On author, research and publication : A critical look

Dr Longjam Krishnamangol
Contd from last Saturday
In fact, it means that there should be systematic research and investigations into the evolution of the society and civilisation, which should be based on appropriate theories, evidences and public knowledge.
However, as already stated, any book, which is blasphamy and which affects the interest of any community, groups, class or state and any other individuals can be selected for referring back to the author for revision. And, if the author is dead it can be referred back to the publisher for necessary action for revision of the book through using the copyrights rules of the publisher. The underlying policy in the matter of research and publication of books needs to be such that there need not be a priori decision or aftermath decision to ban a history book or any other book before they are published or after they are published (i.e. both before and after). In fact, there need not be restrictive and controlling policy that affects academic freedom, and publications. Also, the researcher, writer or author need to keep ethics in his or her writing the objectives of research and publication. It is also essential to keep the rules of copyright act 1957, which allows/permits rules of publications and research and protect the writer or author. Thus, the books published with ISBN mark or the authorized books need not be banned as they have already obtained permission from the concerned Ministry or the authority.
A legal book has also clearly stated copyright legislation is part of the wider body of law known as intellectual property. The term “Intellectual property” refers broadly to the creators of human mind. Such intellectual property right protect the interest of creators by giving them property rights over their creations.” (Lal’s Commentary on the Copyright Act, 1957 revised by Ajay Sahni, preface to the 5th Edition.
Thus, any author is protected under the copyright legislation. In fact, it is unfair to reject his or her work as the law protects the writer or the author because of his or her creation of knowledge, which is the author’s or the writer’s “property right” that needs to be protected. Also there are a certain rules that can be followed in using the knowledge of others which are already known and will not be covered in the present article.
To conclude, differences in the academic views are not illegal. What is more important is the state's acceptibility and acceptability of the general masses on the theory and practices than the microscopic view on the question, which can be easily rejected if it lacks proper facts and evidences. Thus, the universities, Colleges and other educational institutions can select only the reliable books and the reading materials which should be taught with ethics and morality keeping in view the democratic values of the country and the State. And there may be thousands of books which are available in the market and these books should be made available according to the choice of the readers and the public. In fact, the outdated theories, policies and views in book form will naturally decay. And, the good books will drive out the bad books out of circulation in the market and the society. Also, their relevance to the society will decay in due course. However, discovery and arguments for generating new thoughts are essential part of the academic activities, which should be an ongoing process in order to promote the society (as a whole), economics, literature, history, sociology, anthropology, political science, and anthropology, philosophy, art and culture, sports, library, science, journalism, business, management, accountancy etc., and ultimately the entire democracy and state policy and the nation. In doing so, the socio-cultural milieu and community and social harmony need not be disturbed in order to achieve the mischievous goals or rested interest. Thus, the principle of "neutrality" (Amartya Sen’s concept) of the state needs to be applied in the case of publication of history and geography books or any other book relating to Manipur as the prohibitory order to ban a manuscript of book through a committee will affect the academic freedom and research of the teaching community and any other researchers, particularly in the state. In a welfare state or a democratic state, or a democratic nation, there need not be any state policy that can be seen as demeaning to authors, writers or any other researchers in the name of protecting the state, which is already protected under the existing rules, laws and the Indian constitution. Such a policy will also give additional burden to the powerful members in addition to their official/institutional duties.
In fact, if a committee is constituted to reject a manuscript of book, the author or the writer may puzzle what to write (i.e. what to investigate or what not to investigate). This will also undermine the status of the author/writer if his or her effort/work is not a favorable one. Thus, the best way that can be suggested is that the state policy needs to be neutral in the field of "research and publication" of books.
The writer is an economist and researcher