Three people have been arrested after participants at a reading session of Nobel Peace Prize winner Malala Yousafzai's memoir, I Am Malala, were attacked at a public garden in Ahmedabad, police said on Friday.
The incident took place at Vastrapur Garden on Thursday evening, leaving two people injured. According to India Today, the attack occurred after a group of right-wing activists disrupted the peaceful gathering.
What Happened at the Malala Book Reading Session
Vastrapur police station inspector G.M. Chaudhary said nearly 20 people, including women, had gathered at the garden to read and discuss the memoir. The session was meant to be a quiet, public reading of the book about the youngest Nobel Peace Prize laureate's fight for girls' education.
As the participants were leaving after the session, a group of around 18 to 20 people arrived and confronted them over their choice of book. The individuals claimed to be associated with the Bajrang Dal and the Vishwa Hindu Parishad, according to police, as reported by The Print.
The confrontation quickly turned violent. According to The Indian Express, participants reported that the attackers came armed with iron rods and sticks and began attacking them. At least six people were injured in the assault, though police have confirmed two injuries so far.
Arrests Made After Vastrapur Garden Attack
Following the incident, police moved quickly to identify and arrest those responsible. Three people have been taken into custody in connection with the attack on the reading session participants.
The attack has raised concerns about freedom of expression and the right to peaceful assembly in public spaces. Reading sessions and book clubs have become increasingly popular ways for people to engage with literature and ideas, and this incident has cast a shadow over such activities.
"I am not surprised. I am angry. This is exactly what happened in Hitler's Germany. Fascism is..." — Response from a participant or observer, as reported by India.com
Police Response and Investigation
Vastrapur police station inspector G.M. Chaudhary confirmed the arrests and provided details about the sequence of events. The police have registered a case and are continuing their investigation into the attack.
The incident has drawn attention to the safety of public gatherings and book discussions in the city. According to The Pioneer, the attack on the reading session has sparked outrage among literary circles and civil liberties groups.
Our Take: Attack on Book Reading is Attack on Democracy
To put it plainly, this attack is deeply troubling. A group of people gathered in a public park to read a book — one that won the Nobel Peace Prize, no less — and they were met with violence. This is not about disagreement or debate. This is about intimidation.
The book in question, I Am Malala, tells the story of a young woman who was shot by the Taliban simply for wanting to go to school. That Malala's story of courage against extremism should provoke violence in a public garden in India is a bitter irony that should not be lost on anyone.
What makes this worse is the alleged involvement of groups claiming to be associated with Bajrang Dal and Vishwa Hindu Parishad. If these claims are true, it shows a disturbing pattern of organized intimidation against peaceful expression. The fact that the attackers came armed with iron rods and sticks suggests this was not a spontaneous argument but a planned assault.
The arrests are welcome, but they are only the first step. What matters now is whether the legal system treats this as a serious attack on civil liberties, not just a street brawl. Reading a book in a public park should never be a dangerous act. When it becomes one, we all need to pay attention.
We hope the authorities will ensure that those responsible face the full weight of the law, and that this incident serves as a reminder that the right to read, discuss, and think freely is a fundamental right that must be protected — not just in Ahmedabad, but everywhere.
