Systematic Attack on Authors and Artists

NEW DELHI: There has been a systematic attack on cultural freedom over the past several months with right wing groups coming together in different parts of the state to attack “offenders” by burning books and vandalising cinema theatres. Protests against this violence is growing amongst artists, writers and academics who have been holding meetings and demonstrations in different parts of the country to raise a voice against these efforts to intimidate free expression.

Support for Tamil writer Perumal Murugan is gathering force in the face of state government silence and veiled threats still being issued to the author by right wing groups. Writers across the country have been holding seminars and meetings urging Murugan to continue writing, even as a group has approached the Tamil Nadu High Court for justice.

Murugan, whose writings have earned him national acclaim, initially stood up to the attack mounted against him by members of the Hindutva organisations who burnt copies of his book, demanded a ban, and organised protests in Namakal where he lives with his family. He was abused, insulted and flooded with threats that finally made him leave his house.

However, in the absence of a response from the Tamil Nadu government and only a lukewarm statement from DMK leader Stalin, Murugan announced that he was now a dead author and would not write any more. This happened after he was called in by the District Magistrate on January 12 and made to sign an ‘unconditional apology’ for his writings, and make changes in his book. The police was rough in its dealings with the author, as was the district administration after which Murugan wrote on the social media, “ Perumal Murugan is dead ... He will continue to live as a teacher."

The book being objected to is Mathorubagan, written and published in 2010. Writers across the country maintained at separate meetings held in protest against the attack, that the right wing groups were playing on the people’s ignorance to twist the facts and demand a ban. And that the motive was political.The courts have not agreed to ban the book so far. Significantly the protests against Murugan were led by state level RSS and BJP leaders according to the media reports at the time.

More recently Bajrang Dal activists with iron rods and batons attacked cinema theatres in Ahmedabad screening Aamir Khan’s film PK. The social media too has been flooded with comments against the film, although the supporters too have been equally vociferous. The demand to ban the movie has not been met, although there were reports that the Censor Board chief Leela Samson---before she resigned---had been under pressure to withdraw the clearance given to the movie. She had refused, according to media reports, pointing out that the movie had already been released.

The screening of filmmaker Anand Patwardhan’s movie Ram Ke Naam was cancelled at the last moment at the ILS LAW College in Pune without an explanation by the college authorities. Patwardhan was scheduled to hold a question and answer session after the screening. The authorities apologised maintaining that they had come “under pressure” from various groups, without of course identifying anyone.

At least seven Muslim academics dropped out of attending an All India Oriental Conference in Guwahati, Assam after they received threatening letters on the letterhead of Rashtriya Hindu Sena. The letters reportedly threatened them with death if they came for the Conference. At least seven of the invitees are learnt to have backed off.

The government’s silence is not new of course. In 2006 famous artist MF Husain came under attack from right wing groups for his paintings of gods and goddesses. The courts issued a warrant for his arrest, even as right wing organisations threatened him with death. The artist, given no support or protection by the Congress led government at the time, left the country. He lived between Doha and London until his death in 2011 at a hospital in London. He was not able to visit India once since the exile, although he gave interviews expressing his deep desire to come back.