'Urdu Academy Or Madrasa?': Javed Akhtar's Kolkata Event Cancelled After Muslim Groups Call Him 'Shaitan'

A literary event organised by the West Bengal Urdu Academy was cancelled after protests from Islamic groups opposing the participation of poet and lyricist Javed Akhtar, drawing sharp criticism from writers and intellectuals, reported The Indian Express.

The three-day programme, scheduled from 31 August to 3 September, had invited Akhtar as chief guest for a panel discussion on “Urdu in Hindi Cinema.”

However, groups including Jamiat Ulema Kolkata and the Wahyain Foundation objected, accusing him of making derogatory remarks about Islam.

Jamiat Ulema’s general secretary Zillur Rahman Arif went so far as to call him a “Shaitan,” demanding his replacement with someone “capable and respected individual.”

Following the opposition, the Academy withdrew the event, prompting backlash over curbs on artistic freedom.

Kolkata-based researcher Sabir Ahmed criticised the cancellation, saying, “We are becoming intolerant. We must tolerate different opinions.”

Poet and filmmaker Gauhar Raza called the decision “deeply disturbing,” comparing Hindu and Muslim hardliners as equally intolerant of rational voices.

Civil rights group APDR also condemned the move, warning of its implications for democratic rights.

Activist Manzar Jameel argued that dissenting views should be challenged through debate, not threats. “The Urdu Academy is a literary body, not a madrasa,” he said, urging space for diverse thought.

The controversy has rekindled concerns in West Bengal over freedom of expression and the growing influence of religious groups on cultural platforms.

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