The reading was disrupted, allegedly by right-wing activists
Around 70 people had gathered with various books at a municipal garden near the DEO’s office in Vastrapur Around 70 people had gathered with various books at a municipal garden near the DEO’s office in Vastrapur Ahmedabad: Violence was reported at a silent reading held in Vastrapur on Thursday evening to protest a school’s dropping of books by Malala Yousafzai and Anne Frank. Participants alleged that members of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) disrupted the protest at around 6.30pm, and injured 8-10 of those who had gathered there with their books.
Police said they are establishing the identities and affiliations of the people involved in the alleged vandalism, and are also verifying the nature of injuries to protestors. Around 70 people had gathered at a municipal garden near the district education office (DEO) in Vastrapur for a two-hour silent reading intended to show protest against a Shilaj school dropping the books, “I Am Malala” and “The Diary of a Young Girl” from its reading list after uproar from parents and righ-wing activists. Participants said the issue was beyond banning the books. Jay Thakkar, who attended the protest, said, “I am concerned about children’s education and critical thinking that should prevail in education. Design researcher Manushree Sinha said the gathering was “a collective expression against hate, discrimination and conformity”.
An FIR in the incident was yet to be filed till late Thursday. Protest can take many forms. This is a call for all those people who are not okay with the banning of the books.