In a sweeping move on August 5, 2025, the Jammu & Kashmir Home Department banned 25 books, citing “false narratives” and “secessionist sentiment.” Among the targeted works are Azadi by Arundhati Roy and A Dismantled State by journalist Anuradha Bhasin—books that explore Kashmir’s political reality and constitutional questions. The ban has placed librarians across the region in a moral and professional dilemma: comply with the state’s directive or protect the public’s right to access contested knowledge.
This powerful piece by Siddu Huded explores how censorship is reshaping the role of librarians and the future of public discourse in Kashmir.
Read the full article: After Kashmir’s ban on books, librarians are on a tightrope