The Jharkhand government on Friday banned Sahitya Akademi award winning writer Hansda Sowvendra Shekhar’s book, The Adivasi Will Not Dance, alleging that it hurt the dignity of women of the Santhal tribe. The matter was tossed in the Jharkhand Assembly by Opposition leader Sita Soren. The Santhal legislator said the book insulted the women of the tribe, and that the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha demand a ban on the book.
Chief Minister Raghubar Das later directed Chief Secretary Rajbala Verma to seize copies of the book. The chief minister also ordered that a First Information Report is filed against Shekhar.
Keeping the ongoing situation in mind, Shekhar in an exclusive interview with NewsCode Jharkhand, said that, those accusing the book of nudity, have not really read or understood the book properly. The book, published in November 2015, is a collection of short stories. Shekhar is a doctor based in Pakur district of Jharkhand. When asked about his personal experience, on which the book is based on, he said “The book is based on my experience and experience of the others, who have recounted their stories to me. That is what the book is all about.”
Refraining to comment on government outlawing his books, he said that neither does he want to take any action regarding the matter nor does he wish to speak about it.
