppable. For every banned book, there are readers hungry for the forbidden fruit that’s even more tempting to taste. 

{We have also compiled a list of 10 Banned Books in India. How many of them have you read?}

Let’s take a look at these books that have been at the center of controversy:

• The Satanic Verses by Salman Rushdie

Imagine getting death threats simply because of a book you wrote. One of the most controversial novels ever written, The Satanic Verses by Salman Rushdie was published in 1988. The novel caused great anger in Muslim communities because of how it depicted Prophet Muhammad and certain passages that were seen as disrespectful. The book explores religion, identity, and culture by mixing fantasy with reality. This led to protests, burning of the book, bans in various countries, and even death threats against Rushdie. 

“From the beginning men used God to justify the unjustifiable.”

• Lajja by Taslima Nasrin 

Lajja by Taslima Nasrin is a poignant novel that talks about the struggles faced by the Dutta family in Bangladesh due to religious conflicts. The story highlights the love of the Dutta family for their homeland despite facing violence and injustice. The book was banned in some states of India and Bangladesh in 1993 because of its portrayal of religious intolerance and violence in Bangladesh after the Babri Masjid demolition in India. The book talked about the atrocities faced by Hindus, including rape and murder, during the riots. The book received government criticism in both India and Bangladesh followed by a ban on the book. Taslima Nasrin faced allegations of misinterpretation of Islam, leading to death threats and fatwas issued by Islam clerics.   

“Even today, the politics of religion does not allow the subcontinent to become civilized and its people to become truly educated.”

{Here’s a list of 24 must read books for children to ignite their passion for reading.}

• Jinnah: India, Partition, Independence by Jaswant Singh

The biography of Muhammad Ali Jinnah, the founder of Pakistan, landed in controversy right after its release. The book took a new perspective on Jinnah, the man who played a key role in creating Pakistan. Instead of portraying him as a negative figure, the book showed him in a more sympathetic light. Singh’s portrayal of Jinnah as a moderate leader who wanted unity between Hindus and Muslims went against what many people believed about Jinnah in India. Because of this, it was banned in Gujarat. The timing of the book’s release also played a role in sparking heated debates. It came out at a time when there were issues within the BJP party. This led to him being kicked out of the party, making the controversy more political. 

“Religion in all this was entirely incidental; Pakistan alone gave him all that his personality and character demanded. If Mr. Jinnah was necessary for achieving Pakistan, Pakistan too was necessary for the fulfilment of Mr. Jinnah.”

• Such a Long Journey by Rohinton Mistry

The novel follows the life of Gustad Noble, an ordinary man who lives in Mumbai. The book talks about his everyday life and struggles, including family problems and political events happening around him. One of the main events in the story is the India-Pakistan war in 1971. What adds to the drama is when Gustad’s son gets involved in a political issue. 

Now, why did this book cause controversy? Some people didn’t like how it showed certain political events and characters. They felt it wasn’t accurate or fair. This led to objections and calls for the book to be banned in Mumbai University. It also raised questions about freedom in writing, censorship, and the responsibility of writers to accurately represent sensitive topics. 

“There was something patently ungrateful about the transaction, a lack of good taste in whoever was responsible for such a pointless, wasteful finish: beautiful colourful creatures, full of life and fun, hidden under the drab soil of the compound.”

• Sita’s Curse by Sreemoyee Piu Kundu 

Sita’s Curse is a gripping story that talks about the life of Meera Patel, a woman trapped in loveless marriage and yearning for love, and fulfillment. The book talks about female sexuality, societal taboos, and the experience of women in modern India. Through Meera’s journey, the book explores themes of passion, longing, limitations imposed on women by societal norms and traditions. Some readers and critics found the explicit scenes in the book to be too bold or provocative. This led to objections and calls for censorship. However, the book presents an engaging story that challenges societal norms and traditions in contemporary India.

‘Woman is neither open nor closed. She is indefinite, in-finite…this incompleteness in her form, her morphology, allows her continually to become something else … No metaphor completes her…perhaps this is what is meant by her insatiable thirst for satisfaction. No one single thing … can complete the development of a woman’s desire.’

