Speakers:
Ather Zia, Professor, University of Northern Colorado
Anuradha Bhasin, Executive Editor, The Kashmir Times
NN, Association for Feminist Anthropology
Suchitra Vijayan, The Polis Project
Masuma Al Khan, Student.
Moderator:
Annapurna Menon, University of Sheffield
Register here
On 5 August 2025, the Indian State in Kashmir designated a list of 25 books as banned. The order suggests that the books ‘propagate false narratives and secessionism’ and thus effectively criminalises owning, distributing or selling the books. Issued six years after the controversial revoking of the constitutional autonomy of the state of Jammu and Kashmir in 2019, the book ban raises grave concerns about Kashmir's future, while equally revealing a largely unchallenged state paranoia.
The discussion brings together a panel of experts to discuss the impact of the ban on academic freedom and to reflect on ways to collectively resist the authoritarian occupation of knowledge.
