The rise of fear

The gunning down of rationalist Prof. M.M. Kalburgi (Aug.31) is a chilling reminder that there is hardly any space for free thinkers and intellectuals in our so-called secular democracy. This is the third killing of a rationalist within a span of two years by fundamentalists. It is a matter of concern that the government has been unable to pursue leads in all these cases and ensure that justice prevails. Do we want India to turn into a theocratic state like some of our neighbours?

K.R. Srinivasan,Secunderabad

I am deeply disturbed and angry at the assassination of Prof. Kalburgi — my sense of anger and rage grows with every free-thinking intellectual we lose to fundamentalist violence. I am also disturbed by the reporting (“Kannada writer was at the centre of controversies”, Aug.31) which says: “His stubborn nature landed him in controversies” and triggered protests by “his own community groups.” He was not controversial. He spoke his mind and spoke about his work, regardless of which community or religion he was born into. Conservative, fundamentalist mobs (including conservative elements from his community) created the controversy around his work. And eventually killed him. Let us for a change stop labelling public intellectuals and begin naming those responsible for the atmosphere of fear.

It is not merely the loss of an individual that we are witnessing in the deaths of Dr. Dabholkar, Govind Pansare and Prof. Kalburgi. It is the annihilation of entire intellectual traditions that are built on the critical right to question, and to destabilise our own deeply entrenched beliefs, so that we might understand our worlds and our societies better. We are descending into an abyss of mistrust, fear, self-censorship and violent censorship which must be resisted at all costs. All defenders of free speech, all critiques of fundamentalist religion (and their apologists) face either arrest warrants or messengers of death. The silence that results is not a sign that everyone agrees that superstitious faith is the best thing. It is a sign that speaking out involves a risk to life and liberty. Can we allow fear and the mob to rule our lives any longer?

Kalpana Kannabiran,Secunderabad