Religious Argument Led to
p. 26 · Read in the full issue
Obscene Books.
Religious Argument Led to Public Prosecution in Fiji.
GREAT interest was taken in Fiji re cently in a prosecution launched by the Colonial authorities against two well-known Hindus, Vishnu Deo and Babu Ram Singh. They were charged in the Supreme Court at Suva on March 8 with having sold an ob scene book at Suva on January 8.
Subsequently the charge against Vishnu Deo was altered to read that he “unlawfully caused to be sold a certain indecent, scandalous and ob scene book.” It appeared that the charges arose out of arguments based on religious differences between two Hindu sects. Both accused are well known men—Vishnu Deo has been a member of the Legislative Council of Fiji. They are connected with the In dian Publishing Company.
Both accused are members of the Arya Samaj, a modernist sect of the Hindu religion, and the presiding judge quoted the following description of the organisation: “The Arya Samaj stands for progressive and militant Hinduism.
On the one hand, its leaders are often at odds with orthodox Brahmanism on questions of social reform; and, on the other, they carry on an active propa ganda directed against both Christian ity and the religious beliefs of their Moslem fellow countrymen.”
This body had a debate with another Hindu society, the Sanatam Dharm, and it was decided that the arguments should be set out in writing. This in volved quotations from the sacred writ ings, the Puranas. Unhappily, the mat ter did not end there. In response to various challenges, the executive com mittee of the Arya Samaj published the debate and argument in full, in cluding the extracts from the Puranas, and the matter got into general circu lation.
Counsel for the defence acknow ledged that the pamphlet was “disgust ing”: but urged that, in view of the special circumstances, a nominal pen alty would suffice. The Attorney- General (Mr. S. G. Howell) said it was the duty of the State to protect the public against “such filth.”
The judge fined each man £30 —£5 as a fine, and £25 to go towards paying the costs of the prosecution. He strongly urged the Indian community to keep religious disputes such as these out of public debates in future.