Various types of books fluttered like flags in the hands of poets, writers, and book-lovers in protest against the attack on a book exhibition in Tirupati by religious extremists. The temple town on February 11 echoed with slogans condemning the attacks on books.
Hindutva religious extremists attacked the Tirupati book exhibition on February 8 Saturday evening. In protest against this attack, under the leadership of the “Tirupati Book Lovers’ United Forum,” poets, writers, book lovers, and representatives of several public organizations held an impressive demonstration on Tuesday evening.
It may be recalled a similar attack on a Veekshanam Book stall, by Hindutva hoodlums had taken place at Hyderabad Book Fair a few weeks ago, on Dec 29, and it was widely condemned.
(Hyderabad Book Fair Incident: Saffron Policing On What Books To Sell And Read
In the demonstration, every participant held a book waving like a flag. The protest began at 5 PM at the statue of Phule in Balaji Colony, where they garlanded the statue and raised slogans as the rally proceeded.
Before the start of the protest, Vaka Prasad, the convener of the “Tirupati Book Lovers’ United Forum,” stated that attacking books is a heinous act and an assault on democracy. He questioned who these fanatics are to decide which books should or should not be read. He recalled that the miscreants tried to snatch books from a bookstall, to tear them apart, and burn them. They also attacked the Vishalandhra bookstall, demanding that Periyar’s books should not be sold.
A round table meeting was held on Sunday regarding this incident, and as a continuation of that, this protest was organized Tuesday. The protesters demanded the arrest of the miscreants who attacked the bookstalls.
The main slogans included:
- “Let a hundred flowers bloom, let a thousand thoughts contend,”
- “Let all castes and religions live like brothers (Gurazada’s poem),”
- “Books are the eyes of knowledge,”
- “Tearing books cannot kill the ideas within them,”
- “No one can curb our freedom of expression.”
The protest proceeded through Officers’ Club Center, SP Office, Prakasam Road, Chatur mukha Anjaneya Swamy Temple Center, and entered Gandhi Road. The people on both sides of the streets keenly observed the books held by the demonstrators. The protest halted at Vishalandhra Book House, where slogans were raised again.
At the Nalugu Kalla Mandapam (Four Pillar Hall), the participants gathered in a circular formation. Speakers condemned the attack on bookstalls, calling it a disgraceful act. They questioned how it was justifiable to attack Vishalandhra and order them not to sell Periyar’s or any other books,
They urged people to consider today’s attack on the bookstall as an assault on progressive thought. They questioned why Hindutva extremists are trying to control what people should read, what they wear, and what they eat.
While it is possible to stop the publication of a book, they stated, it is impossible to suppress the ideas within it. In a secular country like India, which consists of multiple languages, religions, and communities, they questioned how imposing a single ideology is feasible. They criticized the irrationality of certain religious extremists attempting to distance people from knowledge.
They emphasized that books are a symbol of freedom of thought for citizens and that regardless of region or religion, books are the source of knowledge.
They noted that this large protest by book lovers serves as a warning to religious extremists.
Notable participants in the event included:
Writers Madurantakam Narendra, Sahitya Academy Awardee, senior journalist R.M. Uma Maheswara Rao, writer and journalist Raghava (the author of this report), Sakam Nagaraj (President of Tirupati District Writers’ Association), former director Bhuman, Reddeppa from Jana Vignana Vedika, Tamatam Ramachandra Reddy from Telugu Bhashodyama Samiti, Sai Lakshmi from AIDWA, Smt Nirmala, Smt Mastanamma from Shankaram Badi Sundarachari Peetham, journalist Prasad, leaders and activists of several progressive and Ambedkarist writers organizations (like arasam, Virasam), and Left political parties, A.N. Parameshwar Rao (District Secretary of Citizens’ Awareness Forum), and several others.
Scholars Condemn the Incident at Round Table Conference
Attack by Hindutva Extremists on a Book Quran Analysis by one Sharma triggered the events. The author referred to many similar values between religions. Some Hindutva extremists created a ruckus by tearing and burning that book written in Telugu, which analyzed the Quran. On Friday evening, at a book exhibition in Tirupati, they chanted “Jai Shri Ram” slogans and attempted, unsuccessfully, to set the book on fire. They resorted to false accusations, abusive language, and caused disturbances. They even created chaos at the Vishalandhra Book Stall.
In protest against this incident, a round table conference was held on Feb 8 Saturday morning at Venkata Shivayya Bhavan in Tirupati under the leadership of civil society organizations. They demanded to curb attacks by fanatic forces on literature and freedom of expression. Intellectuals, writers, and representatives of various public organizations who attended the meeting strongly condemned these extremist actions.
