The Urdu Academy’s four-day festival in Kolkata was meant to be a celebration of cinema, Urdu, and poetry. Instead, it may now become a symbol of the suppression of free speech. Hours ahead of the inaugural session, the state-run body called off the event after two Islamic organizations objected to the presence of poet-lyricist Javed Akhtar, citing his outspoken atheism.

The cancellation has sparked a debate on whether political caution and religious sensitivities are shrinking the cultural space for Urdu in Bengal.

The four-day literary-cum-cultural festival organized by the West Bengal Urdu Academy to celebrate Urdu’s contribution to Hindi cinema was scheduled to run from August 31 to September 3.

The Hindu reported that, according to sources in the Urdu Academy, the state government intervened to avoid any unrest ahead of the 2026 Assembly elections. Officials were concerned that protests or even an ink attack on Akhtar could mar the event, the Hindu added.

“Due to unavoidable circumstances, the four-day programme, Urdu in Hindi cinema, scheduled from August 31–September 3, is being postponed,” said Nuzhat Zainab, Secretary of the Academy. When asked for specifics, she reiterated, “As I said, due to unavoidable circumstances.”

The opposition to Akhtar’s participation came from two groups — the Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind and the Wahyahin Foundation. Both wrote to the Urdu Academy demanding that his invitation be withdrawn, framing their objections in terms of faith and cultural propriety.

In a letter dated August 25, reproduced by India Today, the Jamiat had warned of “democratic protests” if the invitation was not withdrawn, drawing parallels to their earlier campaign against Bangladeshi author Taslima Nasreen in 2007. “If our people’s requests are not heeded, we will be forced to adopt another method prevalent in democracy,” the group said.

The controversy inevitably evoked the memories of 2007, when sustained protests by religious groups forced Bangladeshi writer Taslima Nasreen to leave Bengal after she was accused of blasphemy.

The Wahyahin Foundation said it was “surprised” at the Academy’s decision to choose Akhtar as chief guest and warned that his views could negatively influence young people. The group emphasised that his presence was not in line withthe spirit of an Urdu festival.

For the protesting groups, Akhtar’s identity as an outspoken critic of religious practices across faiths made his invitation to an Urdu event unacceptable.

Akhtar has long described himself as a rationalist. “I am an atheist and I say it publicly. I want people to be reasonable and rational,” he had tweeted back in 2019.

He has compared religion to alcohol, suggesting that while moderation may not be harmful, most people tend to overindulge, leading to intolerance and conflict. In another instance, he remarked that “all the religions without exception, belong to the dark ages.”

Despite his criticism of organized faith, Akhtar also identifies as a “cultural Muslim,” acknowledging his heritage while firmly rejecting religious dogma. Over the years, he has been equally critical of both Hindu and Muslim fundamentalists, once remarking, “As long as both – the communal Muslims and communal Hindus – are targeting me, I am doing the right thing.”

The postponement of the Urdu Academy festival has sparked wider concern about shrinking cultural spaces in Bengal.

Human rights activist Shabnam Hashmi reminded that “India is neither a Hindu Rashtra nor an Islamic country” and stressed that atheists have the right to live and speak freely. For now, the Academy insists that the festival will be rescheduled. Whether Javed Akhtar will still be part of it — and whether such a space can be secured for rationalist voices — remains an

JUNE 2025: Liberal Muslim activists penned an open letter accusing Akhtar of legitimising discrimination against Muslims after he linked anti-Muslim housing bias to Partition trauma; demanded unconditional apology. Its authors, led by activist journalist Asad Ashraf, accused him of using the “warped reasoning that Hindu supremacists use to justify... systemic discrimination” against Muslims and “fanning the flames of communal logic in the guise of being balanced”.

MARCH 2025: Backed cricketer Mohammed Shami for not fasting during Ramzan; told him not to “give a damn” to “reactionary bigoted idiots.” Taking to social media, Akhtar wrote, “Shami saheb, don’t give a damn to those reactionary bigoted idiots who have any problem with your drinking water on a burning afternoon at a cricket field in Dubai. It is none of their business. You are one of the great Indian teams that is making us all proud. My best wishes to you and our whole team.”

MAY 2020: Sparked an Azaan loudspeaker row with a tweet calling it a discomfort; AIMIM accused him of echoing an RSS-style rhetoric. He’d written, “In India for almost 50 yrs Azaan on the loudspeaker was haraam. Then it became halaal and so halaal that there is no end to it but there should be an end to it. Azaan is fine but loudspeakers do cause discomfort for others. I hope that at least this time they will do it themselves.”

OCTOBER 2019: Supported TMC MP and Bengali actress Nusrat Jahan after clerics attack her for celebrating Durga Puja; challenged them to also condemn lynch mobs. He wrote, “I support Nusrat unconditionally and whole heartedly. Now may I ask you if you have enough conscience and guts to oppose and condemn the lynch mobs and stand up for the poor victims.”

MAY 2010: Received death threats after calling a cleric “insane” during a TV debate on fatwas against working women.