Rashmi Bansal, editor of a ‘youth’ journal called JAM is said to be underground. This is not 1st April and it’s not a year-end joke either.
I saw this news today, two days after Bullshit Press informed the blogosphere that she may be arrested.
This is the result of an FIR against JAM for publishing an advertisement which hurt somebody’s religious sentiments. JAM has withdrawn all copies of the issue and has issued an “unconditional apology” on its website.
In its November 30-December 15 issue, JAM, which is generally considered to be a campus magazine, had published a series of articles and photographs sent by readers on the occasion of the World AIDS Day. The punch lines below a couple of pictures—of Dr BR Ambedkar and a Shivling—had allegedly used derogatory remarks about the religious figures, following which a complaint had been lodged against the magazine’s printer/publisher. [HT]
I think it is unfortunate that Rashmi Bansal – who stood tall against IIPM – has bowed down this time. Stand up for free speech, Rashmi. I do hope she comes out of this mess soon.
14 Comments
December 11, 2006 at 9:13 pm
Rashmi Bansal: Stand up for free speech, again at National Highway
December 11, 2006 at 7:17 pm
Am aghast to hear about Rashmi’s alleged “impending arrest”. I hope things get sorted out. Why arrest the editor/publisher of a magazine for a so-called “offensive” ad? [Via Shivam] Fellow LinkedInBlogger Dave Taylor is up against folks like Slashdot in the Best Technology Weblog Awards. I voted for Dave, and I think you should too ! Jinal Shah has won the (unofficial) runner-up weblog award
December 11, 2006 at 2:16 pm
[...] Meanwhile, Shivam Vij exhorts Rashmi to stand up for free speech, again. [...]
December 11, 2006 at 3:47 pm
[...] reports Shivam Vij. The blogger, Rashmi Bansal, runs a ‘youth magazine’ JAM, which had recently published an advertisement which, allegedly, has ’caused hurt to the sentiments of some communities’. The magazine has issued an unconditional apology. Posted by kuffir [...]
December 11, 2006 at 5:31 pm
Hey, she did insult BR Ambedkar too. How come Shivam is supporting Rashmi. Will it not hurt the minorities or Dalits.
Shivam, dare say the same thing when mohamed cartoons were published. Where is freedom of speech then?
Hypocrisy anyone?
While I am not in favour of Rashmi being arrested for trivial matters, it is the inequality and hypocrisy in the name of secularism that rankles.
December 11, 2006 at 8:01 pm
I hoep she stands up for herself too! This is a mite ridiculous.
December 11, 2006 at 9:33 pm
Free speech in India is a farce. And the threat of violence just makes it not worth it to take on the establishment. Although I would also ask Rashmi to stand up for her rights, she definitely has the right not to in order to protect her family from physical harm.
December 11, 2006 at 9:46 pm
I agree, good Pat. When one faces such situations there has to be a balance between what one considers right and what one considers practical and pragmatic. I do wish Rashmi and her family all the best and I’m sure they will emerge unscathed from this nonsensical case.
However, I would not say that free speech in India is a ‘farce’. I would say it may become a farce if ordinary people like you and me do not stand up for it. Rights are not a given, they have to be won, asked for, insisted upon. That’s another reality.
December 12, 2006 at 12:36 am
“I would say it may become a farce if ordinary people like you and me do not stand up for it.”
Amen !
Sivam, I’d checked a few links , the question here is, if you do a post and convey something which you never intended to, isn’t it ok to back off and say “thats not what i meant”.
December 12, 2006 at 6:57 pm
i hope that this is the biggest issue ever we support with ambedkar .
December 12, 2006 at 9:11 pm
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December 15, 2006 at 7:39 pm
[...] Rashmi Bansal: Stand up for free speech, again - Dec 11, 2006 - Shivam Vij [...]
December 17, 2006 at 4:24 am
I think it is unfortunate that Rashmi Bansal…has bowed down this time.Stand up for free speech, Rashmi.
Rashmi removed those pics cos it was hurting some sentiments…
Shivam, you removed that massacre pic cos it was hurting some setiments…
Does this mean you also bowed down that time and didn’t stand up for Free Speech ?
December 24, 2006 at 10:19 pm
It is easy to say stand up for free speech. I don’t think in India it is that enjoyable to get arrested and spend time in jail (unless you have political power and loads of money)
As you had said in comments, one has to be practical and pragmatic :)