Fear of Books: From Burning to Banning
Taking away a book is taking away freedom from others. Those that choose to challenge books choose to take away a freedom from others that they should have no control over.
When we start talking about banning certain reading material, we tread dangerous ground. They say that actions scream where words can only whisper. Therefore, by banning books, we are sending the message that it’s OK to tell half-truths, to re-write the story, and to blatantly withhold potentially important information in situations that greatly impact the present and more importantly the future.
Noted Urdu columnist, essayist, short story writer, novelist and dramatist Zahida Hina Wrote this article on this issue, the political censorships, banning books, biblioclasm in historical context and the fear of dictators and authoritarian rulers of the books in Daily Express today.
Some Comments from Facebook
Umer Latif
Excellent article!
Nrmal Maunder
It is not only dictaters,but dogmatic relegions or even patriots are afraid of books.I found nothing earth shattering in salman rushdi’s satanic verses.But believers are scared at even its mention.
Excellent article.
We have previously published a number of articles on the LUBP highlighting how Pakistan’s history and ideology was rewritten by the Jamaat/right wing mafia particularly during General Zia-ul-Haq’s dictatorship (1977-1988).