| Font Size |
“The government has taken a serious note of the book that has made disgraceful statement on the national leader. It is demeaning for the nation,” he said when asked on the government’s reaction to the book during his visit to Congress Bhavan in Pune.
Moily’s statement came even as the Maharashtra government on Tuesday decided to approach the Union government seeking a ban on the book.
“The references made by the American author are not acceptable and the government will initiate steps to ensure that the book does not get published in Maharashtra. We will also request the Central government to initiate steps to ban the book which maligns Mahatma Gandhi’s image,” said Industries Minister Narayan Rane in Mumbai.
“The book has made statements that are unacceptable and it will not be tolerated,” Rane said.
He was replying to a question in the Legislative Council by Congress MLC and state Congress chief Manikrao Thakre.
Thakre highlighted newspaper reports that the book had maligned the character of the Father of the Nation. Council chairman Shivajirao Deshmukh requested Rane to take a decision on the issue on behalf of the government.
The book — Great Soul: Mahatma Gandhi and his struggle with India — has allegedly referred to Gandhi as a bisexual, a racist and a man who loved the concept of humanity more than individual human beings.
Meanwhile, reacting to reports, Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi too urged the Central government to ban the book.
“The apostle of truth, peace and non-violence has been represented in a perverted manner. I urge the Central government to ban its (book’s) sale and publication,’” Modi told reporters in Gandhinagar.
(With ENS Gandhinagar)
Discuss this story on expressindia forums
|
|
How can Moily himself being a writer say such stupid things when he has not even read the book? All these politicians are insulting Gandhiji day in and out by their conduct and behaviour.This is hippocracy. If what the book says is truth then so be it. It is not going to malign Gandhiji's stature in any way. He remains as worthy of respect and emulation as ever. He was a Human and a Great soul inspite of all human failings which he courageously admitted always..
It's interesting and dispiriting that not one of the posters who claim the book "defames" Gandhi and should be banned has 1) read the book or 2) has any reason to believe that the evidence the author cites is false. But hey, ban the book anyway, because, well, because the man who "tempted" himself by sleeping naked 12-year-old girls must now be beyond reproach, right?
Hiding the truth or banning it is not going to sustain india longer, india is doing a great job in brain washnig ignorant indians to stay together and be patriotic so as to pay the social security of the politicians and the army.
Author him self says he didn't write such crap. Then why we are fighting about the right of expression ? It is interesting to see fellow countrymen expressing against encroachment of liberty. But can they maintain same when it involves religion? Then also we fight only to say that sentiments must not get hurt. We Indians come from not only from great diversity but also from several contradictions. Perhaps this is the only piece of land on this earth which defies all natural logics. We pretend that we are above all applicable rules of natural emotions. No other Nation would have taken it nicely if some one tries to script hypothetical theories.
all great people are human, and all biographies are part fact and part fiction.there should be no restriction on expression in a free society.the govt can do better things .gandhi would have survived such writings.
Where are the ADVOCATES of Freedom of Vomiting er.. Expression
This person gandhi was a great person. But then his life also had various shades. Accept it or not. Nobody is fully white and pure, blissful. We are a mature democracy and can handle this better. If you have a point prove it. Just dont ban things as you are not able to counter it by facts and evidences. Get inspired from US. Freedom of speech is very high there. let there be a debate and if the author is wrong sue him and ban the book.
When LEADERS of Congress "TALK" many baseless things that's democracy. When anything is written about "G" same people demand "BAN". Mahatma Gandhi was/is/wiil not be soo.... person needs LOT OF BRAIN to understand "GANDHI" first then "MAHATMA". Western culture does not understand culture of EAST. So such types will cry ...it's necessary to WRITE A BOOK & make them know WHAT IS INDIA "HINDUSTAN"
well again the congress men are in news and raising their voice to ban the book. even i want that. atleast those who fought for the nation need respect adn we ought to give them that. but still i would agree by RAVI, he was a part of freedom struggle but he wasn't all alone. there were those as well who shed their blood and sacrificed their lives for the nation. even they deserve the same respect. all those wo are raising this issue right now, where in the hell they go when our freedom fighters like bhagat singh, sukhdev, rajguru, chander shekhar azad are referred as revolutionary terrorists in our text books and in competitive exams. and i think no one knows better the meaning of terrorist that we do. it was the term described by English and now they are gone. its the white race that today is trying to disgrace gandhi, but in the later case, our so called politicians are doing that. and to bigger unfortunate, if you ask a kid the name of any freedom fighter he know only gandhi,shame
Gandhi, Nehru and Sardar and congress were not alone responsible for giving us independence. Lot of martyrs and freedom fighters like Bhagat singh, Chandra shekhar azaad have played important role in helping for independence. Lot of people despise Gandhi in his home state Gujrat as he was very irresponsible and power hungry to side line Subhaschandra, Sardar and others once part of Congress.
