Opinion Don’t bind books

It says that while it is a relief that the Union government decided against banning the book,the reason given — that the author has clarified that he has not written what had been attributed to the book — was disturbing. “Its implication is that the government would have been justified in banning the book had it contained what was objected to by sections of society,” it says.

The writer notes that the complexity of Gandhiji’s sexuality has been debated for decades. “He was for total transparency and never tried to hide his life behind the concept of privacy,” he says,citing his secretary Pyarelal Nayyar’s accounts of his life. He argues that most of those demanding a ban are unlikely to have read the book. “Censorship is counter-productive. It was proved beyond a shadow of doubt during the hated Emergency during which even wild rumours were believed as gospel truth. Same is true with films and books. The more you suppress,the higher the curiosity.” Interestingly,the article cites the example of James Laine’s book on “Hindu icon” Shivaji,which was banned in Maharashtra. “Traditionally,Hindu society has been open and has encouraged thinkers and philosophers to raise questions about fundamental issues pertaining to religion and society. Tolerating,even respecting,contrary viewpoints has been our ancient tradition. People’s anger can be understood if the intention were to malign an icon or to heap insults on deities and faiths. That is not the case so far as Great Soul (Lelyveld’s book) is concerned. Hence censorship or ban is totally uncalled for and unjustified,” it argues.

Free play

The RSS claims that the UPA is trying to use cricket mania as opium for the masses,attempting to conceal its governance failure and the despair in society. An Organiser editorial notes that today’s politicians put the maharajas of yore to shame,in “giving away cash and other generous gifts — from public money,taxes paid by the hardworking and rule-abiding Indians,without any accountability whatsoever — to cricketers,who are anyway paid for what they are doing.”

It slams the tax exemptions given to the ICC and the Indian Premier League. “Both these bodies are commercial ventures. They market and sell their product and earn crores of rupees from their activities. The general Indian public pays for all the entertainment provided by these so-called sports bodies,” it says.

As for the World Cup win,it says Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi “unabashedly tried” to make India’s win some sort of victory for the government. On the other hand,various state governments announced awards and the Delhi government exempted the players from house tax. The editorial,however,did not name the other states which announced cash and other rewards for the cricketers,namely BJP-ruled Karnataka and Jharkhand.

“Cricket is just a sport and it so happens that a vast majority of Indians enjoy it. Call it the colonial hangover if one must. But it stepped out of the sports category when politicians entered,in hordes,the various controlling institutions of the game. And they invaded these bodies because there is money in it,” the editorial says.

Meanwhile,the sports ministry gets a paltry allocation in the Budget and only a few rupees reach the lower levels where talent has to be identified and promoted in a range of sports. It adds that the members of the Maharashtra assembly crossed all limits of good sense in demanding a Bharat Ratna for Sachin Tendulkar. “Marathi pride should also have some tinge of respect for the highest civil award of the land. It has been bestowed on such eminences as M.S. Subbalakshmi,Ustad Bismillah Khan and Bhimsen Joshi. These awardees lived lives of tapasya and did not convert their talent into venture capital,” it argues.

Finally,it appeals that cricket be treated as only a game. “This politicisation of sports must stop and the government should refrain from giving lavish gifts,tax exemptions selectively to associations because of the sectoral interests of individuals.”

Implicating Aseemanand

The Panchjanya editorial focuses on Swami Aseemanand’s recent statement accusing the investigating agencies of pressuring him to confess his involvement in the Ajmer dargah,Mecca mosque,Malegaon and Samjhauta Express blasts.

It says Aseemanand’s affidavit in an Ajmer court stating that his earlier confession was a result of police torture,death threats and pressure to turn approver,has vindicated the misgivings that had been earlier expressed about the confession. This has exposed the anti-Hindutva consipracy of the government,and its attempt to paint nationalist organisations as Hindu terrorists,it argues.

The editorial claims that the Aseemanand episode has turned out to be yet another example of Muslim appeasement and anti-Hindutva propanda emanating from 10,Janpath. It says the story that had been spread about a Muslim boy — accused in a blast case — changing Aseemanand’s heart had sounded suspect,and now Aseemanand himself has clarified matters.

Compiled by Manoj C.G.