India: Another book by Wendy Doniger under attack - press reports

[posted below are reports carried in The Times of India and The Indian Express]

Another book on Hinduism by Wendy Doniger under attack
PTI | Mar 1, 2014, 10.13 PM IST

NEW DELHI: Another book on Hinduism by American indologist Wendy Doniger has come under attack from the same Delhi-based group which had compelled the publishers of an earlier work by her to withdraw the title.

Shiksha Bachao Andolan Samiti (SBAS) demanded on Saturday that the Aleph Book Company stop sales and pulp all remaining copies of Doniger's book "On Hinduism", published in 2013.

Dina Nath Batra, who had led the charge against Doniger's previous book, said that the contents of "On Hinduism" were, like the previous work, "malicious and offending".

"She has used derogatory terms for Hindu deities, which hurts the sentiments of devotees," Batra charged. The book is part of a conspiracy hatched by "pseudo-secularists" to tarnish the image of Hindu culture and India, he alleged.

"It is part of a conspiracy hatched by the children of (Karl) Marx and (Thomas) Macaulay to tarnish the image of Hindu culture. There are certain pseudo secularists who are behind this conspiracy," Batra alleged.

Atul Kothari, co-convener of SBAS, said the publishers had assured that they would pulp the book within a week but, if that did not happen, legal recourse would be taken.

"We have been given an oral assurance by the publishers that the sales of the book will be stalled. The publishers have been given a week's time to provide an assurance in writing, failing which, SBAS would... move the judiciary," Kothari said.

The publisher, when contacted, however, declined to comment on the issue.

Doniger's 2009 book, " The Hindus: An Alternative History", was pulped by Penguin following a row over its contents.

She has been accused by SBAS of using content which is "derogatory and offending to Hinduism" and "misrepresents facts".

"Recalling this book is essential because (Doniger), a so-called scholar, has misrepresented India and Hinduism. If research studies are carried out in future on Hinduism and her book is referred to, it will lead to an alteration of facts. That is not correct; therefore, we demand this book be recalled and banned," said Kothari.

Citing Article 295 (A) of Indian Penal Code, Batra said, "Article 295 (A) states that deliberate and malicious acts intended to outrage religious feelings of any class by insulting its religion or religious beliefs shall be punished with imprisonment or fine, or both."

source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Another-book-on-Hinduism-by-Wendy-Doniger-under-attack/articleshow/31230610.cms

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Same group attacks another Doniger book
Express News Service | New Delhi | March 2, 2014 3:06 am

Weeks after they forced Penguin to withdraw a book authored by Wendy Doniger, the same Delhi-based Shiksha Bachao Andolan Samiti (SBAS) Saturday threatened to take legal action against yet another book On Hinduism by the same author unless its publishers Aleph Book Company assures in writing withdrawal of the book. Aleph Book Company is an independent publishing firm promoted by Rupa Publications.

“The contents of the book On Hinduism written by Wendy Doniger are malicious and offending similar to her pervious work which the publishers have agreed to withdraw,” convenor of SBAS Dina Nath Batra said addressing a press conference. The Samiti said that their press conference was aimed to bring the issue to public light and announce a week’s time for the publishers to assure in writing that they will withdraw the book.

“We have been given an oral assurance by the publishers that the sales of the book will be stalled. The publishers have been given a week’s time to provide an assurance in writing, failing which, SBAS would move the judiciary,” Atul Kothari, co-convenor of SBAS, said. He said that they will wait for a written assurance for a week, failing which the Samiti may take its next “democratic step” to ensure the book is withdrawn.

Co Publisher of Aleph Publications, Ravi Singh, however, completely denied any such move. “We are not withdrawing the book and we are not terminating any contract”, Singh told The Sunday Express. Dina Nath Batra, who soon after Penguin India’s withdrawal of Doniger’s book made it clear that the author’s next On Hindusim is on his hit list, said that this book is even more damaging than the Penguin publication.

source: http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-others/same-group-attacks-another-doniger-book/