India’s renowned publishing house Bloomsbury is facing collective backlash on its new launch as well as on the panellists of the release launch of the book “Delhi Riots 2020- The Untold Story” authored by Monika Arora alongside two others.
The author shared a tweet announcing about her book, with some bleaking description-
“How Jehadi-Naxal lobby planned & executed ‘Delhi Riots-The Untold Story’. Book launch on 22 Aug at 4 pm…”
The book is set to get launched on the 22nd of August 2020 evening.
https://twitter.com/advmonikaarora/status/1296464770422505473?s=20
Back in February 2020, India faced a heated season for communal hatred where North-East Delhi had the most serious repercussions. Hundreds life lost, thousand became homeless and religious spots getting vandalised. These riots are now being linked with several political parties time by time but the hate speeches by the leaders of the current ruling party significantly encouraged the rampage. One such name repetitively involved was Kapil Mishra.
This name has made a bigger controversy than the name of the book itself. Several Twitter users called our Bloomsbury for being insensitive towards the loss in the riots and inviting Kapil Mishra as a guest of honour at the event. Several other authors who have previously worked with the publishing house are being repeatedly tagged in the tweets to raise a voice.
The published book is facing a lot of criticism by Twitterati. Many alleging the matter as a move to ‘dehumanise a community’.
Issue isn't just Kapil Mishra, that @BloomsburyIndia chose to publish a book based on a one sided report is itself problematic. https://t.co/dQt4BAICWk
— Aditya Menon (@AdityaMenon22) August 21, 2020
@BloomsburyBooks do you know that @bloomsburyIndia
has published a book on the Delhi 2020 riots that places the blame on the victims? It criminalises the muslim community and seeks to dog whistle to the hindu majoritarian politics currently in India.— Persis Taraporevala (@persis@mastodon.social) (@persistara) August 21, 2020
Bloomsbury has released an official statement to The Hindu’s Suhasini Haider saying the book is being published under their banner however they are not hosting any launch event.
Bloomsbury India says it isn't organising tomorrow's book launch.
Official Statement @BloomsburyIndia pic.twitter.com/WRT0MwDiXA— Suhasini Haidar (@suhasinih) August 21, 2020
“This is not about Cancel Culture. This is about defending literature from fascism. This is about standing up against religious divide, hate speech, islamophobia and false history.”, said poet and writer Meena Kandasamy.
The Delhi Police, in its investigation into the February Riots, may have stated “no actionable evidence found” against Kapil Mishra and his instigated violence but the amalgamation of February Riots and September Book launch has definitely bought Bloomsbury India under magnanimous critique.
Hey @BloomsburyBooks @BloomsburyIndia @BloomsburyPub
We wanted to submit a cover Illustration. Let us know if you like this.Art by : @SusrutoM @MBobbying #bloomsbury #shame pic.twitter.com/8sFxwtIgAd
— Bob (@Bobby_almost) August 21, 2020
[zombify_post]
