HYDERABAD: Writers are well-respected in India are are placed on a league above the actors, sportspersons and other professionals. It is their intelligence and intellect that seems to make India put them on a pedestal. Naturally, what they say and write are taken seriously. Perhaps it is the same reason why renowned writer Nayantara Sahgal chose the Hyderabad Literary Fest as the platform to talk about her concerns on intolerance in general and towards writers and their writings, in particular. Writers are considered artistic and cultural ambassadors of a country and naturally any attempt to muzzle them is seen in poor light.
The writers have already been in the news for the last few weeks for Award Waapasi and protesting against intolerance after the beef incident. While some believe that a writer’s forum like his is the best place to do so, other feel it was in poor taste to criticise the government when it has made an effort to give writers to speak about their work. The writers themselves were divided on this topic and took to social media to express their opinions.
Events like the literary fest are actually those that celebrate the vibrance and diversity in writers. So was she justified in doing so?