When the incident occurred, Vaka Prasad, district president of the Civil Awareness Forum, and literary figure Sakam Nagaraju, who were present at the book exhibition, tried to intervene. Vaka Prasad explained the sequence of events, saying:
“Hearing loud noises near one of the stalls, Sakam Nagaraju and I rushed there. A few Hindutva supporters were tearing and burning a book written by Sharma, which analyzes the similarities between Islam and Hinduism. They were also attempting to set it on fire while chanting slogans. They even went to the Vishalandhra Book Stall, shouting ‘Jai Shri Ram’ slogans and using abusive language, questioning, ‘Are you selling books like Ramayana Visha Vriksham?’ (written by Ranganayakamma) and books by Periyar, who they alleged advocated marrying one’s mother and sister.”
I told them, “If you have any objections, report to the book fair organizers, but shouting, abusing, and attacking like this tarnishes the image of Hinduism itself.”
The president of Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, Satyanarayana Raju, arrived and pacified the situation, and the stall selling the book was immediately closed. They acted very inhumanely. I strongly condemn such incidents,” he added.
Penugonda Lakshminarayana, National President of the Progressive Writers Association, said,
“This is the beginning stage of fanaticism. We must realize that extremism is growing in the country. They want to dictate what we eat, wear, and read. This goes against the spirit of the Constitution. Ruling parties attack anything that opposes their beliefs. They killed Safdar Hashmi, attacked Perumal Murugan, and tore his books, forcing him to declare, ‘I am dead as a writer.’ We must form a united front against these fanatic forces.”
Valluri Shivaprasad, State Secretary of the Writers Association Arasam, said: “Tolerating religious extremism and arrogance only harms that religion, not benefits it. According to the Constitution, any book not banned can be sold anywhere, anytime. Opposing the sale of such books and creating unrest is a crime. People of all religions have the right to live and promote their ideas in this land. Even Ramayana and Mahabharata are sold by Vishalandhra Book House etc.
Senior journalist Raghava stresed that Resistance, not merely protest, is needed. He said: “When the government banned in 1970s poetry collections like Jhanjha and Lay, Justice Jeevan Reddy had overturned the ban, saying, ‘No idea can be banned. If we do, society cannot progress.’ If banning books itself is wrong, how can they oppose books that aren’t even banned? In Vijayawada, veteran leader of CPI Chandrarajeswara Rao had stood against goons with just a stick, which made them retreat. If needed, we must also take to the streets in Tirupati against fanatic forces.”
CPM District Secretary Vandavasi Nagaraju said,
“I was present during the commotion. They spoke very derogatorily against Periyar. Therefore, we should organize a rally with Periyar’s books also from the Phule statue to Gandhi Road. These extremists are using Tirupati as a center to spread their fanaticism. The people who killed Gauri Lankesh and Kalburgi are now being glorified.”
Renowned writer and Sahitya Akademi Award winner Acharya Madhurantakam Narendra stated,
“Only by understanding all perspectives can one search for the truth. This is a struggle between the state and the individual. It’s a major issue—this is a form of fascism. Genghis Khan said, ‘Fire is born out of conflict.’ The attack on Perumal Murugan turned him into an internationally renowned writer. This is a huge problem for creative individuals. We live in times where people fear speaking the truth. We must stand united and express our dissent boldly.”
Anjayya, President of the Constitutional Forum, said,
“We should not be afraid of such threats and intimidation. We must also take to the streets. We need to promote harmony among castes, religions, and people. The so-called ‘Pyramid’ group plans to hold a rally with 5,000 people in Tirupati, saying people shouldn’t eat meat. Who are they to decide what we eat?”
CITU District Secretary Kandarapu Murali commented,
“BJP, Bajrang Dal, and RSS have focused their attention on Tirupati, making it a danger zone. Bajrang Dal activists attacked a professor at SV University. BJP leader Bhanu Prakash even filed a petition in court to stop TTD funds from being used for the Garuda Varadhi project. They tried to stop education in madrasas. The day will come when these people will be beaten. Who are they to dictate what we eat? If we don’t fight back, it will be a loss. Today, they’ve come for the books; tomorrow, they’ll come for our homes.”
Literary figure Sakam Nagaraju stated,
“Swami Vivekananda said that the goal of Hinduism is religious harmony. As a Hindu, I feel ashamed of what happened yesterday. They call people of other faiths outsiders. Who invented phones, TVs, and mobile devices? Aren’t they people of other religions? Yet, they use them. Religious extremists are the biggest enemies of this country.”
A.N. Parameswara Rao, District Secretary of the Civil Awareness Forum, Tirupati, said,
“RSS is trying to push the country back 500 years. That’s why they’re targeting books.”
Several others, including Keshavulu, Janardhan, Dr. K.V. Ramana, Lakshmi, and Vishalandhra Prasad, also spoke at the round table conference.
An Action Plan was announced :
File a complaint with the district SP regarding the extremist disturbance at the Vishalandhra Book stall during the book exhibition.
Organize a rally with Periyar’s books from Ambedkar Bhavan to Gandhi Road on Tuesday, the 11th, in the evening.
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Author Raghava Sarma is a senior journalist of Tirupati, who authored a few books including Kotta Bangaru Lokam (a new golden world, a Travelogue on China), on Trekking in Tirupati hills, Memories of Wanaparty town, and latest on his late mother.
His WhatsApp Number is 94932 26180)
