NEW DELHI: The Hindi Academy, Delhi, in collaboration with Hindu College, Delhi University, inaugurated a two-day national seminar on “Prohibited Hindi Literature” at the Sushila Devi Auditorium, Hindu College. The event, which began on August 27, 2024, focuses on the critical role that censored literature played in India’s freedom struggle.
The seminar’s central theme revolves around unpublished and banned texts related to Mahatma Gandhi and Bhagat Singh, as well as the censorship imposed on songs and poems inspired by their leadership. These works, often suppressed by the British colonial authorities, were instrumental in mobilizing the masses and fostering a spirit of resistance.
Dr. Rakesh Pandey, a key speaker at the seminar, highlighted the inaccessibility of many of these texts to students and researchers. He praised the efforts of Malini Awasthi, who is actively working on converting and preserving some of these texts and songs, with a few already available on her YouTube channel. Dr. Pandey emphasized that these works, which portrayed Gandhi as a Mahatma and a spiritual figure, played a crucial role in awakening the masses during the freedom struggle.
Malini Awasthi is an Indian folk singer known for her soulful renditions in Bhojpuri, Awadhi, and Hindi languages. She has also presented Thumri and Kajri. Born on February 11, 1967, in Kannauj, Uttar Pradesh, she holds a postgraduate degree in Hindustani classical music from Bhatkhande University, Lucknow.
Malini Awasthi’s high-pitched voice and contributions to Bhojpuri music have earned her recognition. Notably, she received the Padma Shri award from the Government of India in 2016.
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Adding to the discussion, Dr. Chandrapal, a history professor at PGDAV College, shared his research on the missing publications related to Bhagat Singh. He pointed out that after Gandhi, much of the banned literature centres around Bhagat Singh, particularly the press articles following his execution in 1931.
Dr Chandrapal referred to these suppressed writings as “Janmanas ka Lekhan,” a literary expression that was a vital cultural asset and a significant threat to British rule. He further stated, “Prohibited literature was a powerful weapon in the freedom movement.”
The seminar continues today with further discussions led by prominent scholars, aiming to shed light on the importance of these censored works and their impact on India’s journey to independence.