Another book by Wendy Doniger under attack
Shiksha
Bachao
Andolan
Samiti
(SBAS)
today
demanded
that
the
Aleph
Book
Company
stop
sales
and
pulp
all
remaining
copies
of
Doniger's
book
'On
Hinduism',
published
in
2013.
Dina Nath Batra, who had led the charge against Doniger's previous book, said that the contents of 'On Hinduism' were, like the previous work, 'malicious and offending'.
'She has used derogatory terms for Hindu deities, which hurts the sentiments of devotees,' Batra charged. The book is part of a conspiracy hatched by 'pseudo secularists' to tarnish the image of Hindu culture and India, he alleged.
'It
is
part
of
a
conspiracy
hatched
by
the
children
of
(Karl)
Marx
and
(Thomas)
Macaulay
to
tarnish
the
image
of
Hindu
culture.
There
are
certain
pseudo
secularists
who
are
behind
this
conspiracy,'
Batra
alleged.
Atul Kothari, co-convener of SBAS, said the publishers had assured that they would pulp the book within a week but, if that did not happen, legal recourse would be taken.
'We have been given an oral assurance by the publishers that the sales of the book will be stalled. The publishers have been given a week's time to provide an assurance in writing, failing which, SBAS would... move the judiciary,' Kothari said.
The publisher, when contacted, however, declined to comment on the issue.
Doniger's 2009 book, 'The Hindus: An Alternative History', was pulped by Penguin following a row over its contents.
She
has
been
accused
by
SBAS
of
using
content
which
is
'derogatory
and
offending
to
Hinduism'
and
'misrepresents
facts'.
'Recalling this book is essential because (Doniger), a so- called scholar, has misrepresented India and Hinduism. If research studies are carried out in future on Hinduism and her book is referred to, it will lead to an alteration of facts.
'That is not correct; therefore, we demand this book be recalled and banned,' said Kothari.
Citing Article 295 (A) of Indian Penal Code, Batra said, 'Article 295 (A) states that deliberate and malicious acts intended to outrage religious feelings of any class by insulting its religion or religious beliefs shall be punished with imprisonment or fine, or both.
PTI