J&K govt. declares 25 books on Kashmir ‘forfeited’

The Jammu & Kashmir government on Wednesday (August 6, 2025) declared 25 books, many by prominent writers such as A.G. Noorani, Sumantra Bose, Arundhati Roy and Ayesha Jalal, as “forfeited for propagating false narrative and secessionism” in J&K.

The Home Department invoked Section 98 of the Bhartiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita 2023 to categorise the 25 books as “forfeited”. Their circulation will be stopped.

“The identified 25 books have been found to excite secessionism and endangering sovereignty and integrity of India, thereby, attracting the provisions of Sections 152, 196 & 197 of Bhartiya Nyaya Sanhita 2023,” the Home Department said in an order.

“Available evidence based on investigations and credible intelligence unflinchingly indicate that a significant driver behind youth participation violence and terrorism has been the systematic dissemination of false narratives and secessionist literature by its persistent internal circulation, often disguised as historical or political commentary, while playing a critical role in misguiding the youth, glorifying terrorism and inciting violence against Indian State,” it read.

It said this literature would deeply impact the psyche of youth by promoting a culture of grievance, victimhood and terrorist-heroism. “Some of the means by which this literature has contributed to the radicalization of youth in J&K include distortion of historical facts, glorification of terrorists, vilification of security forces, religious radicalization, promotion of alienation, pathway to violence and terrorism etc.,” it said.

The books declared as “forfeited” include Independent Kashmir by author Christopher Snedden; The Dispute 1947-2012 by author A.G. Noorani; Kashmir at Cross Roads (Inside a 21st Century Conflict) by Sumantra Bose; Kashmir & the future of South Asia by Ayesha Jalal and Sugata Bose; Azadi by Arundhati Roy; Confronting Terrorism by author Stephen P. Cohen among others.

Two books by Islamic scholars, Imam Hasan Al-Bana and Moulana Moudadi, were also in the list.