Should Ashok K. Banker’s Ramayana series be banned?
Not only that, should it be banned without even being read by the persons threatening to file a lawsuit against me? Because that’s what a group of NRIs calling themselves the ‘Ram Setu’ group are saying.
Check out the comments by one ‘Atul Kumar Jain’ on the Readerswrite Page. Please search back through the comments to find the earlier complaints.
Here’s the second-last comment by Mr Jain:
“Dear Sri Banker,
Thanks for your prompt and detailed reply.
Now I have no complaints personally against you since you have clarified that the US edition was not authorised by you and that your Indian edition is generally free from the aberrations pointed out by me.
I appreciate the expression of your deep respect for Lord Ram and your offer of all help to get the US /UK publishers proceeded against under law.However,since the US copy-right holders have reverted it back to you,a law suit against them alone will have no legs to stand on.
Atul Kumar Jain”
And here’s the latest one from the same person:
“Dear Sri Banker,
I am sorry you have neither acknowledged nor replied to my last two letters requesting you to confirm that the excrepts objected to by our group here do not appear in your Indian edition.
We have therefore decided to lodge a case against the publishers, distributors and yourself in the District CJM’s court for hurting the religious feelings of Hindus in general and followers of Lord Ram in particular.”
The person in question, as well as the group he represents, had earlier complained about some points in the US/UK edition of the books, which I pointed out to them I had similar objections to as well, and that was one of the main reasons why I had asked that those editions should be discontinued. The US edition has since been put out of print and the rights reverted to me, while I am still waiting for a response from the UK publishers. At that point, Shri Jain seemed satisfied by my response (as you can see from his comment above), but later he wrote back on the Live Chat Box demanding to know if the same ‘offensive’ errors appeared in the Indian editions as well (although I had already clarified that they only appeared in the US/UK editions).
He also demanded to know where to get copies of the Indian editions, which I found strange since they’re available everywhere in India. I replied saying this, and thought the matter was over.
Now, without even having tried to buy the Indian editions (presumably because the complainants are living abroad and don’t have access to Indian bookstores), he says his group is going to file a complaint against me, my publishers, distributors, etc. for hurting the sentiments of Hindus! (This is after my Ramayana books have found over one million readers, almost all of them Hindus.)
Shailendra Modi, another reader, wrote this comment in my support:
“Dear Ashok please do not remove this post eventhough it may not strictly conform to your guidelines for posts in this forum. This has reference to posts 315 and 316.
I feel that if someone’s bent on feeling offended there, is always a cause waiting nearby. I would recommend Atul to read the books (all 6 already in print) before jumping to conclusions.
Also it is to be remembered that it is easy to file a lawsuit and have summons issued, and thereby derive satisfaction out of it. (This country has seen summons issued to the President of India for payment of a suitable sum). But that’s about the end of it. Thereafter you have to prove, on basis of hard facts, that not just your feelings, but the feelings of a sizable population of Hindus, are hurt. Let me be the first Hindu to state on this forum that my feelings are not hurt. It would also like to state that I do not derive any pleasure in Hindu bashing but I simply liked the way Ashok has retold the story. I personally feel that nowhere has Shri Ram or any other figures of reverence, been depicted in bad light.
The adage goes ‘Look before you leap’
Shailendra”
I’m very moved by Shailendra’s comment, just as I’m perplexed by Atul Kumar Jain’s grievance. I’m also curious about the group’s name ‘Ram Setu’.
I welcome all comments from readers of my Ramayana books. If you have read and liked (or loved) my books and want them to stay in print–and want me and other writers in future to have the freedom to write more such books on Indian myth, itihasa and culture, then now is the time to speak out. Leave your comment on the Readerswrite Page and tell everyone you know who might be interested to do the same.
But no matter how strongly you may feel on this matter, please take a deep breath and think carefully before you express yourself. I know the internet is notorious for ‘flame wars’ and the most uninhibited comments, but I will not permit any personal attacks against any person, not even someone who’s threatening to sue me. Whatever his issues, he is also a fellow Ram-bhakt and I am sure he has good intentions at heart, even if he is clearly acting rashly and wrongly.
To phrase a lesson I’ve learned by my close study of Rama himself these past several years:
The true measure of a person is not how he treats those closest to him, but how he treats his worst enemies.
Once a book is written and published, it no longer belongs to an author–it belongs to readers. This is now your cause as much as mine.
And above all, as I am fond of saying often,
This is not your story.
Or my story.
It is History.
If Rama wills it, his story will be told. If he does not will it, how can anyone even dare to attempt such a task?
A very limited number of copies of the AKB Books edition will be available again soon - and the Penguin mass market edition will be out in a few months! 
The long-awaited final volume in the Ramayana Series will be issued in a very Limited Edition by AKB Books, while the mass market paperback will be published early next year by Penguin Books! 