CHENNAI: A day after tendering an unconditional apology to his critics and deciding to pulp all his literary creations, modern
Tamil writer Perumal Murugan, the author of the ‘controversial’ novel Madhorubhagan (One Half Woman in English), choked the literary world with an emotional declaration on Facebook that Perumal Murugan, the writer, is ‘dead’.
“He is not a God to resurrect, nor does he believe in rebirth. He will live on as an ordinary teacher,” read the post laced with satire and grief that carried the signature of his newly assumed identity of Pe Murugan. The Namakkal-based Kongu writer, who was tipped to be nominated for the Sahitya Akademi award this year, announced that he has quit the literary world. He won’t even be seen as a figurehead in literary functions anymore. “Those who had bought Perumal Murugan’s books can burn them if they wish. He is withdrawing all his books and publishers need not sell them anymore. He will compensate them.
Murugan pleaded that now that the writer in him has exited, “Perumal Murugan should be left alone.” The author’s poignant post went viral online with thousands sharing it on Facebook and Twitter.
Murugan’s stand reminded one of a similar decision taken many decades ago by G D Naidu of Coimbatore, popularly referred as the Edison of India, who chose to destroy his scientific works at a public meeting due to lack of recognition by the then Central and State Governments.
Many of Murugan’s followers appealed to him not to bow to pressure. The author countered claims that his work was not based on historical accounts by disclosing that people who had given him oral information about the ‘controversial’ incidents mentioned in the novel are still alive.
The literary world came out in one voice to express solidarity with the writer. One of the doyens of Tamil literature, Asokamitran, backed the author to the hilt and vouched that his script on women begetting child through consensual sex with strangers was not imaginary as projected by his critics.
Many, including Kannan of the Tamil publishing house Kalachuvadu, which published Madhorubhagan, were vocal in implying that Murugan’s unconditional apology tendered at a peace meeting in Namakkal on Monday was not voluntary.
In fact, CPM state secretary G Ramakrishnan wanted the proceedings of the peace meeting to be annulled.