Writers and cultural activists have expressed concern over the increasing incidents of fascist incursions into the freedom of expression and democratic values in the country.
A get-together organised by Thanima Cultural Forum here on Tuesday, in the backdrop of the brutal murder of Kannada scholar and writer M.M. Kalburgi, observed that the writer’s murder could not be considered as an attack on the progressive thoughts or freedom of expression alone. It was a heinous crime against humanity and an assault on the great Indian tradition of tolerance and peaceful acceptance of differences.
Inaugurating the programme, writer K.P. Ramanunni said hatred and intolerance towards differences of opinion were important symptoms of fascism and it was against Indian tradition. “This monstrous parochialism has nothing to do with Indian thoughts or philosophy,” he said.
All the characteristic features shown by these right-wing fringe groups in whatever names they may be known were clear symptoms of fascism, he said.
Mr. Ramanunni said that any country that allowed sectarianism or communalism to grow had only perished. “There are enough examples for this before us across the world,” he said.
Delivering the keynote address, writer K.E.N. Kunhammed said the murder of Kalburgi could not be seen as an isolated incident of crime against a progressive writer. According to him, it was part of a systematic implementation of a larger fascist plan. It gained greater momentum with a right-wing government in power, he said.
Pointing out that the recent instance of a newspaper column on Ramayana by noted critic M.M. Basheer being stopped following pressure from a right-wing extremist groups in the State was part of the same “aggression” against freedom of expression and the Indian way of looking at things, Mr. Kunhammed said that it should never had happened in a State such ass Kerala.
“The so-called Hanuman Sena has set the cultural history of the State on fire through this heinous act,” he said.
He urged the public to be alert against those who were out to spread divisive thoughts and ideologies of hatred among people. “We should identify those forces which first divided the country culturally even before the geographical partition took place,” he said.
Writers P.K. Parakkadavu and Indu Menon, and Tanima president Bapu Vavadu spoke.
