Outcry as Penguin India pulps 'alternative' history of Hindus

Novelist Arundhati Roy leads chorus of protest after publisher settles lawsuit brought by militant groupConservative activists in India have pledged to continue their campaign to purge bookshelves and schools of works they say are abusive to Hinduism, as a fierce row over a 700-page academic work on the faith intensified on Thursday.Penguin Books India agreed this week to withdraw from sale and pulp all copies of The Hindus: An Alternative History, by the US-based academic Wendy Doniger, as part of a settlement after a group of Hindu conservative nationalists filed a case against the publisher."We are going to fight each and every example of this. We will leave nothing unchallenged that is against our customs, our religion, our nation," said Prakash Sharma, spokesman for the hardline Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) organisation, one of a series of conservative religious groups in India that aggressively campaign against artists and authors who they believe malign or misrepresent Hinduism.Penguin's decision not to fight the case has worried many authors, and revealed deep cultural divisions. Arundhati Roy, who won the Booker prize in 1997 for her novel The God of Small Things, said she was shocked by Penguin's decision and uncertain whether to stay with the publisher. "So far I have had been more than happy to be published by Penguin. But now? What you have done affects us all," Roy wrote.An editorial in the Times of India condemned "the growing power of bullying... Continue reading at 'The Guardian'

[ The Guardian | 2014-02-14 00:00:00 UTC ]
News tagged with: #free speech #political climate #news broke #bestseller list

Other Publishing stories related to: 'Outcry as Penguin India pulps 'alternative' history of Hindus'


Frankfurt Fellows 2022: Rahul Soni of HarperCollins India

An executive editor at HarperCollins India and a 2022 Frankfurt Fellow, Rahul Soni says, 'Literature is still considered very much a luxury' in India. The post Frankfurt Fellows 2022: Rahul Soni of HarperCollins India appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2022-08-15 18:17:45 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #harpercollins india #harpercollins


Jan Longone, Influential Scholar of Food History, Dies at 89

The cookbook collection that began in the basement of her home became the Janice Bluestein Longone Culinary Archive at the University of Michigan. Continue reading at The New York Times

[ The New York Times | 2022-08-13 16:51:40 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #cookbook


5 books and films that tell the story of the trauma of the Partition of India and its aftermath

On the 75th anniversary of India’s partition, scholars from the US, Canada, France, UK and Australia write about their favorite book or film that best explains the trauma of a violent division. Continue reading at The Conversation

[ The Conversation | 2022-08-12 12:16:11 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #75th anniversary #favorite book


An inclusive look at women’s history, beyond White activists

Historian Elisabeth Griffith includes divisions alongside victories in this rich, intersectional account of the struggle for equality. Continue reading at The Washington Post

[ The Washington Post | 2022-08-12 10:00:50 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #white activists


David McCullough, master chronicler of American history, dies at 89

The two-time winner of the Pulitzer Prize was a master storyteller who brought to life the grand sweep of time and place. Continue reading at The Washington Post

[ The Washington Post | 2022-08-08 16:43:22 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #david mccullough #american history #two-time winner #pulitzer prize


History’s famous delusions, those who believed them — and why

Victoria Shepherd explains some of psychology's landmark cases with empathy and understanding. Continue reading at The Washington Post

[ The Washington Post | 2022-08-05 10:00:02 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


Stephen King testifies against $2B Penguin merger

The deal between Penguin and Simon & Schuster would weaken competition and lower author pay, he said Continue reading at Crains New York

[ Crains New York | 2022-08-02 19:08:55 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #simon schuster


How Does Human History Blur into the Nonhuman World?

Emergence Magazine is an online publication with annual print edition exploring the threads connecting ecology, culture, and spirituality. As we experience the desecration of our lands and waters, the extinguishing of species, and a loss of sacred connection to the Earth, we look to emerging... Continue reading at Literrary Hub

[ Literrary Hub | 2022-08-01 08:51:54 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #emerging stories #emergence magazine #online publication #sacred connection #narrated essays


A joyful tour of French history, from main avenues to back roads

Graham Robb brings 2,000 years of history to life, weaving in rich details and forgotten characters. Continue reading at The Washington Post

[ The Washington Post | 2022-07-29 12:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


Anna Badkhen Finds Space for Hope and Sanctuary Amidst Histories of Imperial Collapse

Emergence Magazine is an online publication with annual print edition exploring the threads connecting ecology, culture, and spirituality. As we experience the desecration of our lands and waters, the extinguishing of species, and a loss of sacred connection to the Earth, we look to emerging... Continue reading at Literrary Hub

[ Literrary Hub | 2022-07-25 08:52:18 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #emerging stories #emergence magazine #online publication #sacred connection #narrated essays


Keanu Reeves' comic book makes history

BRZRKR becomes the first comic book to feature in Comic-Con's prestigious Hall H. Continue reading at BBC News

[ BBC News | 2022-07-23 23:09:26 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #keanu reeves #comic book


Fear, biases and brinkmanship: A psychological history of the Cold War

The era's near-misses and misunderstandings serve as a cautionary tale as the United States again faces off with great-power rivals. Continue reading at The Washington Post

[ The Washington Post | 2022-07-22 12:00:30 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #cold war #cautionary tale


Penguin Random House put up billboards displaying the work of LGBTQ authors in Texas and Florida.

In the midst of a deluge of book bans across the country, Penguin Random House has erected billboards featuring quotes from books by LGBTQ authors in six cities—New York City, Chicago, Dallas, Orlando, Miami and Austin. Florida’s “Don’t Say Gay” law and Texas’ anti-trans youth healthcare bills... Continue reading at Literrary Hub

[ Literrary Hub | 2022-07-19 14:46:40 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #lgbtq authors #book bans #penguin random house #random house


Penguin Classics Adds Marvel to the Literary Canon

The first three titles in the Penguin Classics Marvel Collection were released last month and we talk to Ben Saunders, professor of English and director of the Cartoon and Comics Studies minor at the University of Oregon and editorial director for the line, about his vision for the series. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2022-07-06 04:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #literary canon #ben saunders


Cannes TV measurement takeaways from top execs—banning the word 'alternatives' and more

Measurement was a hot topic of conversation on the Croisette this week amid mounting uncertainty around Nielsen data. Continue reading at Advertising Age

[ Advertising Age | 2022-06-24 14:08:24 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #hot topic #nielsen data #nielsen


NBCU says 40% of its upfront deals are on Nielsen alternative currencies

Study with iSpot.tv finds mix of up to 40% streaming is optimal for most brands, letting them reach more people with fewer impressions. Continue reading at Advertising Age

[ Advertising Age | 2022-06-16 22:45:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #nielsen


A history of gay Washington that lets homophobia steal the spotlight

James Kirchick applies the "secret city" trope to D.C.'s LGBTQ community, then mostly sidelines their voices. Continue reading at The Washington Post

[ The Washington Post | 2022-06-10 12:00:41 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #lgbtq community


Penguin Random House to Distribute for Disney Publishing

Starting next April 1, Penguin Random House Publisher Services will take over distribution of the adult and children’s print books published by Disney Publishing Worldwide. Under the agreement, PRHPS will also take on distribution of Marvel Publishing’s collected editions and graphic novels to... Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2022-06-08 04:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #disney publishing #graphic novels #penguin random house #random house