When free speech is muzzled, writing suddenly becomes an act of resistance.
Moozhikkulam Sala, a contemporary organisation that fosters organic nature and culture, sought to drive home the message on Friday with a ‘Writing of resistance on sand’ (Prathirodhathinte Nilathezhuthu) that marked a timely departure from the customary initiation of children into the world of letters.
Awakened to power of letters
Three children were awakened to the power of letters — each alluding to the name of a casualty of fascism — as a vehicle of resistance at the event held by the Sala at Moozhikkulam crossroads, some 32 km from here.
So, the phonetic alphabet ‘Ka’ stood for freethinker Kalburgi, ‘Da’ was for rationalist Dabholkar and ‘Pa’ for Communist leader Pansare; all murdered by right-wing extremists.
The children were also made to write ‘Gu’ for Ghazal singer Ghulam Ali; ‘Ku’ for Sudheendra Kulkarni; ‘Bha’ for writer K.S. Bhagavan; and ‘Pe’ for writer Perumal Murugan — all at the receiving end of religious fundamentalism.
Yoshita, three-year-old daughter of Keraleeyam magazine editor Sarath, was introduced to literary resistance by C. Jayasree, who had successfully led a historical struggle against the brick kilns of Erayenkudi and runs the iconic agro-village ‘Biramika’.
She also initiated her own foster child, Shyam Sorain, a Santhal boy, into writing. Sthree Vedi activist Jyothi Narayanan inculcated the spirit of resistance in Aman, son of lawyer Bobby and software engineer Rini.
“On a day dedicated for the triumph of virtue over vice, we thought it was important to articulate the words of resistance specially in view of fascism parading in the buff quelling diverse voices,” says T.R. Premkumar, founder of Moozhikkulam Sala.
Social activist C.R. Neelakandan inaugurated the event. K.S. Subith, famous for his ‘Ahimsa’ toys made from junk, registered his protest against violent suppression of free speech by making playthings from discarded objects.
John Baby, father of national award winning child actor Minon, made a special ‘cap’ using braided coconut fronds.
