Censorship as Colonization: The Banning of Books in Kashmir.
Resident Editor. Sidra Sadozai
Censorship is never neutral. It is a tool of power, a conscious effort to impose control, silence critics, and obliterate past events. Censorship has evolved into a continuation of colonization in Indian-occupied Jammu and Kashmir. In addition to the military presence, curfews, and barbed wire, the Indian government is currently suppressing journalists, banning books, and rewriting history in an effort to destroy Kashmiri memory, culture, and identity. This intellectual repression aims to colonize the future rather than just control the present.
Colonialism and Knowledge Fear
One fact has been recognized by all colonial endeavors throughout history: power comes from knowledge. Black literature was illegal in South Africa during the apartheid era, nationalist newspapers were suppressed by the British in India, and revolutionary writings were outlawed by the French in Algeria. Erasing the voices of the colonized was always the aim: to break their spirit.
This colonial tactic is being repeated by India in Kashmir today. New Delhi aims to control not just the territory but also the people’s imagination by outlawing books and suppressing Kashmiri authors. It is an effort to substitute state propaganda for Kashmiri narratives and establish silence as the only acceptable language.
Erasure as Banning
Indian authorities have been systematically removing books from Kashmiri libraries and educational institutions in recent years, particularly since the repeal of Article 370 in August 2019. Works that express Kashmiri identity, question the official narrative, or document violations of human rights are considered “anti-national.”
Not even children’s textbooks are exempt. All historical allusions to Kashmir’s autonomy, culture, or political conflicts have been removed. The Hindutva-driven ideology of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is now reflected in school curricula, depriving young Kashmiris of their collective memory.
This ban is an act of erasure rather than censorship. It is the willful erasure of a people’s cultural heritage, memory, and right to tell their own story.
Erasure as Banning
Indian authorities have been systematically removing books from Kashmiri libraries and educational institutions in recent years, particularly since the repeal of Article 370 in August 2019. Works that express Kashmiri identity, question the official narrative, or document violations of human rights are considered “anti-national.”
Not even children’s textbooks are exempt. All historical allusions to Kashmir’s autonomy, culture, or political conflicts have been removed. The Hindutva-driven ideology of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is now reflected in school curricula, depriving young Kashmiris of their collective memory.
This ban is an act of erasure rather than censorship. It is the willful erasure of a people’s cultural heritage, memory, and right to tell their own story.
Resistance through Words
Resistance has always been a part of Kashmiri literature. Modern authors like Agha Shahid Ali and poets like Habba Khatoon and Mahjoor made sure that the Kashmiri struggle was immortalized by capturing the beauty and suffering of the Valley.
However, these statements pose a threat to an occupying force. Mass graves, enforced disappearances, torture, and sexual violence by security forces are among the realities they expose that India wants to hide. They serve as a reminder to the world that Kashmir is a homeland with a history and a people who are calling for independence, not just a “territory.”
India wants to eliminate this tool of resistance by outlawing books. However, history demonstrates that words have always prevailed over empires.
The Criminalization of Truth and Journalists
In Kashmir, censorship goes far beyond books. Persecution of journalists is also unrelenting. Local journalists are labeled as “terrorists” or “anti-national” if they dare to report on violations of human rights. Journalism is criminalized through the use of laws such as the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). Intelligence agencies summon editors, raid newsrooms, and make publications self-censor.
It is difficult for independent journalism to thrive in this fear-based environment. But the truth comes through even when no one speaks. Journalists from Kashmir still run the risk of being imprisoned for reporting on the day-to-day conditions of occupation. Their bravery is evidence of the timeless impact of words.
The Dominance Project of Hindutva
Hindutva ideology is at the core of this censorship. Kashmir is seen by the BJP and its supporters as a civilizational endeavor rather than merely a territorial dispute. They seek to incorporate Kashmir into a Hindu nationalist narrative in which difference is erased and dissent is treason.
This narrative is not consistent with Kashmiri literature, which has strong ties to Sufi traditions, Muslim identity, and a history of resistance. It needs to be silenced as a result. India is attempting to impose cultural hegemony—a traditional act of colonization—by outlawing books.
Because of this, censorship in Kashmir cannot be viewed as a stand-alone policy. It is a component of a larger plan to eradicate Kashmiri identity and substitute the Hindutva ideal of India for it.
Global Hypocrisy
The international community’s silence regarding this censorship is arguably its most unsettling feature. When it comes to India, Western governments that make a big deal out of press freedom and censorship in nations like China or Russia keep quiet. Human rights are subordinated to strategic alliances and economic partnerships.
However, the prohibition of books in Kashmir is a worldwide issue rather than a regional one. Cultural genocide occurs when literature is suppressed. Ignoring Kashmir runs the risk of establishing a risky precedent in which strong governments can silence entire populations without consequence.
Colonization through Censorship
India’s actions in Kashmir amount to mental colonization rather than censorship. New Delhi is trying to occupy Kashmiri consciousness itself by criminalizing truth, rewriting history, and restricting access to literature. Because it aims to alter a people’s perception of themselves, their history, and their future, this type of colonization is more pernicious than military rule.
However, history shows us that these attempts are always unsuccessful. Through censorship, the British were unable to eradicate Indian nationalism. Black writers’ voices could not be silenced by South Africa’s apartheid government. Furthermore, India’s military might is insufficient to eradicate Kashmiri identity through book bans.
Word-Based Resistance
In Kashmir, each book that is banned gains more traction than one that is published. Each writer who is silenced becomes a symbol of defiance. Despite state repression, digital networks, oral traditions, and underground literature make sure that Kashmiri voices are heard.
Armed with smartphones and social media, young Kashmiris come up with innovative ways to thwart censorship. Personal narratives travel the world, poetry circulates online, and banned texts reappear in unexpected places. Once written, words cannot be erased.
Conclusion: The Fall of the Empire of Silence
India’s admission of weakness in Kashmir is censorship. Books, poems, and articles would not be feared by a state that is confident in its legitimacy. Only an oppressive occupying force fears words. India’s deepest insecurity—the fear that the truth about Kashmir will undermine its propaganda—is exposed by its book bans.
However, memory has always prevailed over censorship. India’s exposure as a colonial oppressor increases with the number of its bans. Kashmiris cling more to their stories the more they are erased. The echoes of resistance become louder the more it quiets.
India might be able to temporarily control what is taught or printed, but it cannot take over a whole people’s imagination. The truth about Kashmir persists in every book that is banned, in every poem that is silenced, and in every journalist who is imprisoned.
And it will be words—those same forbidden words—that illuminate the way to freedom when the empire of silence collapses.
