Minister Slams ‘Babur’ Book Without Reading It, Author Writes to PM Modi, Challenges Critics to Show Any Praise

Bhopal, Jan 14:
A major controversy has erupted around a book on Mughal emperor Babur, with author Aabhas Maldahiyar accusing political leaders and right-wing groups of targeting his work without reading it. Maldahiyar has written an open letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, alleging that his book “Babur: The Quest for Hindustan” is being misrepresented and unfairly condemned, leading to the cancellation of his session at the Bhopal Literature Festival 2026.

The author claims that his scheduled talk on January 10 was cancelled following threats from certain right-wing organisations and public criticism by a BJP minister, despite the fact that, according to him, none of the critics had read even a single page of the book.

Open Challenge on Social Media

Taking to X (formerly Twitter), Maldahiyar openly challenged those opposing his session—including officials linked to the Madhya Pradesh government—to point out even one page from his book that praises Babur. He stated that his proposed session was meant to discuss what he described as a “19th-century forgery” falsely attributed as Babur’s will, not to glorify the Mughal ruler.

Media Report Blamed for Controversy

Maldahiyar blamed a “fabricated” media report for triggering the backlash. He said the report misled certain Hindu right-wing groups, prompting them to threaten to burn copies of the book and disrupt the literature festival. According to the author, although the concerned media outlet later received his clarification, it failed to publish it in time, allowing the controversy to spiral out of control.

As tensions escalated, police advised the festival organisers to cancel the session, citing potential law-and-order concerns. The organisers reportedly offered Maldahiyar an alternative lecture on ancient Indian architecture, which highlighted their attempt to manage the situation without escalating conflict.

Minister’s Criticism and Police Advisory

The controversy intensified after Madhya Pradesh Culture Minister Dharmendra Singh Lodhi publicly criticised Maldahiyar’s book at the Bhopal Literature and Arts Festival. Following objections and threats from organisations such as the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and Bajrang Dal—who alleged that the book glorified Babur—police recommended cancelling the session to ensure overall security at the event.

In his letter to Prime Minister Modi, Maldahiyar alleged that Minister Lodhi condemned the book without reading it. He also claimed that some critics labelled him as “pro-Babur,” while others paradoxically accused him of being “anti-Babur,” exposing what he described as the superficial and politically driven nature of the criticism.

Session Cancelled Citing Security Concerns

Festival organisers said the decision to cancel Maldahiyar’s talk was taken to safeguard the remaining 60 sessions of the event after police flagged possible security risks. Defending his work, Maldahiyar emphasized that the book is the result of five years of rigorous research and an in-depth study of Persian historical sources.

He further alleged that threats extended beyond the festival venue, with warnings of book burnings and vandalism at bookstores. Maldahiyar also pointed out that even senior cultural figures, including the MP director of the Sahitya Akademi, joined the criticism without reading the book.

Reiterating his stand, the author has once again challenged critics to identify any passage in “Babur: The Quest for Hindustan” that praises Babur, asserting that informed debate—not uninformed outrage—should guide public discourse on history and literature.