After banning book for ‘hurting dignity’ of tribal women, author suspended from govt job

Hansda Sowvendra Sekhar, a government doctor, has been placed under suspension with immediate effect.

A day after banning the controversial book “The Adivasi will not dance”, the Jharkhand government on Saturday suspended its author Hansda Sowvendra Sekhar, who is a government doctor.

Dr Hansda Sowvendra Sekhar was suspended after his book was banned. (File Photo)

Health minister Ramchandra Chandravansi told the assembly that Hansda, who is posted in the state’s Pakur district, has been placed under suspension with immediate effect.

The authorities have started seizing the book and are also looking for the doctor, parliamentary affairs minister Saryu Roy said.

The state government had on Friday banned the book, “The Adivasi will not dance”, for allegedly hurting the dignity of Santhal tribal women.

On Saturday, the government issued a notification saying that the content of the book may disturb law and order situation in the state.

The book’s content is in contravention of provisions of various IPC Sections like 153A (Promoting enmity between different groups), 153B (Imputations, assertions prejudicial to national-integration) and 292 (Sale of obscene books), the notification said.

An order to seize all the copies of the book has also been issued, it said.