Banned but not Broken

The Books That Refused To Be Erased

Ruqayya Rahman, X B & Sahaj Rana, XI C, AIS Mayur Vihar

When I was first written I thought I was ordinary. But my story is anything but so. The more I was silenced, the louder was my echo. Surprised, how I managed it? Well, that’s because you can’t keep a good thing down forever. They refer to me and my brethren as ‘banned books’, all because we had the courage to speak our minds. No, not like the musical band but like banned-banned, legally. Can you imagine?
My historical trauma goes all the way back to 213 BCE China where Emperor Qin Shi Huang felt threatened by literature and philosophy. His solution? Burn all books except agriculture and medicine. What a white-livered curmudgeon. How can you feel threatened by us when we can barely stand still without a bookend? Fast forward a bit and the first banned book in the history of mankind (recorded obviously), was ‘New English Canaan’ by Thomas Morton, published in 1637. Since when have they been chasing me? Like ugh, why are you so obsessed with me?
But I’m a rebel with nothing more than just ink and paper. I never learnt my lesson, rather being banned built a bit of my character. Then enters my homeboy, ‘Animal Farm’ by George Orwell, casually addressing social injustice and corruption, and multiple countries collectively lost it and yanked it off shelves like he personally offended their lineage. However, it turned into a literary classic later on.
Sorry if I am talking too much but I am what they call an ‘open book’. My greatest enemy isn’t fire, it’s the people who think ideas are obedient and banning me would stop humans from questioning ‘why’. Overzealous censors have occasionally targeted dictionaries, claiming that definitions of certain anatomical or taboo words are inappropriate. Robert Greene’s bestseller ‘The 48 Laws of Power’ is banned in many US federal prison facilities because authorities worry that inmates could use its strategic advice to outsmart the staff. Now that’s called good writing.
It’s funny how the censor board reads one sentence from me and blares, “Ban the book.” A stiff old man, wearing a crisp thousand-dollar suit holding a briefcase, with a tattoo on his forehead saying, ‘I will say no to everything,’ is how a censor board member looks like. But hey, I never hold a grudge. I am always ready to turn over a new leaf. Literally. I resurfaced with the ‘Captain Underpants’ series by Dav Pilkey, and became the most challenged book from 2001-2013. How can a man in his underpants become a threat to humanity?
They banned ‘1984’, ‘Fahrenheit 451’, the list goes on. But every time they lock me up, I come back with double the copies and triple the fans. Honestly! Being banned is a shortcut to success because it’s the ultimate publicity that comes free of cost. We’ve been ‘aura-farming’ way before it was even a thing. Take ‘Harry Potter’ for instance. The boy who learned magic at Hogwarts got banned in some countries because grown adults deemed that a fictional wizarding world was too dangerous for children. But did it stop the boy? Absolutely not. It earned global fans, got translated into more than 80 languages, and even got a legendary movie franchise.
They can lock, spurn, or burn me but they can never burn an idea which I carry at my core. Now, if you are done reading this, please dust me occasionally as I’m trying to look good for my next trial.

Unshakable dynamic duo

Movie:  Lilo & Stitch
Directed by: Dean Fleischer Camp
Released on: May 23, 2025
Starring: Maia Kealoha, Sydney Agudong, Chris Sanders, Zach Galifianakis
Genre: Live-action, adventure, comedy

Synopsis: This live-action adaptation of Disney’s 2002 animated classic follows Experiment 626, better known as Stitch, a mischievous alien that is genetically engineered by Dr Jumba Jookiba to be destructive and difficult to control. After escaping from the United Galactic Federation, Stitch crash-lands on Earth, where he meets Lilo Pelekai, a lonely, young Hawaiian girl struggling with life and connections after the passing of her parents, while growing up with her elder sister, Nani.
Mistaking Stitch for a dog, Lilo adopts him from an animal shelter in hope of a companion, unaware of his true identity. As Dr Jumba and Federation agent Pleakley arrive on Earth to capture the runaway experiment, Stitch tries to hide among humans,  while learning the meaning of friendship, family, and belonging. Together, Lilo and Stitch begin an emotional journey filled with adventure, humour, and heartfelt moments that strengthen their unlikely bond and remind us what it means to be a family.
Why is it worth watching: The film brings back the nostalgia of the beloved childhood classic while introducing the story to a new generation. At its heart lies a touching message about friendship, loyalty, and the importance of family. Maia Kealoha delivers a charming performance as Lilo, while Chris Sanders once again brings Stitch to life with his familiar voice. The Hawaiian setting, emotional moments, and well-timed humour make the film entertaining and meaningful. Although some scenes differ from the original, the remake still captures much of its warmth and emotional core. It may not be perfect, but it remains an enjoyable watch for longtime fans and first-time viewers alike.
Iconic dialogue: “Ohana means family. Family means nobody gets left behind or forgotten.”
Rating:
Review by: Aanya Singh, AIS Vas 6, IX E