By TCN Staff Reporter
Kozhikode: In yet another case of protest against the growing intolerance in the country under the NDA government, eminent Malayalam writer Ambikasuthan Mangad has rejected an offer from the Kendra Sahitya Akademi to join its General Council as a member. The writer has decided to write back to the Akademi expressing his unwillingness to join after he received the letter informing about him about his nomination last week.
“At a time when the government hunts students in JNU and scholars are compelled to end their lives, the conscience of a writer doesn’t allow me to accept this offer. I will post the letter expressing my reluctance tomorrow (Saturday),” he said.
Ambikasuthan, who belongs to Kasargod in Northern Kerala, brought the sufferings of Endosulfan victims in the district to limelight through his novel ‘Enmakaje’, which focused on the panchayats in the Endosulfan spraying affected areas. He also wrote the script and dialogues of acclaimed Malayalam film ‘Kaiyoppu’.
“An artist could participate in the government’s cultural activities only if it ensured tolerance in the democracy,” he said.
Ambikasuthan currently teaches Malayalam at Nehru Arts and Science College, Kanhangad in Kasargod. Last year, writer and journalist P K Parakkadavu and moviemaker K S Ravikumar had quit their membership of the Akademi citing growing attacks on writers, Dalits and minorities. “The Akademi said it was contacting me because my name was recommended and there was vacancy in the General Council. The official did not tell me who recommended my name,” he said.
In October, critic and poet K Sachidanandan had stepped down from all committees of the Sahitya Akademi, saying the literary body had ‘failed’ in its duty to stand with writers and uphold freedom of expression.