NAMAKKAL: Apparently ignoring the attempts to strike a compromise by the novelist and government officials, a hartal was observed in Thiruchengode in response to a call given by some organisations spearheading a movement against the Tamil novel Madhorubhagan and its author Perumal Murugan.
The organisations were pressing thier demand to arrest Perumal Murugan and to initiate criminal action against him
The usually busy streets and bazaars of the town wore a deserted look as majority of the shops and commercial establishments downed shutters during the dawn-to-dusk protest here on Friday.
However, government offices and schools, both government run and private ones, worked as usual.
Organisers claimed that the hartal was a big success as the locals and traders voluntarily downed shutters.
“Its a voluntary act of protest. Almost all shops and commercial establishments remained closed”, said Pon Govindaraj, coordinator of Thiruchengode Sri Arthanareeswarar Girival Nala Sangham.
He asserted that the protesters would not back off until the police file an FIR against the author, withdrawal of the copies already printed for sale and removal of the ‘objectionable’ portions portraying the Thiruchengode and the temple festival in a ‘derogatory’ manner were done.
However, Govindaraj, who has been in the forefront of the stir, maintained that the protesters were not against the freedom of expression and progressive writings.
“We are not against freedom of expression but only opposing the portrayal of the custom of Thiruchengode and the temple festival in a bad light”, he said.
Meanwhile, a meeting of the Thiruchengode Sri Arthanareeswarar Girivala Nala Sangham held on Friday evening, avowed to go ahead with the stir until the police initiate criminal proceedings and arrest Perumal Murugan.
“The police shall immediately take criminal action and arrest Perumal Murugan, the author of Madhorubhagan, which describes the women devotees who take part at the 14 day festival of Sri Arthanareeswarar temple in an abusive manner. The novel shall be banned immediately and the derogatory contents must be removed”, a resolution passed at the meeting stated.
The meeting also resolved to hold a peaceful symbolic fast pressing for the demands.