The numerous instances curbing the freedom of expression of writers and intellectuals do not mean censorship, but the worrying beginning of a fascist regime, according to Shiv Viswanathan, social scientist.
Addressing a session at a seminar on ‘Freedom of expression and the current scenario,’ organised by ‘Kalachuvadu’ and Intellectual Circle for Dalit Actions (ICDA) here, he said censorship had taken various forms in the country which included the attacks on Perumal Murugan’s ‘Madhorubagan’.
Mr. Shiv said that the distortion of science which was also rampant now presented an equally worrying picture. “Science is being distorted…with politicians claiming that many significant inventions happened in the country, just to grab attention,” he said. Referring to the flak that Mr. Perumal Murugan had to face, he said that the censorship he faced was not a problem restricted to a particular caste or Tamil Nadu, but it was an Indian issue and stressed the need for a larger representation. “The fact that his book was opposed by certain sections of society should not be a local issue but should be seen in a larger picture as something which could affect the rights of the people at large,” he said.
Vinutha Mallya, who had started a blog in support of Mr. Murugan when his writing came under scrutiny, said that there was very little said initially in the public sphere and media about the censorship, and it prompted her to start a blog on it.
Speaking about the seminar, Stephen Rajangam from the ICDA said that the recent incidents of the works of authors Mr. Murugan and Puliyur Murugesan coming under fire and the increasing number of films being objected to by various groups in the State had prompted them to address the issue.
