New Delhi: The West Bengal Urdu Academy's deferment of a programme set to feature Javed Akhtar following opposition to his invitation by Islamic bodies is unbecoming of a democratic society, two Britain-based organisations that promote the Urdu language said.

‘Urdu Culture London’ and the ‘Anjuman Taraqqi Urdu UK’ said in a statement on Wednesday (September 3) that they “unequivocally condemn this attempt to silence literary and artistic expression”. “While difference of opinion ought to be respected,” they added, “coercion, intimidation and censorship have no place in a democratic society”.

The two organisations were referring to the state-run Academy's last-minute deferment of its three-day-long ‘Hindi filmon mein Urdu ka kirdaar’ or ‘The role of Urdu in Hindi cinema’ programme in Kolkata, under which two events – an Urdu poetry-reading session and a discussion – on Monday were scheduled to feature screenwriter and lyricist Akhtar.

While the Academy did not say what prompted its decision, media reports have noted that at least two Islamic organisations, including the Jamiat Ulama Kolkata, had expressed their opposition to Akhtar's invitation to the programme on the grounds that he had ‘mocked’ religious beliefs or religious people.

Akhtar, who is professedly atheist, “has spoken in ways that some may regard as irreverent towards religion or the faithful”, but this “can never justify the erasure of a voice”, the UK-based Urdu organisations said.

“Worse still, the conflation of Urdu with a particular religion is dangerous and has already done much to harm its growth in India,” they added.

“For those of us committed to sustaining Urdu culture in the United Kingdom, it is profoundly disheartening to witness efforts to dismantle that culture in the very land of its birth,” they said, noting also that for such a development to occur in a city like Kolkata – which they described as a centre of intellectual freedom and pluralism – “makes it all the more troubling”.

The organisations, through signatories Hilal Fareed, Annie Zaidi and Saif Mahmood, called on West Bengal's government, cultural institutions and the people to “ensure that artists, writers and poets are able to engage freely with audiences without fear, and that cultural events are safeguarded against coercion”. Their statement is appended to this article.

Speaking to The Hindu, Akhtar has said he was “pained” by the opposition to his being called to the programme and that “Hindu groups tell me I should go to Pakistan” while “Muslim groups tell me I should change my name to a Hindu name”. “All of this is very familiar to me.”

He also said he had ‘never imagined’ such protests would come from a city like Kolkata.

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Urdu Culture London, Anjuman Taraqqi Urdu UK

STATEMENT ON CANCELLATION OF JAVED AKHTAR EVENT IN KOLKATA

We are deeply disappointed by the cancellation of the West Bengal Urdu Academy’s fourday annual festival to celebrate “Urdu in Hindi cinema,” featuring Javed Akhtar, following pressure from some religious organisations, and we unequivocally condemn this attempt to silence literary and artistic expression. While difference of opinion ought to be respected, coercion, intimidation and censorship have no place in a democratic society. 

Kolkata has long stood as a crucible of intellectual freedom, artistic courage, and pluralistic values. Ghalib is said to have remarked that he would “rather dwell as a pauper in Kolkata than be the King of Delhi.” This is no mere sentimentality: it reflects the city’s historic commitment to dialogue, dissent, and multiculturalism. That such an incident could take place in Kolkata makes it all the more troubling. 

Javed Saheb has spoken in ways that some may regard as irreverent towards religion or the faithful. Yet even this can never justify the erasure of a voice. Cancel culture is the antithesis of democracy. Ironically, it does exactly what is happening to those whose voices these religious organisations claim to protect, namely silencing them instead of engaging with them. Worse still, conflation of Urdu with a particular religion is dangerous and has already done much to harm its growth in India. 

For those of us committed to sustaining Urdu culture in the United Kingdom, it is profoundly disheartening to witness efforts to dismantle that culture in the very land of its birth. Urdu literature has always thrived on debate, dissent, and diversity of thought. To stifle voices under threat not only dishonours Kolkata’s legacy but also undermines the very foundations of freedom of expression itself. 

Free thought and expression, tolerance and pluralism are not optional. We call on the West Bengal Government, cultural institutions and citizens to ensure that artists, writers, and poets are able to engage freely with audiences without fear, and that cultural events are safeguarded against coercion.

Dr Hilal Fareed
Annie Zaidi
Dr Saif Mahmood

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