>Ravikrana0829 at 17:23, 5 July 2021

2021-07-05T17:23:43Z

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{{Italic title}}
{{Infobox book
| name = Delhi Riots 2020: The Untold Story
| author = Monika Arora, Sonali Chitalkar and Prerna Malhotra
| language = English
| country = India
| published =
| publisher = [[Bloomsbury Publishing|''Bloomsbury'']] India (''withdrawn'')<br>
Garuda Prakashan
| website = {{URL|https://www.garudabooks.com/delhi-riots-2020-the-untold-story}}
}}
'''''Delhi Riots 2020: The Untold Story''''' is a controversial 2020 book about the [[2020 Delhi riots|Delhi riots]] that took place over a period of six days in February 2020 in which 53 died, including [[Hindus]] and [[Muslims]] both. According the current publisher's website,<ref>{{Cite web|title=Delhi Riots 2020: The Untold Story {{!}} Garuda Prakashan|url=https://www.garudabooks.com/delhi-riots-2020-the-untold-story|access-date=2020-08-28|website=www.garudabooks.com|language=en}}</ref> the book aims to substantiate the claim that "the riots were planned and executed by Urban Naxal and Jihadi elements in Delhi"; which [[Amnesty International]],<ref>{{Cite web|title=India's police 'complicit' in anti-Muslim riots, alleges Amnesty|url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/08/india-police-complicit-anti-muslim-riots-alleges-amnesty-200827095318194.html|access-date=2020-08-28|website=www.aljazeera.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=|title=AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL INDIA, 28 AUGUST 2020, INVESTIGATIVE BRIEFING|url=https://www.amnestyusa.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Investigative-Briefing.pdf|url-status=live|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=|website=}}</ref> [[Human Rights Watch]]<ref>{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=|title="Shoot the Traitors" Discrimination Against Muslims under India’s New Citizenship Policy|url=https://www.hrw.org/sites/default/files/report_pdf/india0420_web_0.pdf|url-status=live|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=28 August 2020|website=}}</ref> and the Delhi Minorities Commission<ref>{{Cite news|last=Venugopal|first=Vasudha|title=Northeast Delhi violence: Police biased, didn't stop riots, says Delhi Minority Panel|work=The Economic Times|url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/police-biased-didnt-stop-riots-delhi-minority-panel/articleshow/77007065.cms|access-date=2020-08-28}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Burkhas, All 'Markers of Muslimness' Targeted, Report Details Women's Plight in Delhi Riots|url=https://thewire.in/rights/delh-riots-delhi-minorities-commission-report|access-date=2020-08-28|website=The Wire}}</ref> contradict.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Ellis-Petersen|first=Hannah|date=2020-08-24|title=Bloomsbury India pulls Delhi riots book after anti-Muslim controversy|url=http://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/aug/24/bloomsbury-india-pulls-delhi-riots-2020-book-after-anti-muslim-controversy|url-status=live|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2020-08-27|website=The Guardian|language=en}}</ref>

As of August 24, 2020, ''Garuda Prakashan'' had 15,000 pre-orders for the book.<ref name=":8">{{Cite web|last=Agrawal|first=Soniya|date=2020-08-24|title=Publisher Garuda gets over 15k pre-orders in a day for Delhi riots book Bloomsbury cancelled|url=https://theprint.in/india/publisher-garuda-gets-over-15k-pre-orders-in-a-day-for-delhi-riots-book-bloomsbury-cancelled/488507/|access-date=2020-08-27|website=ThePrint|language=en-US}}</ref> The number of pre-orders doubled to 30,000 by August 30, 2020.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Delhi Riots 2020: Garuda Prakashan says they have got an overwhelming response with 30,000 preorders|url=https://www.freepressjournal.in/india/delhi-riots-2020-garuda-prakashan-says-they-have-got-an-overwhelming-response-with-30000-preorders|access-date=2020-09-11|website=Free Press Journal|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-09-08|title=Books, bans, Bloomsbury and bloopers: Why withdrawing Delhi Riots 2020 is problematic - India News , Firstpost|url=https://www.firstpost.com/india/books-bans-bloomsbury-and-bloopers-8795471.html|access-date=2020-09-11|website=Firstpost}}</ref> The book was released virtually by Garuda Prakashan on September 20, 2020.<ref>{{Cite web|last=IANS|title=‘Delhi Riots 2020: The Untold Story’ Released|url=https://telanganatoday.com/delhi-riots-2020-the-untold-story-released|access-date=2020-09-26|website=Telangana Today|language=en-US}}</ref>

