Urdu Academy scraps Javed Akhtar’s Kolkata event

The Mamata Banerjee government-run West Bengal Urdu Academy has been compelled to postpone a literary festival after Islamist groups vehemently opposed the literary body's invitation to renowned lyricist and poet Javed Akhtar for a Kolkata event. They had threatened protests if the invitation to Akhtar wasn't withdrawn.

The event, titled 'Urdu in Hindi Cinema', was set to run from August 31 to September 3, in Kolkata, celebrating the rich contributions of Urdu to Indian cinema through discussions, poetry recitations, and cultural performances. Javed Akhtar, the celebrated screenwriter, lyricist, and poet, was invited as the chief guest to preside over a key mushaira today.

Following the invite, two prominent Islamist organisations in Kolkata, Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind and the Wahyahin Foundation, protested the invitation, labelling Akhtar as someone who "speaks against religion and God". Both conservative Muslim groups argued that inviting Javed Akhtar to an Urdu event was inappropriate. Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind also warned of "democratic protests" similar to those against Taslima Nasreen in 2007 if Javed Akhtar's invitation to the West Bengal Urdu Academy's literary festival was not withdrawn.

Akhtar has publicly identified as an atheist and has embraced secular humanism. He calls himself a "cultural Muslim".

The Urdu Academy, a state-run body under the West Bengal government, is aimed at promoting Urdu literature and culture. Nuzrat Zainab, the Secretary of the West Bengal Urdu Academy, said "unavoidable circumstances" led to the scrapping of the four-day programme. When pressed by journalists for more specifics on the "unavoidable circumstances," Zainab reiterated, saying, "As I said, due to unavoidable circumstances", reported The Hindu, underscoring the government-run Urdu Academy's reluctance.

Human rights activist Shabnam Hashmi stressed that India is neither a Hindu Rashtra nor an Islamic country and asserted that atheists also have the right to live and speak freely. Poet-author Gauhar Raza slammed the cancellation of the programme at the behest of Muslim fundamentalist organisations, calling it "deeply disturbing and unacceptable".

However, facing threats of "democratic protests" reminiscent of past campaigns against Bangladeshi writer Taslima Nasreen, who was forced to flee Bengal in 2007 amid accusations of blasphemy, the organisers have yielded to avoid potential unrest. Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind, in a letter dated August 25, to the Urdu Academy, demanded the withdrawal of Akhtar's invitation and warned of a protest.

Another Kolkata-based group, the Wahyahin Foundation, echoed these sentiments and expressed surprise at the choice and warned of negative influences on young minds. The Wahyahin Foundation went a step further and invited Javed Akhtar for a "debate on religion".

Bengal has seen violent protests against the Centre's Waqf law, with Muslim mobs going on the rampage. The Trinamool Congress of Mamata Banerjee has been accused of not acting against the community for "vote bank" politics. The cancellation of the Urdu Academy event is an abject surrender of the Mamata Banerjee government to threats by Islamist organisations.