New Delhi, Sept. 7: Historians and academics today slammed the National Book Trust for "gross violation of freedom of views" as it revoked a reprint order for the Hindi version of Bipan Chandra's book on communalism.

The trust had last week decided to revoke the print order for Communalism - A Primer, a direct critic of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh and its ideology.

The book, which identifies communalism as one of the biggest threats to society, is equally critical about radical elements in minority communities.

BJP and RSS leaders have often criticised Chandra's books.

In a statement, over 50 historians and academics, including Irfan Habib, Romila Thapar, D.N. Jha, K.N. Panikkar and Prabhat Patnaik, said Chandra was not only one of India's foremost historians, but was also one of the most uncompromising defenders of secular and democratic causes.

"We have been shocked to learn that the very NBT over which he had presided, has revoked the reprint order for the Hindi version of his book, Communalism - A Primer," it said.

"Such action on part of the NBT is a gross violation of freedom of views, and amounts in effect to the assumption that communalism is now the official doctrine of the country and no criticism of it or its practitioners can be permitted," the statement added.

They demanded the NBT take back its decision.

Despite repeated attempts, no comment could be obtained from either NBT chairman Baldeo Bhai Sharma or director Rita Chowdhury or the human resource development ministry.