In 2005, a private publisher (not the original author) released a Bengali translation of Mastram , leading to an obscenity case under India’s Indecent Representation of Women (Prohibition) Act. The publisher argued for free speech, while activists labeled the novel as degrading. The Supreme Court of India ruled in 2019 that the content violated obscenity laws, banning it. However, the ruling underscored a landmark recognition of freedom of expression as a fundamental right, allowing authors to explore sensitive themes unless they explicitly incite violence or hatred. 3. Critique of Content and Themes Portrayal of Female Sexuality Critics argue that Mastram reduces female bodies to commodities for male gratification, reflecting a male-gaze lens. Feminist scholars, however, view the novel as a subversive critique of patriarchal norms that commodify women. The protagonist’s voyeurism mirrors societal objectification, inviting readers to question complicity in such dynamics.