India-as a Democratic state ban on a book is "shameful" the author says

The book on Mahatma Gandhi has been prohibited in Indian western state of Gujrat, the writer of the book said it is “dishonorable”

 The author Joseph Lelyved, who is the winner of Pulitzer Prize, said the book was banned on the sources of newspaper analyses. He said the reviews had dramatized about Gandhi's links with a German man, who may have been homosexual. Even though lawful, homosexuality still brings a shame in India.

Gujarat's state assembly passed a resolution collectively on Wednesday to disallow “Great Soul: Mahatma Gandhi and His Struggle with India” with immediate effect, although it has not yet been published in India and some people will have read it.

 Mr. Lelyveld was referred as saying by the Press Trust of India news agency, India – that calls itself a democratic country it is regrettable to ban a book that anybody has read it including the people who making the ban. He said before banning the book they should evaluate the pages that they consider upset them before they take such a harsh step. I am very disappointed to imagine that India would so limit dialogue, he said.

On the other hand Indian writers and the relatives of Mahatma Gandhi have agitated against the ban. Tushar Gandhi the grandson of Mahatma Gandhi said he was against banning of books and that it did not a problem if the Mahatma was straight, gay or bisexual. "Eventually he would still be the man who guided India to independence.

Indian Writer Namita Gokhale said she was distressed by the ban, because you can’t stop ideas and thoughts. She said, being a democratic state the ideas is a gift and I think banning a book is the most meaningless practice.

Mr. Lelyveld has refused writing that Gandhi was a bisexual, saying his work had been taken out of perspective. "I do not claim that Gandhi is a bigoted or bisexual in Great Soul," he told the Times of India. "The word 'bisexual' nowhere shows in the book." But analysis of the book provide detailed comment on its coverage of his suspected affair with Hermann Kallenbach - a German architect, who moved abroad to South Africa, where he met Gandhi in 1904.

"How entirely you have taken ownership of my body," reads one generally referred letter from Gandhi to Mr. Kallenbach in the book. "This is slavery with retaliation."

Narendra Modi Chief Minister of Gujrat said that contents of the book were "vicious and insulted the symbol of passivity.