I Want to Annihilate Caste in India: Perumal Murugan at JLF
Madras HC verdict was a huge part of why I started writing again. It was a wonderful judgment, said Perumal Murugan
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Why did you stop writing after the 'One Part Woman' controversy?
At that time, I felt like that. If my writing was causing distress, then I wondered if I should even be doing it. So I felt like I should stop writing. But also, it was required at that time because I was under so much stress.
How did you start writing again?
The Madras HC's verdict was a huge part of why I started writing again.It was a wonderful judgment. I felt like it was an order for me to write again.
On threat to free speech and artistic freedom because of “hurt sentiments”
When you are writing about life in a village, you cannot write without bringing up caste. Life in villages is all about the relationship between people belonging to various castes. So, if I write without caste, it means I am depicting the scenario wrongly. Also, my view of caste, comes from my politics.
Is there a threat to freedom of expression?
Yes, the situation is definitely like that, even in Tamil literature. After I encountered controversy for One Part Woman, others have faced backlash too. However, I have announced and others have chosen not to. Some have said that their writing style has changed. A Sahitya Akademi winner told me that he was afraid to write a novel that he had earlier thought of and felt that he would never be able to write it again.
Another writer said that while he had never written something without reference to caste, he has instinctively started writing thus out of fear.
Are you a feminist writer as well?
No, I wouldn't call myself a feminist writer. But feminism and caste are influenced by the politics of that time. It is therefore difficult for someone who has become a writer after the 1990s to write without being influenced by such things.
What is your take on reservation for economically backward upper caste people?
My view is the same as that of the Tamil Nadu government. Reservations were given to people who were socially backward, but reservations on the basis of economical backwardness is not right. There is no social justice in this.
What would you change about this country?
I would annihilate caste in the country.
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