Penguin Random House CEO Nihar Malaviya Leads Legal and Legislative Efforts Against Book Bans
Nihar Malaviya, CEO of Penguin Random House (PRH), has been recognized for his leadership in combating book bans across the United States. Under his guidance, PRH has actively engaged in legal battles and legislative efforts to protect the freedom to read. In 2023, PRH formed the Intellectual Freedom to Read Taskforce, which includes employees from various departments affected by book bans. The taskforce, chaired by SVP Skip Dye, focuses on fighting censorship and advocating for freedom of expression. PRH has filed lawsuits in multiple states, including Florida, Idaho, and Iowa, and has been involved in legislative efforts in 25 states, successfully passing freedom-to-read laws in seven states. Malaviya emphasizes the importance of ensuring access to books, particularly for children, and believes decisions about reading materials should be made by parents and local experts rather than external groups.