• Understanding Islam through Hadis by Ram Swarup

Published in 1982, the book talks about Islamic teachings, particularly focusing on Hadiths, which are important writings in Islam. Now, what makes this book intriguing is that it doesn’t shy away from discussing sensitive topics within Islam. For example, it talks about how women are treated, the idea of Jihad, which is often misunderstood. As you can imagine, these are quite controversial subjects. The book was found to be controversial because of its critical analysis of certain Islamic beliefs. Some people felt it promoted Islamophobia. And, well, you can guess what happened next- the book got banned in 1984 in the name of respecting religious sentiments.

In the language of the Muslim theologians, Islam is a complete and completed religion. It is equally political and military. It has much to do with statecraft, and it has a very specific view of the world peopled by infidels. Since most of the world is still infidel, it is very important for those who are not Muslims to understand Islam.

• Riddles in Hinduism by B.R. Ambedkar

Riddles in Hinduism, a book that stirred both curiosity and controversy, is a series of essays that talks about the complexities of Hindu beliefs and rituals. The author questions why certain things are done in Hinduism and presents arguments that challenge traditional Hindu ideas. He doesn’t shy away from exploring controversial topics like caste discrimination and the role of women in Hindu society. But not everyone welcomed Ambedkar’s views with open arms. The controversy around this book came because people felt that it was criticizing Hindu beliefs too harshly. It was considered to be disrespectful to traditional Hindu practices, resulting in demand for the book to be banned. 

“The Vedas are a worthless set of books. There is no reason either to call them sacred or infallible…come when the Hindu mind must be freed from the hold which the silly ideas propagated by the Brahmans have on them. Without this, the liberation of India has no future.

{We have collated a list of 15 Indian Short Stories that you can read online.}

• The God of Small Things by Arundhati Roy

“The God of Small Things” is a poignant story which revolves around the lives of twins, Estha and Rahel, and their dysfunctional family. Set in Kerala, against the backdrop of India’s caste system, the novel explores the themes of love, loss, and societal norms. Now, why did it cause a stir? The novel includes explicit scenes and discussions related to sexuality, which was found to be controversial. It challenged the conservative attitude towards sex prevalent in Indian society. It also faced criticism from certain groups who felt that it portrayed Kerala in a negative light. It became a hot topic for debate, leading to calls for its banning by certain groups. 

And the air was full of Thoughts and Things to Say. But at times like these, only the Small Things are ever said. Big Things lurk unsaid inside.

• One Part Woman by Perumal Murugan

The book tells the story of Kali and Ponna, a couple deeply in love but struggling with something heartbreaking- they can’t have a child. In their village, having a child is like stamp of validation on their marriage. So, you can imagine the societal pressure they feel. Now, here’s where things get controversial. In their village, there’s an old tradition during a temple festival called “Kudumba Vallikku Nainar” for childless couples. It’s seen as a last hope for a miracle. But, during this ritual, usual rules are bent, and things get intimate. Some people felt the book was disrespectful to their traditions because it presented the ancient ritual in a negative light. 

Sometimes, it is easier to cling to the familiar rather than to embrace the unknown.

• An Area of Darkness by V.S. Naipaul

The book is a travelogue that talks about Naipaul’s trip to India in the 1960s. The book presents a critical portrayal of Indian society, culture, and politics as experienced by the author during his travels. From the physical appearance of people to the state of buildings and religious customs, Naipaul criticized everything. While some readers appreciated his insights into India’s challenges, many others felt offended by his overly critical and pessimistic portrayal of the country. Some scholars also questioned the accuracy of his observations and believed them to be influenced by personal biases. They felt that he focused too much on the country’s problems like poverty and corruption, ignoring its rich history and cultural diversity.

Out of all its squalor and human decay, its eruptions of butchery, India produced so many people of grace and beauty, ruled by elaborate courtesy. Producing too much life, it denied the value of life, yet it permitted a unique human development to so many.”

