The Calcutta Quran Petition

The Calcutta Quran Petition documents a legal case from 1985 in which two individuals filed a petition in the Calcutta High Court seeking to ban the Quran. The book presents the complete text of the original petition, court proceedings, and related correspondence. The narrative traces the events leading to the filing, including initial letters from H.K. Chakraborty to the West Bengal government and the subsequent involvement of Chandmal Chopra. Their petition cited specific verses and claimed the text violated Indian law regarding religious harmony. The book includes extensive supplementary materials, historical context, and analysis of the legal framework surrounding religious texts and censorship in India. This compilation represents the complete documentation of a controversial case in Indian constitutional history. The work raises questions about religious freedom, censorship, and the balance between protecting religious sentiments and maintaining social harmony in a diverse society. These themes reflect broader debates about the role of religious texts in secular democracies.

Reviews indicate most readers see this as a text about the history and legal complexities of banning religious books in India, focused on a 1985 court case. Readers highlighted: - Documentation of court proceedings and legal history - Analysis of precedent cases involving religious texts - Discussion of constitutional free speech issues Common criticisms: - Perceived bias in presentation - Limited scope beyond the specific court case - Dense legal terminology that some found hard to follow Available ratings: Goodreads: 4.4/5 (24 ratings) Amazon India: 4.6/5 (32 ratings) Notable reader comments: "Thorough research on an overlooked legal case" - Goodreads reviewer "Too focused on technical legal details" - Amazon reviewer "Important historical record of religious freedom debates in India" - Goodreads reviewer

Why I Am Not a Muslim by Ibn Warraq Documents historical criticism of Islamic texts with similar focus on examining religious doctrines through legal and secular frameworks.

The Hidden Origins of Islam by Karl-Heinz Ohlig Presents textual analysis and historical research on early Islamic sources with comparable attention to primary document examination.

The Quest for the Historical Muhammad by Ibn Warraq Compiles source materials and scholarly works analyzing Islamic texts using methodologies similar to the Calcutta petition's approach.

Religion and Law in Independent India by Marc Galanter Examines legal cases involving religious texts in India with parallel focus on constitutional frameworks and secular governance.

Understanding Muhammad by Ali Sina Studies Islamic texts through legal and historical perspectives with comparable documentation of primary sources.

🔷 The petition to ban the Quran was dismissed by the Calcutta High Court in just 9 days, making it one of the swiftest disposals of such a case in Indian legal history 🔷 Author Sita Ram Goel was arrested in 1980 for publishing a critical analysis of Christian missionary activities in India, which significantly influenced his views on religious freedom and censorship 🔷 The case sparked nationwide protests in 1985, leading to riots in several cities and forcing the West Bengal government to ban Goel's book in 1986 to maintain public order 🔷 The book reveals that between 1947-1985, Indian courts handled over 20 similar petitions attempting to ban various religious texts, but none were ultimately successful 🔷 Despite being an Oxford-educated publisher and historian, Goel was blacklisted by many mainstream publishers after this book's release, forcing him to establish his own publishing house "Voice of India"