== Authors ==
The book is authored by Monika Arora, Sonali Chitalkar, and Prerna Malhotra. Arora is a Delhi-based lawyer practicing in the [[Supreme Court of India]].<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|last=Akhauri|first=Tanvi|date=2020-08-26|title=Who Are The Three Women Authors Behind The Controversial 'Delhi Riots 2020: The Untold Story'?|url=https://www.shethepeople.tv/home-top-video/who-are-the-three-women-authors-behind-the-controversial-delhi-riots-2020-the-untold-story/|url-status=live|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2020-08-27|website=[[SheThePeople.TV|SheThePeople TV]]|language=en-US}}</ref> She is a standing counsel for the Government of India, in the Delhi High Court. She is former DUSU President from [[Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad|ABVP]], during 1992–1993.<ref>https://theprint.in/politics/rss-bjp-linked-women-intellectuals-question-kathua-probe-want-cbi/55553/</ref> She also practices in the district courts.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Monika Arora {{!}} Garuda Prakashan|url=https://www.garudabooks.com/monika-arora|access-date=2020-08-27|website=www.garudabooks.com|language=en-US}}</ref> Chitalkar is an assistant professor of political science at [[Miranda House, University of Delhi]].<ref name=":1" /> Malhotra is also an assistant professor for English at [[Ram Lal Anand College|Ram Lal Anand College, University of Delhi]]. She has a Ph.D and has co-authored and edited six books.<ref name=":1" /> The authors are part of the "Group of Intellectuals and Academicians [http://giafornation.com/ (GIA)]", who had earlier submitted the report of their fact-finding mission on the [[2020 Delhi riots|''2020 Delhi Riots'']] to the Minister of State for Home Affairs [[G. Kishan Reddy|G. Kishen Reddy]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Riots in northeast Delhi were ''planned'': Report |url=https://www.outlookindia.com/newsscroll/riots-in-northeast-delhi-were-planned-report/1757726 |accessdate=5 September 2020 |agency=Outlook |date=2020-03-11}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title='Delhi violence was pre-planned conspiracy', says GIA’s fact finding team |url=https://www.dnaindia.com/india/video-delhi-violence-was-pre-planned-conspiracy-says-gia-s-fact-finding-team-2816863 |accessdate=5 September 2020 |agency=DNA |date=2020-03-11}}</ref>

