Book on Rani Laxmibai banned in UP

Anant Zanane
Friday, February 15, 2008 (Jhansi)
The Uttar Pradesh government has banned the sale and distribution of a book, which allegedly depicts legendary freedom fighter Rani Laxmibai of Jhansi in a ''bad light''.The book titled Rani, authored by Jaishree Misra, allegedly contains highly objectionable material relating to her personal life.''Their meeting became daily in those days. At dawn, sometimes in the dusty evening hours, they rode out to meet in the forest.'' These lines from the book on Rani Laxmi Bai about her relationship with a British officer, has sparked a political controversy.''The writer has not only insulted the people of Bundelkhand but the entire nation by writing this. She was a brave freedom fighter. We raised this issue in the assembly and the government has assured us that they will ban the circulation and sale of this book in the entire state. We have also requested the state government to write to the Centre seeking a ban on the circulation and sale of this book,'' said Pramod Tiwari, Leader, UPCC.The book, Rani, by UK-based author Jaishree Misra is a fictionalised biography of the warrior queen from Bundelkhand. Historians in the state are quick to call this a marketing gimmick.''Most writers use these methods to enhance sales of their books. Good that the government did ban the book,'' said Hargobind Kushwaha, Historian, Jhansi.The author is sorry to hear about the row.Rani is a work of historical fiction. The author's note at the start of the book is specifically intended to address this question, clearly setting out what has and has not been directly sourced from history.''This is a myth. The British have been writing like this and it's not the first time this has happened. Earlier too she has been portrayed as a notorious lady,'' said Mahendra Kumar Verma, Historian.But she has hurt sentiments, even if she set out to explore the human heart behind the steely facade of Rani Laxmi Bai. For many in Uttar Pradesh, the queen is nothing less than a goddess.

The categories "fictionalised biography" or "historical fiction" contain contradictory terms. A biography ought to be factual and fiction cannot claim to be fact. Similarly, only facts ought to be categorized as history. Fiction mixed with history is neither here nor there. However, since these genres have been in vogue for a long time in the world of literature the question of 'banning' these genres would not make much headway. The authors of such genres ought to be marked as “notorious” and the matter ended there, the choice being with readers whether to patronize “notorious” authors. Banning of literary works would not make available such works to readers for making informed choice about “notorious” and honourable authors.