Why the govt. is still considering? Without any further loss of time, the book should be banned. A case must be filed against the writer and publisher for hurting the sentiments of people/defaming Gandhiji. A prompt action is required from the Govt. to convey a right message. If allowed, people like this writer will keep spoiling the character of anybody in the name of freedom of speech.
So a writer should be legally punished, EVEN IF WHAT HE WRITES IS TRUE? Did you read the book? (Stupid question.) DO you have any proof that it doesn't speak the truth? (Another stupid question.)
Why this stupid reaction ? Is the government teling us that it thinks being bi-sexual is something to be ashamed of ? If so, and if Gandhi was indeed bi, are Indians to be ashamed of him ? Stupid!
India can be the only country which is discussing eternally on every issue.The urgency shown in cricket matches and scams must be here also.Govt of India should file a defamation suit against the author.Only money loss can hurt these perverts who would stoop down to any level to make money.Banning etc would only increase the market value of the book.
Please ban before India starts distrusting him for what was not done by him. and people from other countries have no right to speak ill about Great people born in India. this message should be clear to them
the white skinned people do not understand how indians live and do not follow our culture, how we live, who are grand parants, father, mother, brothers, their families, sisters & their families, and they have many specfic words like bisexual, transsexual, etc. after so many years people who do not know gandhi, doing some research publish books and people read them, what a laugh
THEY ARE SO MANY INDIAN LIKE ME WHO DOES NOT CONSIDER M.K. GANDHI AS FATHER OF NATION.HE WAS PART OF FREEDOM MOVEMENT BUT HE ALONE NOT. WHENEVER THERE IS A BOOK ABOUT SO CALLED FATHER OF NATION OR INDIARA GANDHI, NEHRU, AND RAJIV THE CONGRESS ARE RAISING THEIR VOICE OTHER WISE THEY KEY THEIR MOUTH SHUT. THE AUTHOR HAS DESCRIBED THE OTHER SIDE OF SO CALL FATHER OF NATION. IF GOVERNMENT BANS THIS BOOK THEN THEY THE SAME GOVERNMENT SHOULD PUBLISH THE COMPLETE STATEMENT OF MR. NATHURAM GODSHA WHICH HE MADE IN THE COURT.
Dear Sir, Please do not bring such News into the media and create chaos. Suppress the news and close the issue without public's knowledge. I suggest you to remove this post out of your website as well. Thanks and Regards, Saikumar.
Why ban the book?Banning means hiding & it gives wrong impression.The best way is to drag the in court & ask him to prove the facts.
Its high time the government left it to people of india to decide what is and is not right or true. Banning the book is an immature reaction from a country that has been a democracy for more than 60 years now. What is even more starnge is that the comments about banning the book are based on newspaper reports and not actual reading of the book.If one reads the reviews by NYTimes and other papers, the "bisexuality" or "racism" aspects dont come out at all. People who want to read the book will read it and judge it. Others will not. Banning the book will only give it undue publicity and the curiousity factor would lead to more sales, if not in India, then abroad.
What else is expected from this govt? We only speak democracy & have really never learnt to accept the right to free speech & free writings on any subject. Instead of discussing the matter & then prove that it is just a maligning campaigne (or is it??) we just think of BANning the discussions & the book. Long Live Indian Democracy!
What else is expected from this govt? We only speak democracy & have really never learnt to accept the right to free speech & free writings on any subject. Instead of discussing the matter & then prove that it is just a maligning campaigne (or is it??) we just think of BANning the discussions & the book. Long Live Indian Democracy!
What else is expected from this govt? We only speak democracy & have really never learnt to accept the right to free speech & free writings on any subject. Instead of discussing the matter & then prove that it is just a maligning campaigne (or is it??) we just think of BANning the discussions & the book. Long Live Indian Democracy!
What else is expected from this govt? We only speak democracy & have really never learnt to accept the right to free speech & free writings on any subject. Instead of discussing the matter & then prove that it is just a maligning campaigne (or is it??) we just think of BANning the discussions & the book. Long Live Indian Democracy!
This is just too much. the people of this country have a lot of respect for the Mahatma and it makes no sense to know such things about him. its best if people stop creating such a sensation about such a revered man. ban the book !! its just a tantrum by an attention seeker !!
The centre says it'll ban the book. But the media worlwide, including India's has already published innumerable articles about this book and the snippets of the book which hint to the issue. Why ban it now, when everyone knows whats written in it? Just to avoid the author getting more money from sales?