== Publication controversy ==
The book was originally published by [[Bloomsbury India]]. The controversy started because [[Kapil Mishra|Kapil Misra]], who has been named in the Delhi Minority Commission's fact-finding report,<ref>{{Cite web|last=Service|first=Tribune News|title=Delhi riots: DMC fact-finding report names Kapil Mishra, calls out Delhi Police|url=https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/nation/delhi-riots-dmc-fact-finding-report-names-kapil-mishra-calls-out-delhi-police-114753|access-date=2020-08-28|website=Tribuneindia News Service|language=en-US}}</ref> was invited to the book's launch.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-08-21|title=Kapil Mishra ‘guest of honour’ at launch of book on Delhi riots|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/kapil-mishra-guest-of-honour-at-launch-of-book-on-delhi-riots/story-bpUC05xBwWv7XXX4YmyXLN.html|access-date=2020-08-28|website=Hindustan Times|language=en-US}}</ref> On 22 August 2020, after a "liberal" backlash, Bloomsbury withdrew from publishing the book. On 23 August 2020, publishing house ''Garuda Prakashan'' said that they would be publishing it.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|last=PTI|date=2020-08-23|title=Garuda Prakashan to publish book on Delhi riots, after Bloomsbury India says it won't|url=https://theprint.in/india/garuda-prakashan-to-publish-book-on-delhi-riots-after-bloomsbury-india-says-it-wont/487889/|access-date=2020-08-27|website=ThePrint|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=24 August 2020|title=Does Bloomsbury’s decision to withdraw book on Delhi riots undermine free speech? A debate ensues|url=https://scroll.in/article/971184/does-bloomsburys-decision-to-withdraw-book-on-delhi-riots-undermine-free-speech-a-debate-ensues|url-status=live|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2020-08-27|website=[[Scroll.in]]|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|others=PTI|date=2020-08-23|title=Bloomsbury says it won’t publish book on Delhi riots after social media backlash|language=en-IN|work=The Hindu|url=https://www.thehindu.com/books/bloomsbury-says-it-wont-publish-book-on-delhi-riots-after-social-media-backlash/article32420501.ece|access-date=2020-08-27|issn=0971-751X}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Ajmal|first=Anam|date=23 August 2020|title=After social media rage, book on 2020 Delhi riots withdrawn|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/delhi/bloomsbury-withdraws-book-on-delhi-riots/articleshow/77699040.cms|url-status=live|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2020-08-27|website=The Times of India|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Shankar|first=Aranya|date=2020-08-24|title=Brown Lives Matter: Authors of Delhi riots book to publisher|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/delhi/authors-of-delhi-riots-book-publisher-garuda-prakashan-6567117/|url-status=live|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2020-08-27|website=The Indian Express|language=en}}</ref>

Bloomsbury India put out a statement:<ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-08-23|title=Publisher withdraws book on Delhi riots, author goes ahead with virtual launch|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/cities/publisher-withdraws-book-on-delhi-riots-author-goes-ahead-with-virtual-launch/story-qCDQtQoIVexVgn2VTsi9eP.html|access-date=2020-08-27|website=Hindustan Times|language=en}}</ref>

{{Quote|text=Bloomsbury India had planned to release Delhi Riots 2020: The Untold Story in September, a book purportedly giving a factual report on the riots in Delhi in February 2020, based on investigations and interviews conducted by the authors. However, in view of very recent events including a virtual pre-publication launch organised without our knowledge by the authors, with participation by parties of whom the publishers would not have approved, we have decided to withdraw publication of the book. Bloomsbury India strongly supports freedom of speech but also has a deep sense of responsibility towards society.|author=|title=|source=}}

Following the stepping in of ''Garuda Prakashan'', Tamil Nadu-based Footprint Publications, run by a BJP leader, also announced to print a Tamil version of the book.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Vignessh|date=2020-08-24|title=Bloomsbury-reject 'Delhi Riots 2020' to be published in Tamil|url=https://thefederal.com/states/south/tamil-nadu/bloomsbury-reject-delhi-riots-2020-to-be-published-in-tamil/|access-date=2020-08-27|website=The Federal|language=en-US}}</ref>

Monika Arora argues that the withdrawal of [[Bloomsbury India]] from publication is an attack on freedom of expression.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web|date=2020-08-27|title=What the publisher Bloomsbury India-Delhi Riots 2020 fracas highlights about the pernicious cynicism in Indian publishing - Art-and-culture News , Firstpost|url=https://www.firstpost.com/art-and-culture/what-the-bloomsbury-india-delhi-riots-2020-fracas-highlights-about-the-pernicious-cynicism-in-indian-publishing-8757491.html|access-date=2020-08-28|website=Firstpost}}</ref>

After finding that a PDF copy of the book was circulating online while "Bloomsbury India was granted the sole and exclusive licence to reproduce copies of her book", the authors filed a complaint with the ''[[Commissioner of Police, Delhi]]'' against Bloomsbury India "for the offence of criminal breach of trust, cheating, mischief, misappropriation of property."<ref name=":23" /><ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-09-04|title=Delhi riots book: Police complaint against publisher Bloomsbury and others after authors meet police chief|url=https://www.financialexpress.com/india-news/delhi-riots-book-police-complaint-against-publisher-bloomsbury-and-others-after-authors-meet-police-chief/2074794/|access-date=2020-09-05|website=The Financial Express|language=en-US}}</ref> They also complained against Bloomsbury India for "rescinding on its obligations to publish and distribute her book titled Delhi Riots 2020: The Untold Story." The complaint stated:<ref name=":23" />

