J&K bans 25 books on Kashmir, cites ‘secessionist propaganda’ in works by Roy, Noorani, Bose

In an unprecedented move that has sparked fresh concerns over intellectual freedom and censorship, the Jammu and Kashmir Home Department has ordered a ban on the publication and circulation of 25 books related to the Kashmir conflict, alleging that they promote “false narratives” and “secessionism.”

The banned titles — spanning decades of scholarly and political discourse—include works by some of the most respected voices in academia and journalism: Arundhati Roy, AG Noorani, Sumantra Bose, Anuradha Bhasin, and David Devadas, among others.

According to the official notification issued by Principal Secretary Chandraker Bharti under the directive of Lieutenant-Governor Manoj Sinha, the literature in question “deeply impacts the psyche of youth by promoting a culture of grievance, victimhood, and terrorist heroism.”

The order claims that the books contribute to radicalization by allegedly distorting historical facts, glorifying terrorism, vilifying security forces, and fostering alienation. It states that these works violate Sections 152, 196, and 197 of the Bhartiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, and declares them forfeited under Section 98 of the Bhartiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita.

Among the banned titles is The Kashmir Dispute 1947–2012 by noted constitutional expert A.G. Noorani; Azadi and Kashmir: The Case for Freedom by Booker Prize-winner Arundhati Roy; Contested Lands and Kashmir at the Crossroads by political scientist Sumantra Bose; and A Dismantled State: The Untold Story of Kashmir After Article 370 by journalist Anuradha Bhasin.

Also on the list are globally published academic texts, such as Hafsa Kanjwal’s Colonizing Kashmir, Victoria Schofield’s Kashmir in Conflict, Ather Zia’s Resisting Disappearance, and Seema Kazi’s Between Democracy & Nation, reflecting an international dimension to the sweeping action.

Other authors and editors affected by the ban include Christopher Snedden, Maroof Raza, Haley Duschinski, Piotr Balcerowicz, and Sugata Bose.

Religious and ideological texts have not been spared either. Publications such as Al Jihad fil Islam by Jamaat-e-Islami founder Maulana Abul A’la Maududi and Mujahid ki Azan by Muslim Brotherhood founder Hasan al-Banna have also been declared prohibited.

The notification justifies the forfeiture by alleging these works “excite secessionism and endanger the sovereignty and integrity of India.” Critics, however, argue that this blanket ban amounts to silencing dissent and erasing diverse historical and political perspectives from the public domain.

While the government maintains that the move is intended to curb radicalization and prevent glorification of violence, the decision is likely to face strong backlash from free speech advocates, academics, and rights organizations — both within India and internationally.