September 23

http://epaper.punjabitribuneonline.com/58302/Punjabi-Tribune/PT_23_September_2012#page/5/2

Arrests over printing Rajab Ali’s text draw publishers’ ire
Vivek Gupta
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, September 22
The arrest of two publishers and as many book editors by the state police for reproducing mid-20th century text of famous Punjabi folk poet Babu Rajab Ali has created a flutter in the state's publishing industry. Many publishers said if the stand of the police remained unchanged, they would have to stop publishing the historical Punjabi literature.

Chandigarh-based publisher Harish Jain said the Punjabi literary works of the last four centuries, including those of poets like Shah Hussain, Bulle Shah, Bhai Gurdas, Waris Shah and Dhani Ram Chatrik, contained similar references of castes as found in Rajab Ali's poetry.

Delhi-based National Book Shop's Rajinder Singh said this move would affect research work of universities and literary academies in Punjab and Delhi. Jalandhar-based eight book publishers in their joint statement today flayed the Punjab police's move to arrest publishers and book editors and demanded their immediate release.

Kesar Singh, Punj Aab Publication, Jalandhar, said such acts pose a serious threat to the publication business. "Fearing similar action, no publisher will like to publish historical literature in future," he said.

Sukhdev Singh, secretary, Punjabi Sahit Academy, and head of Punjabi Department, Panjab University, said the text of these legendary poets was part of the syllabus in colleges and universities. The move would affect the overall education system, he said.

Dr Harish Puri, Ludhiana-based historian, questioned: "How can you remove objectionable words from Waris Shah's 'Heer', which has been published over thousand times?" "One has no right to tinker with the historical works. The matter must be handled judiciously," he said. 

http://www.tribuneindia.com/2012/20120923/punjab.htm#8

Publishers, editors jailed: 22 organisations threaten agitation

HT Correspondents, 
Hindustan Times

Chandigarh/Jalandhar, September 22, 2012

 Angered by the arrest of some publishers and editors over printing the late writer Babu Rajab Ali's poetry carrying caste-denoting words, 22 organisations of students, peasants, Dalit activists, writers, rationalists and agricultural labourers on Saturday threatened an agitation if the case was not dropped.

 In a joint statement, the organisations said that they have taken serious note of the arrest of Amit Mittar of Tark Bharti Parkashan, Barnala, Ashok Garg of Sangam, Samana, and editors Jagjeet Singh Sahoke from Moga and Swatantar from Samana by the Punjab police on the directions of state government.

"The arrest is not an attack on freedom of two individuals but against each organisation, each pen, each writer, each columnist and each language," said the organisations, which included Bharti Kisan Union (Ugrahan, Krantikari and Dakaunda), Punjab Kisan Sabha, Jamhoori Kisan Sabha, Pendu Mazdoor Union, Punjab Khet Mazdoor Union, Mazdoor Mukti Morcha, Pendu Mazdoor Union (Mishaal), Kirti Mazdoor Union, Krantikari Pendu Mazdoor Union, Dehati Mazdoor Sabha, Association for Democratic Rights (AFDR), Kendri Punjabi Lekhak Sabha, Punjab Sahit Sabha, Tarksheel Society, Bharat, Tarksheel Society, Punjab, Inqulabi Kender, Lok Morcha, Pragatisheel Istri Sabha, Panjab Lok Sabhiyacharak Manch and Radical People's Forum, Punjab.

They said these publishers are known for standing by the masses in struggles against anti-people policies of the government. "Everybody knows that these books were just reproduced… were written decades back. The entire classical poetry of early 20th century contains references to castes."

"We warn the state government to release the arrested publishers and editors; otherwise the reply of this act will be given on the roads like in the past," they said. arious publishers also condemned the arrests in a release issued from Jalandhar.

They demanded that cases filed against the publishers and editors under the SC/ST Act be cancelled. Signatories included Baba Bujha Singh Parkashan, Banga; Panj Aab Parkashan, Jalandhar; Dildeep Parkashan, Samrala; Balraj Sahni Parkashan, Bathinda; Jagriti Parkashan, Samrala; People's Forum, Bargarhi; Chetna Parkashan, Ludhiana, and Chintan Parkashan, Ludhiana. They said the publishers arrested were "progressive thought groups" who have been working for last many to spread revolutionary thoughts by publishing various books and magazines.

The publishers said that if anyone published old works containing traditional caste names, that did not mean that the publisher had the intention to hurt the feelings of any community.

http://www.hindustantimes.com/Punjab/Chandigarh/Publishers-editors-jailed-22-organisations-threaten-agitation/SP-Article1-934134.aspx

Union to stage protest against arrest of publishers,editors of Babu Rajab Ali poetry

Published September 22, 2012 | 1:14 pm

SAANJ NEWS

Chandigarh: Some publishers and editors have been arrested under the SC/ST Act  over printing the late writer Babu Rajab Ali’s poetry carrying caste-denoting words.

Irked by their arrest, various organisations of students, peasants, Dalit activists, writers, rationalists and agricultural labourers have threatened to launch a stir.

Amit Mittar of Tark Bharti Parkashan, Barnala, Ashok Garg of Sangam, Samana, and editors Jagjeet Singh Sahoke from Moga and Swatantar from Samana were arrested by the Punjab police.

Bharti Kisan Union (Ugrahan, Krantikari and Dakaunda), Punjab Kisan Sabha, Jamhoori Kisan Sabha, Pendu Mazdoor Union, Punjab Khet Mazdoor Union, Mazdoor Mukti Morcha, Pendu Mazdoor Union (Mishaal), Kirti Mazdoor Union, Krantikari Pendu Mazdoor Union, Dehati Mazdoor Sabha, Association for Democratic Rights (AFDR), Kendri Punjabi Lekhak Sabha, Punjab Sahit Sabha, Tarksheel Society, Bharat, Tarksheel Society, Punjab, Inqulabi Kender, Lok Morcha, Pragatisheel Istri Sabha have announced to lodge a protest in this regard.

The protestors say they have only reproduced old work and there is nothing new in that.

http://news.saanj.net/punjab-news/union-to-stage-protest-against-arrest-of-publisherseditors-of-babu-rajab-ali-poetry/