Mumbai University Cancels Naseeruddin Shah's Reading Event

A scheduled poetry and story reading featuring veteran actor Naseeruddin Shah has been abruptly cancelled. The event, organised by the Urdu Department of Mumbai University and co-sponsored by the Bazm-e-Ahbab Foundation, was set for February 1 as part of a celebration of the Urdu language. Shah claimed he received a notification late on January 31, informing him that he was 'disinvited' without any stated reason.

Initially, Abdullah Imtiaz, the head of the Urdu Department, suggested that Shah had chosen to withdraw from the event. However, he later indicated that the cancellation might have been initiated by the co-organisers, the Bazm-e-Ahbab Foundation. When approached for comment, a representative of the foundation declined to provide specifics regarding the decision, stating, “About 20 other events took place at the festival.”

In an opinion piece published in The Indian Express, Shah expressed disappointment at the cancellation and critiqued the university for suggesting that he had refused to attend. He accused the institution of aligning itself with a political atmosphere unfavourable to dissent. Shah noted, “It is not really surprising they didn’t have the courage to state the truth—that I ‘openly make statements against the country.’”

In his article, Shah reflected on the state of free speech in India, drawing parallels to themes in George Orwell’s dystopian novel, 1984. He expressed concern about the perceived erosion of civil liberties and the growing climate of surveillance, stating, “This is not the country I grew up in and was taught to love.”

The incident surrounding Shah's disinvitation has spurred discussions on artistic freedoms and the role of educational institutions in facilitating or suppressing free expression. Despite the controversy, the reading session, titled 'Preet Nagar', was meant to showcase literary works by prominent Urdu poets, including Sahir Ludhianvi and Faiz Ahmed Faiz.

Responses to Shah’s allegations of censorship have varied, with those in favour of open dialogue calling for an inquiry into the incident. Critics of the actor, however, suspect that his outspoken political views may have contributed to the cancellation, highlighting the tensions between art and politics within the current socio-political landscape in India.