Taking a cue from Maharashtra, Gujarat on Wednesday banned a controversial book on Mahatma Gandhi, Great Soul; Mahatma Gandhi and His Struggle with India, written by former New York Times editor Joseph Lelyveld. The book is yet to be released in this country.
A controversy began when a review suggested it had portrayed Mahatma Gandhi as “bisexual”. It said the book implied that Gandhiji’s correspondence with architect Hermann Kallenbach suggested their bisexuality. The author has, however, made it clear that nowhere does his book refer to the Mahatma as “bisexual”.
Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi moved a resolution in the Assembly banning the book’s sale, distribution, publication and broadcast in the state, which was passed unanimously. “The writing is perverse. It has hurt the sentiments of those with capacity for sane and logical thinking,” said Mr Modi while moving the resolution. The Opposition Congress supported the move.
A leading Gandhian scholar, Tridip Suhrud, said, however, that he did not agree with the review. “The book in fact argues against such readings of the Mahatma’s sexuality. It does not call him either racist or suggest bisexuality, and therefore a ban is unfortunate and should be reconsidered,” he said.