Mamata Banerjee Government Bows to Pressure, Postpones Javed Akhtar Event After Islamist Groups’ Objection

Kolkata: The West Bengal government has postponed the annual cultural event of the state’s Urdu Academy, an action that comes after two Islamist groups objected to the state-supported academy’s invitation to renowned poet and lyricist Javed Akhtar.

The event was scheduled to take place from August 31 to September 3 at Kolkata’s Nazrul Mancha.

The West Bengal Jamiat Ulema-i-Hind, an organisation led by ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader and state minister Siddiqullah Chowdhury, had publicly condemned the decision to invite Akhtar, who is a self-proclaimed atheist, to address a session on the influence of Urdu on the Hindi film industry.

In a statement, Zillur Rahman Arif, the general secretary of Jamiat Ulema Kolkata, publicly referred to Akhtar as a “shaitan” (devil). The group also sent a letter to the Urdu Academy claiming that Akhtar had “spoken a lot of nonsense against Islam, against Muslims, and against Allah,” which caused “unease among people.”

Ghazala Yasmin, a member of the Urdu Academy, the event’s organiser, told The Wire, “The event has been postponed due to some unpleasant incidents. The new dates will be announced soon.”

A Facebook post by the West Bengal Urdu Academy, informing the public that the event in which lyricist Javed Akhtar was supposed to participate has been postponed. Photo: By arrangement

“Javed Akhtar is an anti-religious person; his invitation to such an event is unacceptable. He mocks God and Allah in all religions, be it Hindu or Muslim. We informed the Academy’s vice chairman, Nadimul Haque, that his presence would cause controversy and requested a different speaker instead,” claimed Zulul Arif, spokesperson,  Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind.

Haque, the vice chairman of the West Bengal Urdu Academy and a TMC Rajya Sabha MP, has declined to comment on the issue. While Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is the chairperson of the academy, and key figures in both the Jamiat and the Urdu Academy are senior leaders of the ruling TMC, the party has not yet released an official statement.

The Jamiat Ulema-i-Hind’s role in the current controversy has drawn comparisons to its past actions. Led by state minister Chowdhury, the organisation was a key force in the 2007 protests that ultimately led to Bangladeshi writer Taslima Nasrin being forced to leave Kolkata.

As the president of the Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind’s West Bengal branch, Chowdhury exerts significant influence in controlling hundreds of madrasas. This gives him a direct connection to a vast network of religious and educational institutions, which plays a crucial role in TMC’s ability to maintain its hold on the minority vote bank.

When contacted for comment by The Wire, Chowdhury, who was heckled by his own party colleagues in his constituency in July, switched off his phone.

Mufti Shamsul Nadvi of the Wahiyan Foundation, another group that opposed Akhtar’s presence, said, “We didn’t oppose the event. We were against some of Javed Akhtar’s comments and views. We wanted a debate session with him. We don’t know why the government canceled the event!”

An earlier poster of the west Bengal Urdu Academy event in which lyricist Javed Akhtar was supposed to participate. Photo: By arrangement

The incident has sparked widespread criticism for the state government. In a statement, the Association for Protection of Democratic Rights (APDR) has criticised the government for surrendering to fundamentalist forces.

'A secular government cannot give in to fundamentalist demands'

“It is the state’s responsibility to protect the secular essence of the constitution. A secular government cannot give in to fundamentalist demands. This surrender to Muslim fundamentalist pressure will embolden Hindu fundamentalists as well,” stated Ranjit Sur, general secretary, APDR.

“It’s hard to accept that some fundamentalists obstructed an artist and talented person like Javed Akhtar from attending a government academy event, and the government accepted it. I believe there’s politics behind this; Javed Akhtar certainly isn’t a politician favoured by the chief minister,” said academician Miratun Nahar.

Urdu writer and human rights activist Manzar Jamil questioned the government’s motive behind the decision.

“A group of people sent a letter, and the government accepted it – what could be more surprising?” he asked.

“If the government softens in the face of this action by Muslim fundamentalists, other communal forces will be emboldened. This indirectly supports them!”

Jamil has since launched a social media campaign, calling the government’s decision a “disgrace to West Bengal.”

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