These 7 controversial books were banned in India and here's the reason why (2024)

Books, literature and words are more powerful than we think. A mere book has the power to change your life, your mood, or even the way you think. Whether it’s a self-help book, a historical account of something, or a piece of fiction, books can help understand different cultures, perspectives and ideas. In a country like India that celebrates diversity, tolerance, especially when it comes to religion and politics, can be complex to deal with. Here are some books that were controversial due to their strong religious and political statements, some even banned in multiple parts of the country.

1. Satanic Verses by Salman Rushdie

Author Salman Rushdie released his fourth novel, Satanic Verses, in 1988, inspired by the life of the Islamic prophet Muhammad. The title is a reference to a group of Quranic verses about three pagan Meccan goddesses and is based on the accounts from historians al-Waqidi and al-Tabari. Even though this book was a finalist for the Booker Prize in 1988, it received a lot of flak and criticism due to its highly controversial and religious content. The book was banned in the country by the Rajiv Gandhi government, featuring outrage and unrest in the country. In 1989, a fatwa was declared against the author, resulting in multiple failed assassination attempts on him, including the recent attempt on his life in August of 2022. His 1995 book, Moor’s Last Sigh, too faced protests in Maharashtra for portraying a character resembling the leader of the Shiv Sena party at the time, Balasaheb Thackeray.

2. Such a Long Journey by Rohinton Mistry

Published in 1991 and shortlisted for the Booker Prize, Rohinton Mistry’s Such a Long Journey charts the life of a hard-working bank clerk in Bombay, alongside the political turmoil in the country during Indira Gandhi’s leadership. While this book was a part of the academic curriculum for literature students in the country, in 2010, the book came under the radar of the politician and grandson of Bal Thackeray, Aditya Thackeray. He complained and protested that the book contained abusive language about his grandfather and the Maharashtrian community. The result was a withdrawal from the syllabus of Mumbai University. The author later expressed his disappointment about the withdrawal in an open letter.

3. The Complexity Called Manipur by Brigadier Sushil Kumar Sharma

The state of Manipur banned a history book written by the late Brigadier Sushil Kumar Sharma on the basis of it “containing misleading facts that could trigger communal tension within the state.” Published in 2019, the book was based on the author’s Ph.D. thesis that claimed the princely state of Manipur had comprised only 700 square miles of the valley area at the time of its merger with India, implying that the hill areas, inhabited by Naga, Kuki, and other tribes, had not been part of it. The ban issued by the home department was cited as a sensitive and emotional subject for the native people of the state.

4. Rama Retold by Aubrey Menen

India did not find Aubrey Menen’s retelling of the Hindu epic Ramayana remotely funny when it was published in 1954 as a spoof and a funny and readable version of the classic tale. It cannot be imported into India and was one of the first books that was banned in the country. The British writer, novelist, satirist, and theatre critic, was a radio personality in Italy before he moved to Kerala, spending the rest of his life there.

5. The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown

Dan Brown’s 2003 mystery thriller may have been a major success when it comes to sales with 80 million copies sold worldwide. But in India, the book was banned by the government for allegedly containing some profane remarks about Jesus. In 2006, after the movie adaptation was released, the state decided to prevent the book from being “sold, distributed and read” in the state. In fact, the movie was banned in seven different states of India, including Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, and Goa, citing the concerns of many Christians who say it maligns their faith.

6. Man from Moscow by Greville Wynne

Published in 1968, the book is a memoir, accounting Wynne’s life as a British spy who was infamous for his involvement with, and imprisonment as a result of, the espionage activities of Oleg Penkovsky. Wynne wrote about how he felt used and undervalued by the spy agencies, criticising the policies of MI5. The book, at the time, created controversy in India with the government citing the book misrepresenting its policies. As of now, the book cannot be imported to India.

7. The God of Small Things by Arundhati Roy

Although not banned, Arundhati Roy’s debut novel met with a lot of criticism in India. For a Kerala-based lawyer named Sabu Thomas, the depiction of sex between a Syrian Christian woman and a member of a lower class at the end of the book was grounds to file obscenity charges against the author. Despite winning the Booker Prize in 1997, the book was banned in parts of India for allegedly hurting religious sentiments. The ban was lifted after a legal battle was fought by the author.