Archive · 26 Oct 2025
Sahitya Akademi Cancels Event Featuring Poet Srijato Amidst Controversy
Imagine a big book club (Sahitya Akademi) that was planning an event.
They invited a poet (Srijato Bandyapadhyay) who wrote a poem that upset a lot of people because it disrespected a religious symbol.
People got angry and complained online.
Because of the complaints, the book club decided to cancel the event.
This happened because people felt the poet's words were hurtful and didn't align with their beliefs.
Sahitya Akademi, an autonomous body, invited Srijato Bandyapadhyay to an event titled 'Abhivyakti'.
Bandyapadhyay wrote a poem with a line considered offensive to Hindus.
The event faced criticism for including Bandyapadhyay and Subodh Sarkar on the guest list.
The event was cancelled following public backlash and social media outrage.
This is not the first time Sahitya Akademi has faced controversy regarding the invitation to events.
- Who
- Sahitya Akademi, Srijato Bandyapadhyay, Subodh Sarkar, and event attendees.
- What
- Sahitya Akademi cancelled the event 'Abhivyakti' after backlash regarding the invitation of Srijato Bandyapadhyay due to his controversial poem.
- When
- The event was scheduled for October 25, 2025, but was canceled.
- Where
- Kolkata, West Bengal, India.
- Why
- The event was cancelled because of public outrage over the Sahitya Akademi's decision to invite Srijato Bandyapadhyay, whose poem was considered offensive to Hindus.
Supporters of the Event
Critics of the Event
Freedom of Expression vs. Religious Sentiment
Supporters of the Event
Event organizers may have believed in freedom of expression, allowing controversial voices to be heard.
Critics of the Event
Critics felt that inviting individuals who have been perceived as Hinduphobic was unacceptable.
- Event Name
- Abhivyakti
- Scheduled Date
- October 25, 2025
- Location
- Kolkata, West Bengal
- Invited Poet
- Srijato Bandyapadhyay
- Organization
- Sahitya Akademi