Kolkata: The West Bengal Urdu Academy has postponed a four-day mushaira (poetic symposium) featuring renowned lyricist Javed Akhtar after protests from some Muslim groups. The event, which was scheduled to begin in Kolkata on September 1, was delayed without any official reason cited by the state-run academy. Secretary Nuzhat Zainab stated the postponement was due to "some compelling reason" and that new dates would be announced later. It remains unclear if Akhtar will participate in the rescheduled event.

Several Muslim organisations expressed concerns that recent comments by Akhtar had hurt religious sentiments within the community. Mufti Abdus Salam Qasmi, Jamiat-e-Ulema’s state unit general secretary, suggested the academy should have invited a guest who had not offended devout Muslims. Similarly, Mufti Shamail Nadvi of the Wahyain Foundation acknowledged Akhtar’s creative talents but criticised his recent remarks for hurting community sentiments, urging greater consideration by the Minority Affairs Department in guest selections.

Akhtar, known for speaking out against fundamentalism in all religions, has been a regular participant in literary events in Kolkata. In response to the postponement, several Left student organisations condemned the decision and extended an open invitation to Akhtar to speak on the role of Urdu in Hindi cinema in Delhi. They criticised the West Bengal government for succumbing to pressure from fundamentalist groups such as Jamiat-Ulema-e-Hind and Wahyain Foundation, calling it an attack on secularism, culture, intellectual freedom, and scientific temperament.

The Left student organisations vowed to resist any compromise with fundamentalist forces, highlighting the broader issue of freedom of expression amid growing religious sensitivities.

With inputs from PTI