Rohinton Mistry hits back at Sena, V-C for banning his book

MUMBAI: After several days of heated public debate and indignation over the withdrawal of Rohinton Mistry’s book, Such A Long Journey, from the Mumbai University syllabus at the behest of the Shiv Sena, the subject of the controversy himself has broken his silence. In a hard-hitting statement from Canada, where he is based, the reclusive author has slammed the Sena, scion Aditya Thackeray who led the protest and Mumbai University vice-chancellor Rajan Welukar who capitulated to the demand immediately.
Says Mistry of Aditya, who was “introduced’’ as Sena heir in the party’s Dussehra public meeting at Shivaji Park on Sunday: “As for the grandson of the Shiv Sena leader, the young man who takes credit for the whole pathetic business, who admits to not having read the book, just the few lines that offend him and his bibliophobic brethren, he has now been inducted in the family enterprise of parochial politics, anointed leader of his newly minted “youth wing’’.What can—what should—one feel about him? Pity, disappointment, compassion?”
“Twenty years old, in the final year of a BA in history, at my own Alma Mater, the beneficiary of a good education, he is about to embark down the Sena’s well-trodden path, to appeal, like those before him, to all that is worst in human nature.’’
Vice-chancellor Rajan Welukar is not spared either. Copies of Such a Long Journey were burnt by Sena activists, who declared on national television that they would have burned the author too if he were in India. “The mob demands the book’s removal within 24 hours from the syllabus,’’ says Mistry. “The good vice-chancellor obliges the mob. All this happened in September.
Subsequently, the Shiv Sena sent fulsome congratulations to the vice-chancellor on his prompt and wise decision. Students and faculty protested the abomination, unwilling to accept this abuse of power, his invoking of emergency measures unused in the University’s 153-year history, circumventing the process for syllabus change, damaging the University’s reputation, succumbing to political pressure. For days, the vice-chancellor said nothing, offered no explanation. He is, we are told, a PhD in statistics—a useful subject for dealing with permutations, combinations, probabilities but silent on the matter of moral responsibility.’’
Mistry says that Thackeray’s action is in keeping with the Sena’s history of trampling on freedom of speech. “In this sorry spectacle of book-burning and book-banning, the Shiv Sena has followed its depressingly familiar, tediously predictable script of threats and intimidation that Mumbai has endured since the organisation’s founding in 1966. But it is the expeditious decision by Mumbai University which causes profound dismay. After his long silence, the vice-chancellor has now stated that he, in fact, followed correct procedures, and the decision was taken by the Board of Studies. The outgoing Board of Studies, to be precise. But one thing remains: a political party demanded an immediate change in syllabus, and Mumbai University provided de luxe service via express delivery. The University, in the person of the vice-chancellor, occupies an exalted position in civil society, the champion of academic independence and freedom of expression. Instead, Mumbai University has come perilously close to institutionalising the ugly notion of self-censorship. The vice-chancellor knows what he must do to remove the stain.’’
Did Aditya Thackeray have to walk the path of violence like his older family members? No, says Mistry. “He is clearly equipped to choose for himself. He could lead, instead of following, the old regime. He could say something radical—that burning and banning books will not feed one hungry soul, will not house one homeless person nor will it provide gainful employment to anyone (unless one counts those hired to light bonfires), not in Mumbai, not in Maharashtra, not anywhere, not ever.’’
Finally, Mistry recommends two books that could help Aditya make a choice. “Since he is drawn to books, he might want to read, carefully this time, from cover to cover a couple that would help him make his choice. First Joseph Conrad’s Heart Of Darkness in order to consider the options: step back from the abyss, or go over the edge. Next Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore’s Gitanjali. And I would urge particular attention to this verse: ‘Where the mind is without fear and the head is held high;Where knowledge is free;Where the world has not been broken up into fragments by narrow domestic walls;
...Into that heaven of freedom, my Father, let my country awake.’ ‘’
Meanwhile, chief minister Ashok Chavan said on Monday, “Rohinton Mistry’s book uses objectionable language. We wouldn’t approve the book for students.’’