Kala Ghoda Festival Cancels Anand Teltumbde Book Discussion Following Police Request and Online Backlash
The Kala Ghoda Arts Festival (KGAF) has cancelled a scheduled book discussion featuring prominent activist and academic Anand Teltumbde, citing a request from the Mumbai Police. The decision came shortly after details of the event were made public online, triggering significant backlash on social media platforms.
Event Details and Sudden Cancellation
Titled Incarcerated Tales from Behind Bars, the session was set to feature Teltumbde alongside writer Neeta Kolhatkar, with moderation by Scroll editor Naresh Fernandes. Originally scheduled for February 8, the discussion was moved to February 6 at Teltumbde's request due to a personal commitment in Bhopal.
According to festival organizers, the cancellation was communicated to participants via email on Tuesday night, explicitly citing a police request. Brinda Miller, Festival Director, described the situation as "unforeseen and unfortunate" while emphasizing that "the safety of KGAF comes first."
Conflicting Police Statements and Permission Issues
Mumbai Police officials provided contradictory statements regarding their involvement. One officer stated that no permission had been sought for the event, therefore none had been granted. When questioned about whether individual festival sessions require separate permissions, the officer did not respond.
Another senior police officer claimed that the Mumbai Police "does not usually direct events to be cancelled" and expressed doubt that such instructions had been issued. Despite these statements, organizers maintained that police intervention prompted the cancellation.
Social Media Backlash and Organizer Response
The event faced immediate trolling on social media platforms after the revised date was circulated online this week. Following the cancellation, organizers reportedly asked participants to delete social media posts related to the event, further fueling controversy around freedom of expression.
Teltumbde expressed confusion about the decision, noting that his book The Cell and the Soul: A Prison Memoir has already been published and discussed extensively in public forums. "It has been discussed publicly, reviewed extensively by the press, and read by many," he stated, highlighting previous successful events including one at the Press Club.
Broader Implications and Criticism
Neeta Kolhatkar, author of The Feared: Conversations with Eleven Political Prisoners, criticized the cancellation as succumbing to pressure from "right-wing trolls and the police." She emphasized that "these stories need to be told" and warned that such "cancel culture" sets a dangerous precedent for democracy.
The incident raises significant questions about:
- Freedom of expression at cultural festivals
- Police involvement in cultural programming decisions
- The impact of online backlash on artistic freedom
- Institutional responses to controversial topics
Background Context and Festival Significance
Anand Teltumbde, a former IIT professor and author, was arrested in April 2020 in connection with the Elgaar Parishad case and granted bail by the Bombay High Court in November 2022. The court noted in its bail order that evidence did not prima facie indicate terrorist activities under UAPA provisions.
The Kala Ghoda Arts Festival, now in its 26th edition, is a prominent cultural event with collaborators including the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation, Maharashtra Tourism Department, and UNESCO. Supporters listed by the festival include the Maharashtra Police and Mumbai Traffic Police, adding complexity to the current controversy.
This cancellation occurs amid ongoing debates about artistic freedom, political expression, and institutional pressures in India's cultural landscape, highlighting tensions between security concerns and intellectual discourse.
