Prajapati by Samaresh Basu [Hardcover]

"The date September 24, 1985, is a memorable day in Bengali and Indian literature. On this day, the Supreme Court of India clearly defined the boundary between decency and obscenity in literature. After being banned for eighteen years on charges of obscenity, Samaresh Basu's 'Prajapati' received a respectful reinstatement. The free 'Prajapati' set a new, unique precedent in Indian literature.

This historic event, along with the liberal, reformist verdict of the Supreme Court, is also unforgettable. By completely disregarding the judgments of two lower courts, the two honorable Supreme Court justices, Shri R.S. Pathak and Shri Amrendra Nath Sen, dispelled the misconceptions about obscenity. In their verdict, they provided a clear, realistic perspective and showed how the previous courts' judgments conflated 'vulgarity' with 'obscenity.' According to their well-considered opinion, just because a 'vulgar' (unrefined) writing exists does not mean it is 'obscene.' Some parts of 'Prajapati' might seem vulgar to certain readers, and the unconventional and rude language used in it might offend the tastes of some, and some descriptions might be objectionable to others. However, overall, the book is not obscene. It does not corrupt the moral character of the reader, nor will reading it make them corrupt.

Poet-critic Buddhadeb Bose also said nearly the same thing. Standing in the witness box as a defense witness in the sensational 'Prajapati' case in the Chief Presidency Magistrate's court, Buddhadeb Bose clearly stated that instead of corrupting, the book would evoke sympathy in the reader's mind. Speaking about the language of 'Prajapati,' Buddhadeb Bose firmly remarked that its language is not obscene. He said, 'The hero or anti-hero of this book is the type of contemporary rock-playing boys of West Bengal. They are known to all of us. This novel is written in the language they typically speak. This is why so much 'slang' is used in this book. This style is alive and a true reflection of life. This is where the success of the novel lies.' Buddhadeb Bose also said, 'Perhaps this language has not been widely used in literature. But it is now widely in use. By using this language, the author has enhanced the literature.'

Poet-professor Dr. Naresh Guha, another witness in the case, also expressed the same opinion. In his strong belief, 'Prajapati' does not corrupt the reader's moral character in any way. 'Prajapati' is not obscene, not overall, and not partially. However, the honorable Chief Presidency Magistrate had a completely different opinion. He believed that 'Prajapati' was a work devoid of literary merit. It had no educational or social value. Instead of benefiting society, it had caused greater harm under the guise of social welfare. Therefore, in his judgment, the author was found guilty under Section 292 of the Indian Penal Code. The publisher was found guilty under Sections 292/109. Each was fined 201 rupees, failing which they were sentenced to two months of simple imprisonment. Additionally, the judge ordered the deletion of 53 pages from the 'Sharadiya Desh' magazine's published version of the novel 'Prajapati' under Section 521 of the Criminal Procedure Code.

Both the complainant and the accused appealed to the Honorable High Court against this order. The complainant demanded stricter punishment. The accused appealed against the lower court's ruling. The High Court upheld the lower court's ruling in its entirety. It also ordered that the objectionable pages be deleted from the 'Sharadiya Desh' magazine and the book form of 'Prajapati.' The publisher and author could not accept this verdict of the Honorable High Court. They then approached the Supreme Court. In the final verdict of the Supreme Court, 'Prajapati' is now free.

On this occasion, a new edition of the free 'Prajapati' is released. In addition to the exact reprint of the original book, this edition includes a new introduction by author Samaresh Basu, the court testimonies, and the complete Bengali translation of the Supreme Court's verdict. This new edition will put an end to all the curiosity surrounding the sensational and controversial book."