Cultural activists are organising programmes in protest against what they perceive as a threat to freedom of expression and the alleged spectre of “fascist tendencies” of right-wing politics, especially in the wake of the murder of activist-journalist Gauri Lankesh. Two such events will be held in the city this week.
Keluettan Study and Research Centre, a think tank affiliated to the CPI(M) is hosting a seminar on ‘communal fascism’ at the Tagore Centenary Hall on Saturday. Among the invitees are actor Kamal Hassan, CPI(M) State secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan, Minister for Local Self-Governments K.T. Jaleel, former Minister Elamaram Kareem, and academic Hussain Randathani.
K.T. Kunhikkannan, director of the centre, said here on Tuesday that the communal politics of the Sangh Parivar was making its presence felt in all spheres of human life. “Those who oppose their views were either being killed or being suppressed and there is a culture of intolerance. It is evident from the threat to historian Ramachandra Guha and Dalit ideologue Kancha Ilaiah. We are trying to build a secular and progressive platform to counter these tendencies,” he said.
Elaborating on the sessions at the seminar, Mr. Kunhikkannan said minority politics and freedom of expression would be the main topics of discussion. “There is a perception gaining ground that minority fundamentalism is the answer to Hindutva politics. We will counter that by uniting all secular-minded people among the minorities,” he said. In the session on freedom of expression, K.S. Vimala, leader of the All-India Democratic Women’s Association from Karnataka, a long-time associate of Gauri Lankesh, will speak.
The Kozhikode Samskarika Vedi is organising a lecture by academic Sunil P. Elayidom on Thursday on the topic ‘Killing politics and dying democracy’.
