Varanasi, Kolkata: Cancellations of cultural events under pressure raise concerns on freedom of expression

By A Representative

The online programme of scientist, poet, and public intellectual Gauhar Raza, scheduled for September 23 at IIT-BHU, was cancelled after protests from Hindu fundamentalist groups. The decision follows a similar controversy earlier this month in West Bengal, where the Urdu Academy indefinitely postponed a four-day literary festival after Muslim organisations objected to the participation of lyricist and poet Javed Akhtar.

In Varanasi, Raza’s lecture at IIT-BHU was dropped at the last moment amid objections from Hindu groups. The development has sparked criticism from academics and cultural figures who view it as yet another instance of intolerance toward differing views.

In Kolkata, the Urdu Academy had planned a festival on the theme “Urdu in Hindi Cinema” from August 31 to September 3, with Javed Akhtar as chief guest for a mushaira. Organisations such as Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind and the Wahyahin Foundation protested the invitation, claiming Akhtar had made remarks offensive to Islam. Protest letters described him as “anti-Muslim” and even used derogatory terms, while threatening state-wide agitation if he was not dropped. Facing the pressure, the Academy announced the programme’s postponement on August 30, a day before it was to begin. Reports suggest the event is unlikely to be revived, effectively amounting to cancellation.

Writers, intellectuals, and sections of civil society have expressed concern over these incidents, warning that yielding to sectarian pressure undermines both freedom of expression and the autonomy of cultural institutions. Critics say that literature, poetry, and debate—traditionally celebrated as spaces for dialogue—are increasingly being constrained by religious sensitivities and political considerations.

The Socialist Party (India), commenting on the Gauhar Raza case, called the cancellation “unfortunate” and cautioned that cultural and educational platforms must remain free from communal or political interference. The party underlined that silencing dissenting and progressive voices is “a dangerous sign” for India’s democratic and secular framework.

The two episodes, though arising from different regions and involving different communities, highlight a growing tendency for cultural programmes to come under attack from religious groups. Observers warn that if such pressures continue unchecked, the country’s literary and cultural institutions risk losing their independence and vitality.

---

Pix: Javed Akhtar, Gauhar Raza

Comments

From Kerala to Bangladesh: Lynching highlights deep social faultlines

By A Representative The recent incidents of mob lynching—one in Bangladesh involving a Hindu citizen and another in Kerala where a man was killed after being mistaken for a “Bangladeshi”—have sparked outrage and calls for accountability.

What Sister Nivedita understood about India that we have forgotten

By Harasankar Adhikari In the idea of a “Vikshit Bharat,” many real problems—hunger, poverty, ill health, unemployment, and joblessness—are increasingly overshadowed by the religious contest between Hindu and Muslim fundamentalisms. This contest is often sponsored and patronised by political parties across the spectrum, whether openly Hindutva-oriented, Islamist, partisan, or self-proclaimed secular.

When a city rebuilt forgets its builders: Migrant workers’ struggle for sanitation in Bhuj

Khasra Ground site By Aseem Mishra* Access to safe drinking water and sanitation is not a privilege—it is a fundamental human right. This principle has been unequivocally recognised by the United Nations and repeatedly affirmed by the Supreme Court of India as intrinsic to the right to life and dignity under Article 21 of the Constitution. Yet, for thousands of migrant workers living in Bhuj, this right remains elusive, exposing a troubling disconnect between constitutional guarantees, policy declarations, and lived reality.

Policy changes in rural employment scheme and the politics of nomenclature

By N.S. Venkataraman* The Government of India has introduced a revised rural employment programme by fine-tuning the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), which has been in operation for nearly two decades. The MGNREGA scheme guarantees 100 days of employment annually to rural households and has primarily benefited populations in rural areas. The revised programme has been named VB-G RAM–G (Viksit Bharat Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission – Gramin). The government has stated that the revised scheme incorporates several structural changes, including an increase in guaranteed employment from 100 to 125 days, modifications in the financing pattern, provisions to strengthen unemployment allowances, and penalties for delays in wage payments. Given the extent of these changes, the government has argued that a new name is required to distinguish the revised programme from the existing MGNREGA framework. As has been witnessed in recent years, the introdu...

Aravalli at the crossroads: Environment, democracy, and the crisis of justice

By Rajendra Singh* The functioning of the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change has undergone a troubling shift. Once mandated to safeguard forests and ecosystems, the Ministry now appears increasingly aligned with industrial interests. Its recent affidavit before the Supreme Court makes this drift unmistakably clear. An institution ostensibly created to protect the environment now seems to have strayed from that very purpose.

'Structural sabotage': Concern over sector-limited job guarantee in new employment law

By A Representative The advocacy group Centre for Financial Accountability (CFA) has raised concerns over the passage of the Viksit Bharat – Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (VB–G RAM G), which was approved during the recently concluded session of Parliament amid protests by opposition members. The legislation is intended to replace the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA).

'Festive cheer fades': India’s housing market hits 17‑quarter slump, sales drop 16% in Q4 2025

By A Representative Housing sales across India’s nine major real estate markets fell to a 17‑quarter low in the October–December period of 2025, with overall absorption dropping 16% year‑on‑year to 98,019 units, according to NSE‑listed analytics firm PropEquity. This marks the weakest quarter since Q3 2021, despite the festive season that usually drives demand. On a sequential basis, sales slipped 2%, while new launches contracted by 4%.

Safety, pay and job security drive Urban Company gig workers’ protest in Gurugram

By A Representative Gig and platform service workers associated with Urban Company have stepped up their protest against what they describe as exploitative and unsafe working conditions, submitting a detailed Memorandum of Demands at the company’s Udyog Vihar office in Gurugram. The action is being seen as part of a wider and growing wave of dissatisfaction among gig workers across India, many of whom have resorted to demonstrations, app log-outs and strikes in recent months to press for fair pay, job security and basic labour protections.

Public responses to the niqab incident and Iltija Mufti’s legal complaint

By Raqif Makhdoomi* Following an incident in which the Chief Minister of Bihar was seen pulling aside the niqab of a Muslim woman doctor during a public interaction, the episode drew widespread attention and debate across India. Public reactions were divided, with some defending the action and others criticising it as an infringement on personal autonomy and dignity. The incident was widely circulated on social media and reported by national and international media outlets.

Search This Blog