{Here is a list of Top 10 book blurb examples by Indian Authors that you may find interesting.}

• Himalayan Blunder: The Curtain-Raiser to the Sino-Indian War of 1962 by Brigadier J.P. Dalvi

The book is written by Brigadier John Dalvi, a former officer in the Indian Army. It is a detailed account of the war that happened between India and China back in 1962. It explains how India lost the war because of mistakes made by military leaders and the government. It also talks about the challenges faced by the Indian soldiers in the difficult Himalayan mountains. What made the book controversial is that it openly blamed the government and military leaders for their mistakes. It questioned the leadership qualities of top officials, which was highly controversial at that time. As a result, the book was banned in India right after its release. 

“Instead of gracefully accepting responsibility for erroneous policies, the guilty men sought alibis and scapegoats. In any developed democracy the Government would have been replaced, instead of being allowed to continue in office and sit in judgment on their subordinates.”

• The Descent of Air India by Jitender Bhargava

“The Descent of Air India” is written by Jitender Bhargava, a former executive director of Air India. The book talks about the decline of Air India which was once a leading airline of India. The author talks about how issues like mismanagement, corruption, and bad decisions made within the airline led to its downfall. The book became controversial because it revealed a lot of internal problems within Air India that many people didn’t know about. It raised questions about how the airline was managed and how it failed to compete effectively in the aviation industry.

Everyone seemed to be working towards their personal goals and missions, while the interests of Air India receded to the background.

{If you are struggling with writer’s block, here are 30 creative writing prompts that can help you out of the slump}

• The Myth of the Holy Cow by D.N. Jha

In this book, the author talks about why cows are considered sacred in India. It challenges the traditional belief that cows have always been considered sacred in Hinduism. The author argues that the concept of worshipping cows was not a constant belief in ancient India. To support his argument, the author explored various sources such as ancient scriptures, and historical evidences. It caused a lot of controversy as it upset the beliefs of conservative groups who believe that cows have always been holy. Upon its release, it was banned by the Hyderabad Civil Court. The author even received death threats to his life.

But the holiness of the cow is elusive. For there has never been a cow-goddess, nor any temple in her honour. Nevertheless the veneration of this animal has come to be viewed as a characteristic trait of modern day non-existent monolithic ‘Hinduism’ bandied about by the Hindutva forces.

• Rangila Rasul by Pandit Chamupati

The book was published in 1927 in British India by Pandit Chamupati. The very title of the book is offensive. The book contained verses that were highly offensive towards Prophet Muhammad. The book was written in response to another pamphlet that insulted a Hindu goddess. People were deeply offended by the disrespectful way the book talked about Prophet Muhammad. This led to protests and legal actions. Eventually, the book was banned, and its author faced severe backlash for hurting religious sentiments and causing communal disharmony. 

• Reminiscences of the Nehru Age by M.O. Mathai

The book was written by M.O. Mathai, who was an Indian Civil Servant and close associate of Jawahar Lal Nehru. It talks of Mathai’s experiences and observations during his time working closely with Nehru. He shares stories about Nehru’s leadership style, his family life, and his interactions with other leaders. But what made the book controversial was the revelations of Nehru’s personal life. The author reveals intimate details about his alleged affairs with various women. Critics argued that such details were unnecessary and could damage Nehru’s reputation as a political leader. 

The saddest experience of my life was visits with Nehru to the undivided Punjab. We had to wade through the debris of destroyed houses and dead bodies of innocent people in Multan, Lahore and Amritsar. We witnessed the largest migration in history involving eighteen million people both ways.

{Are you struggling with your writing project? We have a guide that can help you get on track.}

Controversial books often create a sense of curiosity among readers. They are super interesting as they often hold stories and perspective that challenge the norm. Controversy can sometimes help boost book sales by attracting attention. But, it’s not good to deliberately write controversial stuff just for attention. Authors should aim to write books that resonate with readers. Quality writing is what really matters in the end.