A resurrected Perumal Murugan
24 Aug 2016 7:53 PM GMT
After being hounded by some Hindu groups including Shri Rama Sene and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) over his Tamil novel ‘Madhorubhagan’ (One Part Woman in English), acclaimed Tamil writer Perumal Murugan had committed ‘suicide as a writer’ by deciding not to ever write and calling off all his published work from the market. Copies of his books were burned at Tiruchengode, where the novel is set.
Madras High Court in its July 2016 ruling quashed the ban on Murugan’s writings and resurrected the best selling writer back to literary life. The ruling also brings a hope in the time of despair for those who have been facing gag on the freedom of expression. A poet by heart, Murugan has made his comeback by publishing a collection of 200 poems. Excerpts from an interactive session with the writer:
On Madras High Court quashing the administrative ban on his novel
The learned judges have said that ‘I should not live under fear’. But my old teacher, the great Thiruvalluvar had said, ‘Folly meets fearful ills with fearless heart; to fear where cause of fear exists is wisdom’s part’.
The question of whether a word or a sentence in a judicial verdict should determine if I write or not, remains in my mind. If a faceless force can put a full stop to writing, can’t a line in a judicial verdict bolster writing? Moreover, writing suits my present state of mind and is a cause for happiness. Thus I am resolved to resume writing and start publishing. The publication of ‘Kozhayin Paadalkal’ (Songs of a Coward) which is a collection of 200 poems marks this beginning.
On 18 months of self-imposed exile
It was poetry that saved me from despair. Between December 2014 and June 2016 I couldn’t so much as scratch a line in the first three months. As though the fingers of my heart had become numb. I couldn’t read a thing. Even when I turned the newspaper my eyes would scan the print but my mind would not absorb a word. I wallowed in a dark hole without the urge to see or talk to anybody. But as I ruminated over my existence, there came a certain instant when the sluice gates were breached. I began to write. I chronicled the moment when I felt like a rat, dazzled by the light, burrowing itself into its hole.
On sensationalism and his silence
I accepted the invitation of the publishers to express my gratitude to those who lent support to me. During the nightmarish time, writers – from Tamil Nadu, from other parts of India and from across the world – stood by me, extending their support in various ways. Across the country, voices were raised in support of freedom of expression and against intolerance... I accepted this invitation to speak here only to express my gratitude to those voices.
It is silence that gives me strength now. I’ll write to gain further strength. My request therefore to the media and organisers of lit fests is this: Please do not ask me to speak. Let me be quiet and write. I shall speak to you through my written words.
On caste as a subject of his writings
In my writings, I have dealt with relationship between castes and conflicts between various castes. Caste is ubiquitous but subtlety is present everywhere. Why is caste so divisive? — this is a question that has plagued me all my life. I believe no writer can write a single word in defence of caste.
Silence is his strength
- In 2014, Murugan had withdrawn his 2010 novel ‘Madhorubhagan’ after a Kongu Vellala Gounder outfit accused him of insulting women of the community and degrading a Hindu deity. The writer was forced to flee his hometown Namakkal in February 2015. The novel explores the problems of caste divisions in the context of a childless marriage and alludes to real-life places and communities such that actual communities were considered to be slurred.
- He has six novels, four collections of short stories and four anthologies of poetry to his credit. He has received awards from the Government of Tamil Nadu as well as from Katha Books.
- In January 2015, he announced that he was giving up writing after he came under attack from Hindutva supporters who claimed that his novel ‘Madhurobhagan’ is blasphemous. He said on his Facebook page that “Perumal Murugan the writer is dead. As he is no God, he is not going to resurrect himself. He also has no faith in rebirth. An ordinary teacher, he will live as P. Murugan. Leave him alone.”
- On July 5, 2016, the Madras High Court, citing Article 19(1)(a) of the Constitution of India, ruled that there was no binding force or obligation in the previous state intervention that forced him to apologise and withdraw the books. The court further directed the state to provide appropriate protection when artistic or literary people come under attack, and to form an expert body to help guide the police and local administration to develop sensitivity to the issues involved.
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