DYFI Stages Protest in Thiruvananthapuram Against Book Ban

Quick Summary

• The Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI) held a protest on Saturday against the Jammu and kashmir Home department’s ban on books.
• DYFI leaders criticized the ban, calling it an attempt to suppress creativity and freedom of expression.
• Protest was conducted in front of Swadeshabhimani ramakrishna Pillai’s bust at Palayam during the Palayam-Vilappil zonal youth march.
• Excerpts from Arundhati Roy’s Azadi: Freedom. Fascism. fiction, which is among the 25 banned books, were read by DYFI district secretary Shiju Khan during the exhibition.
• Leaders including A.Shanavas (Palayam block secretary), Vidya Mohan (district committee member), Mahesh (block president), and others participated in the event.

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Indian Opinion Analysis

The protest organized by DYFI highlights ongoing concerns surrounding censorship in India, especially regarding bans on literary work deemed controversial by authorities. freedom of expression is constitutionally protected under Article 19(1)(a) but is subject to reasonable restrictions, leading to debates about what constitutes “reasonable.” This incident emphasizes growing apprehension over perceived limitations on artistic or intellectual freedoms – a sensitive issue within India’s democratic framework.

Arundhati Roy’s Azadi being one focal point among 25 banned books points to broader tensions between societal narratives and state control in Jammu & Kashmir specifically. Protests such as these can contribute to raising awareness about censorship’s impact and push for constructive dialogues around balancing regulation with free speech protections across diverse perspectives within India.

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