Writings of Dabholkar, Pansare, Kalburgi in new book

Titled ‘Words Matter: Writings Against Silence’  (Penguin Random House India), the book has been edited by award-winning poet and scholar K Satchidanandan.

It contains essays written by scholars and writers including Romila Thapar, Githa, Salil Tripathi and Ananya Vajpeyi among others. “In their perceptive and insightful essays, the contributors argue that we must nurture critical thinking to fight all kinds of discrimination and insularity,” publishers said.

 The book includes excerpts from writings of rationalists Narendra Dabholkar and Govind Pansare and scholar M M Kalburgi, who were killed by fundamentalists, besides articles and speeches by eminent public figures like Markandey Katju and Nayantara Sahgal among others. In the past, some of them were also part of the Award Wapsi campaign where over 40 artists and writers returned their Sahitya Akademi awards protesting against the killings of Kalburgi, Dabholkar and Pansare.

The book emphasises the need for intellectuals to take the responsibility of safeguarding the democratic nature of the nation and advocates free speech. It also highlights that the status quo (of traditions) must be challenged to enrich the diversity of India. 

“Myths, texts and systems of faith and thought have been cherished, revisited and also challenged. It lies in our interest as a modern nation to preserve our cultural strength and help democracy flourish,” reads the book.