{{Quote
|text=On the date of the launch, at 3:30 PM, the Publisher phoned the Author to say that it was considering withdrawing the book on account of pressure of its parent company Bloomsbury UK, and from certain other persons on social media. While the book launch event was live, a statement came to be issued by the Publisher that it had decided to withdraw the book.
}}

It also accused [[Nandini Sundar]], [[The Quint]], and [[Newslaundry]] of "illegal receipt and retention of stolen property". It further accused [[Aatish Taseer]], [[Arfa Khanum Sherwani]]'','' Saket Gokhale, and [[William Dalrymple (historian)|William Dalrymple]] of "criminal intimidation and statements creating and promoting enmity between communities."<ref name=":23"/><ref>{{cite news |title=Author of book on Delhi riots files police complaint |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/cities/author-of-book-on-delhi-riots-files-police-complaint/story-BXZgv47BpO5PF2tnkhobNI.html |accessdate=5 September 2020 |agency=Hindustan Times |date=2020-09-04}}</ref>

Multiple authors, including economist [[Sanjeev Sanyal]], retired [[Indian Administrative Service]] officer Sanjay Dixit, and [[Jawaharlal Nehru University]] professor Anand Ranganathan severed their ties with Bloomsbury India following the controversy.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-08-23|title=Three authors sever ties with Bloomsbury India after publisher withdraws book on 2020 Delhi riots - India News , Firstpost|url=https://www.firstpost.com/india/three-authors-sever-ties-with-bloomsbury-india-after-publisher-withdraws-book-on-2020-delhi-riots-8743511.html|access-date=2020-09-05|website=Firstpost}}</ref>

== Reception ==
''Garuda Prakashan'' received over 15,000 pre-orders in a day after it opened its website for the booking.<ref name=":8" /> ''[[The Quint]]'' writes that "the book is mostly based on conjectures, conspiracy theories and is also riddled with misinformation".<ref>{{Cite web|last=Goel|first=Himanshi Dahiya,Kritika|date=2020-08-26|title=Factual Errors in ‘Delhi Riots 2020’ Book Fuel Conspiracy Theories|url=https://www.thequint.com/news/webqoof/delhi-riots-book-is-full-of-factual-errors-and-conspiracy-theories-rejected-by-bloomsbury-published-by-garuda-prakashan|access-date=2020-08-27|website=TheQuint|language=en}}</ref> Questioning the access of the book by [[The Quint]] and [[Newslaundry]] before its formal publication, the authors filed a criminal complaint against [[Bloomsbury Publishing|''Bloomsbury'']] India for having "leaked a PDF version of her book," to “hamper any future sales.”<ref name=":23">{{cite web |last1=Singh |first1=Aditi |title=Monika Arora - Delhi Riots Monika Arora - Delhi Riots News Monika Arora files complaint against Bloomsbury India, Twitter users over withdrawal of her book on Delhi Riots |url=https://www.barandbench.com/news/monika-arora-complaint-bloomsbury-india-withdrawal-book-delhi-riots |website=Bar And Bench |accessdate=5 September 2020 |language=English |date=2020-09-03}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Authors of Delhi riots book file complaint against William Dalrymple, Quint and others |url=https://scroll.in/latest/972143/authors-of-delhi-riots-book-file-complaint-against-several-individuals-publications-including-quint |website=Scroll |accessdate=5 September 2020}}</ref>

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

[[Category:2020 non-fiction books]]
[[Category:21st-century Indian books]]
[[Category:Indian non-fiction books]]
[[Category:Collaborative non-fiction books]]
[[Category:Books about Delhi]]

Delhi Riots 2020: The Untold Story - Revision history

>Ravikrana0829 at 17:23, 5 July 2021