Jaipur, Jan 19 (PTI) On the final day of the 19th Jaipur Literature Festival (JLF), a thought-provoking debate took place on the issue of the looming threat to freedom of expression in the current situation of the country.
During a debate on ‘Freedom of Expression is a Dangerous Idea’, speakers on both sides of the issue, despite their differences of opinion, agreed that silence is the most dangerous situation despite all kinds of threats.
Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) spokesperson Ashish Gawande, India-born British historian, senior research fellow at Princeton University and author of the book ‘What is Free Speech’ Farah Dabhoiwala, former Rajya Sabha member and former bureaucrat Pawan K Varma and Shiv Sena (Uttar Pradesh) spokesperson Priyanka Chaturvedi strongly expressed their views in support of the issue.
Those who expressed their views against the topic included Alice Oswald, who teaches poetry as a subject at Oxford University, British journalist, satirist and well-known television personality Ian David Hislop, former Indian Ambassador to the US Navtej Sarna, and former Indian High Commissioner to Australia Navdeep Suri.
Ashish Gawande, participating in the debate, argued that “freedom of expression is a dangerous idea” if it is enjoyed by only a few. He said that freedom of expression in the hands of only a few is what puts people like youth leader Umar Khalid behind bars.
Author and former bureaucrat Pawan Verma said, “Today, freedom of expression is a dangerous idea.” “We have to keep the context in mind while debating this,” he said, without naming the former Jawaharlal Nehru University student, “Would you want to be in jail without bail?” Referring to the media, he said that in TV debates, the anchors collude with the other side to sideline those who present the truth.
“That’s why I say freedom of expression is a dangerous idea,” Verma said.
“I believe in freedom of expression, it’s a good idea, but it’s becoming increasingly dangerous, whether in America, here, or anywhere else,” he said.
Shiv Sena (UBT) spokesperson Priyanka Chaturvedi said that freedom of expression is a more dangerous idea for women.
She cited the example of being trolled for expressing one’s views freely on social media and said that freedom of expression becomes dangerous for women as soon as they demand their rights.
Chaturvedi said freedom of expression is a good but dangerous idea, adding that women should continue to raise their voices without any fear.
Alice Oswald said that no matter how dangerous the idea of freedom of expression is, silence is even more dangerous.
Most speakers said that freedom of expression has declined in the last decade.
With this, the five-day 19th Jaipur Literature Festival concluded amidst songs and music. PTI NRS NB
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