Tamil writer Perumal Murugan announces himself 'dead' after being forced to withdraw novel


New Delhi, Jan 14 (Agencies): Tamil writer Perumal Murugan recently took to social media to announce his 'death'. He said that the writer part of him has died and only the teacher in him will live on.

On his Facebook page the much loved author wrote:

Perumal Murugan, the writer is dead. He is not God, so he is not going to resurrect. He does not believe in reincarnation either.

Various organisations, caste outfits in his home town Thiruchengodu, around 410 km from here, protested against his novel ‘Madorubhagan’, whose story revolves around the problems faced by a childless peasant couple and the woman's attempt to get pregnant following a tradition of consensual sex with a stranger. He was forced to withdraw the book and unconditionally apologise for it.

The author posted about his right to freedom of expression and said in the Facebook post that he now wants to withdraw all his previous books and compensate the publishers for their loss.


In his post he thanked his friends, students and publishers for standing by him so far. But, he has urged that he should not be invited to any literary event from now on.

Many imminent personalities have criticised the Tamil Nadu government for failing to protect the 'Freedom of Expression' of the author.

Murugan is a Tamil professor at the Government Arts College in Namakkal and written four novels, three collections of short stories and three anthologies of poetry.

  

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Comment on this article

  • Peter, Bangalore

    Thu, Jan 15 2015

    Indian version of Charlie Hebdo.

    DisAgree [2] Agree Reply Report Abuse

  • Master, mangalore

    Thu, Jan 15 2015

    Where are tekedaars of freedom of expression....I believe in freedom of expression shouldn't cross its limitation...But from few days there were certain people sermonizing on freedom on freedom of expression....Now their hypocrisy is exposed....practice what you preach before poking your nose on others matter

    DisAgree [3] Agree [3] Reply Report Abuse

  • vellano1, Mumbai

    Thu, Jan 15 2015

    it is NOT! he is putting a self impose exile! HE WANTS TO BE MARTYR and GAIN SYMPATHY AND POPULARITY during this crisis of Charlie Hebdo!... Nobody banned his book... he can get the book released with proper court and poilce intervention.. no need to go to extreme! finally the controversy dies down.. people do read who are for such books.. those who protested will never read it anyway!.. ye sab faltoo "randi rona" to paint hismelf as a victim!.. if I am convinced with my book, I will release it no matter what!... people who will protets will forget after two days!

    DisAgree [2] Agree [4] Reply Report Abuse

  • varun, mangalore

    Thu, Jan 15 2015

    He has the right to to be a writer and people have the right to protest as long as there is no death threats, riots, vandalism. People can go to court if they think the novel is defamatory.. do not allow desert land ideology in India.. India perhaps the most liberal place on earth before victorian and mogul era

    DisAgree [2] Agree [8] Reply Report Abuse

  • Roshan Patrao, Mangalore

    Thu, Jan 15 2015

    I am sure those who forced him to apologise definitely drool while watching the TV serials that revolve around immoral and criminal stories. This is height of hypocrisy.

    DisAgree [4] Agree [7] Reply Report Abuse

  • santoshprabhu, india

    Wed, Jan 14 2015

    Charlie hebdo did not happen be happy about that and be careful never to write anything about certain religion under freedom of expression

    DisAgree [3] Agree [7] Reply Report Abuse

  • Vantage Point, mangalore

    Thu, Jan 15 2015

    Santosh prabhu...he didnot represent acts of Gods of certian religion in his novel in compromising position....Ofcourse you people believe in freedom expression right....lol....I hope even if he does you people would appreciate him...Correct me if I am wrong...

    DisAgree [6] Agree [6] Reply Report Abuse

  • jacintha, middle east

    Wed, Jan 14 2015

    Henceforth, all will be dishing out Bollywood masala, in books, movies, art.
    We are not tolerant for anything else.
    We will become dumb individuals for there is no revolutionary thought anymore.
    Not just that poet, all free thinking and expressing individuals also are 'dead'.
    Mass burial for human intellect.

    DisAgree [9] Agree [14] Reply Report Abuse

  • Vellano1, Mumbai

    Wed, Jan 14 2015

    If you expect the world to be fair with you, because you are fair, you are fooling yourself! That's like the lion not to eat you, because you didn't eat him!!...

    He shouldn't be giving up! he can take asylum in UK, US (like Rushdie) or Qatar (MoFo Hussain).. He can write his book from there. They may just be banned here in India!.. but his audience lives outside this country and he can get more support!

    DisAgree [1] Agree [8] Reply Report Abuse

  • Shankar, Mangalore

    Thu, Jan 15 2015

    Jacintha, Were you enlightened in the recent years or was your ideas same when people protested and able to get a ban for the movie ' The Davinci Code'?

    DisAgree [1] Agree [4] Reply Report Abuse

  • Vellano1, Mumbai

    Wed, Jan 14 2015

    a keral professor's hands were chopped... he was removed from his lecturing job and his wife committed suicide, when she knew about him getting fired!.. You are safe, they just protested against your book!... writing or not writing is your choice! atleast you are living and you have a job to survive on!

    DisAgree [13] Agree [25] Reply Report Abuse

  • Krishna, Canada

    Wed, Jan 14 2015

    Bingo.. and then the peace prevailed. Thats how the peace is brought into the world,.. lol.

    DisAgree [4] Agree [6] Reply Report Abuse


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Title: Tamil writer Perumal Murugan announces himself 'dead' after being forced to withdraw novel



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