Bollywood reacts to book ban

Rohinton Mistry's novel Such A Long Journey has been withdrawn from the Mumbai University syllabus. Bollywood feels a determined, one-track endeavor is required to safeguard the freedom of expression in our country. Read on...

Govind Nihalani: In principle, I am against the banning of any work of literature and art. In this case, Such A Long Journey is not banned but has been withdrawn from the syllabus of the Mumbai University. And the Maharashtra government seems to be supporting the withdrawal. This is a very dangerous trend. The freedom of expression in our country is deeply threatened. A determined struggle is required to safeguard it. ( Text: Mid-day)

Pooja Bhatt: (The only woman who responded): I'm rather disappointed with the university being unable to take a much-needed stand against these self-proclaimed moralists. (Text: Mid-Day)

Naseeruddin Shah: The university is either totally spineless or the VC is a rabid Shiv Sainik.

Sudhir Mishra: I am against any ban. I am a big fan of Gandhiji. But I publicly spoke against the ban on the play Mee Nathuram Godse, which presented Godse's view. Those who disagree with the book have every right to write against it and to urge people not to read it. But they can't ban it.

Abbas Tyrewala: (Sarcastically) I feel great. We're a pathetic frightened people. And we need the Sena and the Thackerays as the mirror of our times. This is a reminder of our lack of courage and of our moral degeneration. As always and like everyone else I feel a sense of pointless anger. Not to worry. We'll all get over it in a week. Vote for Aditya. Maharashtra deserves him.

Tigmanshu Dhulia: Political parties have the right to call for a ban on the book if they feel it is defaming a certain political ideology. But the VC of Mumbai University took a very un-democratic step by just banning the book without going through the proper process.

Sanjay Gupta: I totally condemn this stupidity. It is a shame that all it took was a little arm-twisting and the vice-chancellor gave in. Not the book, his job should be scrapped. This is an all-time low for our democracy when the government is a silent spectator to the mutilation of our education system.

Kabir Bedi: I'm against banning books in principle. Book-burning too is barbaric!

Vishal Dadlani: I think it's terribly regressive and shameful. A handful of people are trying to keep us all illiterate. Music, art and all creative forms of expression are and must be allowed to remain above petty politicians and their agendas. If we toe the line, we lose all hope of progress and genuine democracy.

Victor Bannerjee: This ban is a trivial flexing of impudent muscles subjugating bureaucratic impotence. But our disgraceful ban on Salman Rushdie in 1988 has made us look like cowards. Artistic expression in writing is the only 'untouchable' touchstone we must nurture and pamper in this world of opportunism, corruption and cowardice.

Chetan Bhagat: This is a way for a political party to get attention. And they've got it. People shouldn't react so much on the issue and give it credibility. It's an old book, in the syllabus for a long time. Obviously no real issue here. I hope voters care about Maharashtra's progress more than such attention-seeking tactics.

Atul Kulkarni: These days, I've started feeling that by commenting on such acts I only increase their sense of importance. That's what they do it for.

Rajit Kapoor: Fifty per cent of fiction has characters critical of some social or political structure in some country. Should they not be read? What a shame that our political parties cannot maturely handle criticism! That too in fiction about a cantankerous character. The book should be restored into the syllabus.

Prasoon Joshi: We often underestimate the intelligence of our audience and readers. Any interest group or faction that seeks to protect or ban should respect the discerning ability of the public. Literary expression cannot be made the victim of a limited agenda.

Sonu Sood: Rohinton Mistry is a celebrated author. There should be an inquiry into the context of the ban. Only if it creates unrest or hurts a community is a ban justified.

Mahesh Bhatt: The more things change the more they remain the same. The politics of intolerance triumphs.

Jagmohan Mundhra: I am appalled at the VC's decision to drop the book from the syllabus because of the bullying tactics of a political party. One cannot rewrite pages of history just because they get embarrassing or inconvenient. India cannot call itself a democracy if its artistes don't have freedom of expression.