The highly anticipated book fair in Srinagar, Pauri Garhwal, Uttarakhand, set for February 15 and 16, has been cancelled. Organisers have alleged that pressure from the BJP’s student wing, the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), led to this decision. They claimed the ABVP objected to the sale of books on Mahatma Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru.
“We were informed that ABVP opposed the inclusion of these books, which forced us to cancel the event,” an organiser said.
Sub-Divisional Magistrate Nupur Verma dismissed the claims, stating, “The cancellation was due to scheduling conflicts as the Ramleela Ground was already booked for an RSS event. Allegations of political pressure are baseless, and spreading such misinformation is inappropriate.”
The National Students’ Union of India (NSUI) condemned the cancellation, calling it a setback for an educational hub like Srinagar. NSUI leaders Ankit Sundriyal and Mukul Kumar urged organisers to shift the fair to Pauri, saying that the event would have showcased over 75,000 books in Hindi, English, and Garhwali, with participation from renowned Garhwali artist Narendra Singh Negi.
“This isn’t just an attack on books, but on our culture,” said Sundriyal. “Any organisation that hinders education cannot call itself a student organisation.” Negi also expressed disappointment on social media over the cancellation.
Author and historian Jai Singh Rawat criticized the development, saying, “Fear of books shows their power. Political interference in literature undermines democracy and the freedom of expression guaranteed by Article 19.”
