'Meesa' author Hareesh vows to keep mum

'Meesa' to be released when society matures, says hounded author
S Hareesh said he took the decision following unbearable threats from certain organisations and their followers.

Malayalam novelist S Hareesh, who withdrew his latest work from publication in a mainstream magazine on account of threats from right-wing elements, is opting to keep mum.

A part of the novel 'Meesa', which was being published in one of the mainstream Malayalam literary magazines, irked the radicals who charged him with offending religious sentiments.

However, several writers and liberal thinkers came up in support of the novelist touting freedom of expression.

Hareesh told Onmanorama he was sick of the responses he received for the novel so far and that he refuses to discuss about it on any public platform in the future.

Know more about the issue : Malayalam writer S Hareesh calls off novel after threats from right wing

"I have taken a decision that I would never ever speak about 'Meesa' and the controversies surrounding it. I am tired of all the discussions done so far and therefore I am going mum about it henceforth," the writer said.

He was responding to Onmanorama's query about the reason behind the sudden withdrawal of his novel from the magazine.

Read more: Writer Mukundan aghast over 'Meesa' row

Its contents had ignited widespread protests by Hindu religious organisations and several caste groups.

The 47-year-old writer had reportedly disclosed that he would only release 'Meesa' as a complete book when the society is mature enough to take it as it is.

Only three parts of the novel was published in the magazine so far. In its latest volume, one of the characters in 'Meesa' made a comment about a correspondence between the sexual interests of women regularly visiting temples and the proficiency of temple priests in sexual matters, triggering protests from Hindutva groups charging it defames the Hindu community.

The writer was even threatened that his hands would be chopped off in 'SDPI fashion' if he continues to publish the novel.

Meanwhile, netizens have started a hashtag campaign offering solidarity to the writer. Several eminent writers including M Mukundan, Satchidanandan, Anita Nair, Jayasree Mishra, Unni R, Subash Chandran, KR Meera, Indu Menon and Saradakkutty have made public statements condemning communal attacks on writers' freedom.

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