The Writer, the Reader and the State

Literary Censorship in India

This book offers a comprehensive account of the censorship of literature in India since Independence and the recent trends in literature banning

The author recalls the literary censorship of books in India, both in English and in regional languages, and the impact of Emergency on banned books.  The book highlights recent trends and current challenges to free literary expression in the country and attempts to locate it in the tradition of Indian literary history.

The term ‘censorship’, used in the book, is a rubric that includes various repressive measures, both governmental and non-governmental, in banning a book after publication, withdrawing a book using coercive tactics or suppression of a work on other grounds. It adds a literary perspective to the process of reception of these books by the reader.