Govt to Publish Ambedkar’s Original Collected Works @ Overlooking Copyright Claims by Grandson Prakash
Copyright constraints cease to exist as it has been 60 years since his death, says Gehlot
New Delhi: The Modi government has decided to publish the original collected works of Bhimrao Ambedkar, overlooking copyright claims made by grandson Prakash Ambedkar.
The collected works of Bhimrao Ambedkar, published in 23 volumes, have been embroiled in a bitter copyright battle. As part of Ambedkar’s 125th birth anniversary celebrations, the government wanted to publish a commemorative series of the 23 volumes, but was denied permission by the Maharashtra government that had entered into an agreement with Babasaheb’s grandson Prakash. The government waited for a year and has now floated a tender to publish 1,000 copies of the works.
The reason for the wait: Copyright Act puts the term of copyright at 60 years from the beginning of the calendar year after the year of the death of the author. Babasaheb passed away on December 6, 1956, and according to the Centre the constraints applied till December 2017. However, Prakash contends that the works were published in 1979 first and the copyright still holds.
When contacted, social justice minister Thawar Chand Gehlot said: “The copyright constraints have ceased to exist as it has been 60 years since the death of Babasaheb. We have tried our best to address copyright issues over the last three years. We had written to the Maharashtra government. I had myself spoken to Prakash Ambedkar on three occasions. But no permissions came our way. Now, we are publishing these works. If there is a case, we will face it in the court.” Sources said the decision was taken as the government did not want to give the indication that it was not publishing the Dalit icon’s works.
The last copies printed by the Ambedkar Foundation under the ministry was in 2013-14, after which the Maharashtra government withdrew the permission. Speaking to ET, Prakash said: “I had given the copyright to the Maharashtra government. That status remains. The Centre has not got any permission to print new copies of the collected works.” He said he would write to the Maharashtra government pointing out this infringement of copyright. When pointed out that copyright issues exist till 60 years after the death of the author, Prakash said: “Why can’t the Centre use the copies being printed by the Maharashtra government? What is the problem? The collected works were printed in 1979, 23 years after the death of Babasaheb. The copyright term still remains.”
During Ambedkar’s lifetime, his writings were never collated in volumes. Though the copyright was with the family, these works remained scattered. The Bombay HC ordered the Maharashtra government to take charge of his voluminous writings. The state government entered into an agreement with the family in 1960s to set up Babasaheb Ambedkar Source Material Publication Committee that brought out the first volume of the works on April 14, 1979.
PR @ Economic Times | 25th April 2018
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