When you speak uncomfortable truths, you pay with blood: Dr. Meena Kandasamy in Mangaluru
Fifth PP Gomathi Memorial Lecture held
Mangaluru: Dr. Meena Kandasamy, a noted writer, poet, and anti-caste activist, delivered an incisive fifth PP Gomathi memorial lecture on ‘Writing for Resistance’ at Sahodaya, Mangaluru, on Tuesday. The event was organized by the PP Gomathi Memorial Education Trust in collaboration with the Karnataka Theological Research Institute. Addressing the audience, Dr. Kandasamy delved into the perilous intersection of writing, resistance, and censorship in contemporary India, drawing attention to the struggles faced by writers who dare to speak uncomfortable truths.
Dr. Kandasamy opened her speech by expressing gratitude to the organizers and acknowledging the sacrifices of late writers M.M. Kalburgi and Gauri Lankesh, both of whom were assassinated for their fearless expressions of dissent. “When you speak uncomfortable truths, you pay with blood,” she remarked, emphasizing the deadly consequences writers in India face for their boldness.
She lamented the current environment where dissent is stifled, and critical voices are labeled as threats to the nation. “Why is it that writers are either killed or imprisoned?” she asked, highlighting how the state equates the pens of activists and writers to the guns of insurgents by branding them as “Urban Naxals.” She warned that such comparisons legitimize the state’s persecution of dissenting voices.
Dr. Kandasamy further criticized the misuse of state machinery, such as the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), to silence political figures and activists. She said these agencies, originally intended to uphold justice, have become tools of suppression, adding that writers increasingly find themselves victims of censorship.
Reflecting on the vital role of storytelling, she noted the heavy burden placed on individuals who protest against injustice. “When people are already burdened by protesting, why do we want to burden them further with the responsibility of telling their stories? That is where writers play a crucial role,” she said. According to her, storytelling is not just an act of resistance but a necessary means to expose injustices and amplify voices that often go unheard.
In a poignant observation, Dr. Kandasamy stated, “In this country, even reading is resistance, not just writing,” urging the audience to critically engage with literature in a time of widespread repression.
She cited the example of Mohammed Zubair, a journalist and fact-checker who has faced multiple legal challenges for exposing hate speech. She pointed out how he is being accused of compromising India’s sovereignty, unity, and integrity, epitomizing the growing trend of portraying truth-tellers as enemies of the state.
The lecture concluded with a call for resilience among writers and readers alike. Dr. Kandasamy expressed hope that those who speak the truth, expose injustices, and offer solace to the oppressed would be recognized as the true patriots.
The event commenced with a welcome note by Prof. KP Vasudev, who introduced Dr. Kandasamy to the audience. Christopher George, Director of Karnataka Theological Research Institute, delivered the vote of thanks, expressing gratitude for the insightful session. Dr. B Srinivas Kakkilaya, coordinated the event while media scholar Sindhu Manjesh was also present on the dias.
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23-year-old woman found dead at Delhi home; suicide suspected
New Delhi (PTI): A 23-year-old woman was found dead in her house in Delhi's Prem Nagar area, with police suspecting it to be a case of suicide, an official said on Tuesday.
The deceased, identified as Anjali Singh, was found motionless in her room on Monday by her sister and her neighbour.
Police said her father, Vinod Kumar Singh (51), told them that he and his wife were away at work at the time of the incident, while their son and the other daughter were also not at home at the time of the incident.
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According to the family, the room in which Anjali was found was locked from the inside. The door was later forcibly opened by a neighbour and her sister with the help of a crowbar.
Her body was found lying on the bed inside the room, police said.
Preliminary inquiry revealed that Anjali had allegedly hanged herself using a piece of cloth tied to the ceiling fan.
It is suspected that the noose eventually might have loosened or torn off, resulting in her being found lying on the bed.
Family members informed the police that Anjali was a final-year student of a librarian science course from Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU). About a week ago, her final-year examination results were declared, and she had failed, following which she had been under depression, they said.
The family has not raised any allegation of foul play, police said, adding that no suicide note or external injury marks were found on the body during the initial inspection.
Inquest proceedings have been initiated in the matter as per the law. The body has been sent for post-mortem examination to ascertain the exact cause of death, and further investigation is underway, police added.
