Content regulation cause for concern
GENERALLY, books written over the ages and regarded as timeless – for the morals, ethics and prejudices they portray – are eventually lifted to the upper shelves and are referred to as classics.
Most books do not make it to this level of immortality for various reasons: they may be unpopular due to poor quality plots.
They may be irrelevant to contemporary situations.
They could be difficult to comprehend for the average reader.
So most books written thousands of years ago on paper, on stone, or on leather have disappeared.
There is, however, an additional, frightening reason that past documentaries, novels and historical records have disappeared altogether. This is to do with censorship.
Nearly all ancient rulers were guilty of destroying the written thoughts of writers of previous regimes. The Arab world – Iran, Iraq and Saudi Arabia – have been instrumental in burning religious books.
Nazi Germany was the biggest culprit for having destroyed the greatest number and variety of literature and replacing them with anti-Semitic writing.
One of the greatest resource centres of the ancient world – the library at Alexandria in Egypt – was burnt. Some say it was done deliberately. Others blame it on an accident by Julius Caesar.
The Turks and Mongols have also been guilty of destroying books, documents and historical records.
Censorship still continues, more so today and throughout the world. However, modern technology makes it more difficult, but not impossible, to implement.
An example is a present situation in India, which enjoyed important contributions to the arts, music, culture, poetry, lyrics and philosophical thought by many Muslims.
Many Hindu religious ideals, bhajans and historical episodes were augmented by famous Muslim writers and artistes.
Conversely, many films targeting Muslim interests were produced by renowned Hindus.
As part of the drive to obliterate Muslim ideals, ideas and identity, there is a fear that all possible historical records of contributions by Muslims, as well as Hindus who in some way highlighted Muslim culture to make India into the cultural website that it has evolved into over thousands of years, will soon be lost. This is despite technology.
EBRAHIM ESSA
Durban