By Aman Wadud,
A lot has been written after the barbaric attack on Charlie Hebdo killing 12 people. In its first edition after the attack, Charlie Hebdo published cartoon of a bearded old man holding a placard which says ‘Jesuis Charlie’ or ‘I am Charlie’, the cartoon is supposedly of Prophet Mohammad (PBUH).
Many newspapers also carried the cartoon subsequently. Asomiya Pratidin, an Assamese daily, also carried the cartoon with a provocative headline on its front page. It has created a controversy with many people and organisations lodging protest. Some have burned copies of the newspaper and others have called for its boycott. While, there are still others who defended its decision to publish the cartoon.
Asomiya Pratidin is known for exaggerating facts and publishing half baked truths. Partiality has always been its modus operandi, objectivity an alien word. These are only few virtues of Asomiya Pratidin. With its dubious past, the decision to publish a hugely controversial cartoon with provocative headline can only have a malafied intention.
The newspaper knew very well that publishing cartoon of Prophet Muhammad would create a huge controversy. In a state with 30 % Muslim population and with assembly election just an year away, such controversy has potential to polarise the society. Let’s not forget that Pratidin is vocally supporting a particular political party, let’s also not forget the same paper is also regularly publishing blogs of leaders of the same political party. Apart from its vested political interest, I have little doubt Asomiya Pratidin also anticipated adverse reactions from Muslims. Such reactions could have turned an uncouth partial newspaper into a martyr just like Charlie Hebdo.
But that doesn’t justify any violent reaction or burning of copies of the newspaper. Those who burnt Asomiya Pratidin copies have only fallen into the trap, that’s exactly what the newspaper wanted. However, if anyone wants to boycott the newspaper, it is his personal choice. Boycott is a nonviolent act; even Gandhiji had preferred the way of boycott as a mode of protest. Boycott of British goods played an important role in India’s Independence movement. But let it be an individual choice; let no religious or social organisations impose their decisions on others to boycott a newspaper.
I myself boycotted Asomiya Pratidin long before. Reading is a divine pleasure, it is the most precious gift human being has been endowed with, but reading sheer trash can be torturous. Wonder why it took so long for people to boycott it.
(Aman Wadud is a Guwahati-based lawyer and civil rights activist)