How far can a ban go?

The huge controversy over inviting Salman Rushdie to the Jaipur Literary Festival (JLF) has brought to fore the very limits of a ban. Banning a book goes so far as preventing its publication and distribution. The publication is banned - the government as such cannot ban any person from traveling to India unless that person requires a visa.

Now, Mr. Rushdie holds a PIO Card, which allows his to travel to India without a visa. Therefore, the initial salvo from the Darul-ul-Uloom Deoband calling for denial of visa stands hollow. Then came allegations of a threat to his life form the Jaipur Police, something that was rubbished by the Mumbai Police. Clearly, in an election year, politics are begin played over the issue.

The real shocker came when some writers began to read lines from The Satanic Verses, following which they left Jaipur for fear of being arrested. The ban on the book in question does not mean that one cannot discuss the book, or read it from some legal source. A ban on a book does not translate into a mass gag order on the entire nation - no law in the country can do that.

The events at JLF are unfortunate and highly political in nature. Even disallowing a video link takes this matter too fast. We Indians need to take our country back from religious bigots and keep our minds open to new ideas.