The Ahmedabad International Book Festival (AIBF) 2024, which should be a celebration of literature and intellectual discourse, has instead become a breeding ground for leftist propaganda and divisive ideologies. The festival, inaugurated on November 30, 2024, has come under intense scrutiny after the selection of speakers like William Dalrymple, Kiran Manral, and Savie Karnel, who have all been accused of promoting harmful narratives that undermine Bharat’s values and distort its history.
The event is organised by Milind Marathe and Yuvraj Malik.
William Dalrymple: A Mughal Apologist and Colonial Sympathizer
The invitation to William Dalrymple, a self-proclaimed historian with a dangerous bias, is a slap in the face of those who value truth and national pride. Dalrymple, who has consistently downplayed Hindu nationalism while glorifying the Mughal era, is known for his anti-Hindu stances. His opposition to the abrogation of Article 370 and the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), along with his overt sympathy for Islamist causes, makes him a deeply problematic figure. Remember, he has flouted visa norms by making such statements.
His active role in blocking the publication of Delhi Riots 2020: The Untold Story is a clear indication of his agenda to silence narratives that don’t align with his political views.
Dalrymple’s hypocrisy knows no bounds. On one hand, he’s written about the sacred aspects of Bharatiya culture in books like Nine Lives, but on the other, he’s called for the looting of Bharatiya artifacts to remain in the West, claiming that they’d never be displayed properly in Bharat under the current government. This colonial mindset, masked as cultural preservation, is not only outdated but deeply insulting.
Kiran Manral: A Mouthpiece for Misinformation
Then there’s Kiran Manral, who has made it her life’s work to peddle anti-Modi, anti-BJP rhetoric at every opportunity. Manral’s social media feeds are a cesspool of misinformation, where she claims that Bharat is unsafe for minorities under Prime Minister Modi, and spreads false narratives about the CAA and other crucial policies. Her obsessive vendetta against Hindutva and her absurd statements about the New Parliament inauguration being “mimicry” only further highlight her detachment from reality. Her social media posts are proof enough as to why she must not be on the panel – she has even said things like Hindutva makes women vulnerable – as if!
To invite someone like her to a prestigious festival is an insult to every truth-loving Bharatiya.
Savie Karnel: Spreading secular propaganda and fanning communal divides
Savie Karnel’s presence at the festival is yet another example of the AIBF’s ideological failings. Karnel’s book, The Nameless God, which deals with the Babri Masjid demolition, is nothing more than a thinly veiled attempt to push secular propaganda. Her portrayal of the Ayodhya riots and Hindu nationalism is one-sided, skewed, and aimed at dividing communities. By giving a platform to Karnel, the festival is endorsing a narrative that demonizes Hindus while absolving others of any responsibility for the violence that took place.
Among the other speakers for the event is EV Ramakishan who writes for the leftist rag, The Caravan.
Not the first time
Recently, the Sahitya Akademi, an autonomous body under the Union Ministry of Culture, invited Devdutt Pattanaik to deliver the inaugural address at a seminar titled “Indian Mythology: Memory, Retellings and Translations” on November 25, 2024. Pattanaik, known for his anti-Hindu views and controversial takes on Devi-Devtas and Sanatana Dharma, was criticized for labeling Bharatiya history as mythology. Following social media outrage, the event was canceled, citing “unavoidable circumstances.” This was not the first such incident. In 2022, Pattanaik’s session at the National Youth Festival in Puducherry was also canceled after online backlash, with authorities citing “unforeseen technical issues.”
The issues with government-sponsored events extend beyond Pattanaik. At the 2022 International Film Festival of India (IFFI) in Goa, Nadav Lapid, an Israeli filmmaker with ties to Islamic terror apologists, denounced the film The Kashmir Files as “vulgar” and “propaganda” in front of Minister Anurag Thakur. The casual disregard for Hindu values is evident in multiple instances, such as the AYUSH Ministry referring to Yoga as a mere “glow up ritual,” diluting its spiritual significance, and Ira Trivedi, who advocates for beef consumption, hosting a Yoga show on Doordarshan. These incidents reflect the lack of sensitivity and accountability within ministries like Culture and Education, sparking widespread disappointment.
AIBF 2024: A stage for leftist agendas, not literature
AIBF 2024 has become a stage for left-wing ideologues to spread their poisonous views rather than a true literary festival. The festival’s failure to vet speakers properly has allowed individuals with clear political agendas to dominate the discourse, turning what should have been a celebration of culture and knowledge into a platform for promoting divisive and misleading narratives.
It’s no wonder that after inviting these controversial figures, the festival has completely lost its credibility. From Dalrymple’s Mughal glorification to Manral’s constant misinformation campaign and Karnel’s secular propaganda, the festival is nothing but a thinly veiled attempt to push left-wing talking points at the expense of Bharat’s integrity and unity.
If this is what the Ahmedabad International Book Festival stands for, it’s high time we question its true purpose and hold those responsible accountable for their blatant disregard for national sentiment. The festival is no longer a celebration of literature—it’s a front for leftist propaganda. It’s a shameful display, and it’s about time the public and the authorities take a hard look at what’s really happening behind the scenes.
