Writers gather to condemn Perumal Murugan’s book

TIRUCHENGODE: A section of writers and Hindutva groups once again raked up the controversy over novelist Perumal Murugan’s book ‘Maathorubagan’. At a meeting organized by Hindu Makkal Katchi in Tiruchengode, the location of Murugan’s fictional tale, on Sunday, a raft of speakers condemned the book.
More than a month after Murugan said he was giving up writing and withdrew his book, which was published in Tamil in 2010 but drew the attention of fundamentalist groups only after the English translation hit stores late last year, the issue refuses to die down.The professor and his wife last week sought a transfer to Chennai from the government college where they presently work in Namakkal, Murugan's hometown. The Madras high court will give its verdict on a PIL on the case on Monday.
On Sunday, writer Charu Nivedita rubbished Murugan’s novel and said, “He gave fake information in the book and there is no evidence to prove the allegation.” ‘Maathorubagan’ (One Part Woman), set in the 1940s, refers to an old custom of childless women mating with men who are not their husbands during a temple festival in order to bear children.
Another writer V Rajamanickam said the book was an attempt to slander the gounder community and that women from the town should ignore the book.
Writer Aravindan Neelakandan said, “The next generation will get the wrong idea about Tiruchengode. We should not allow this and we should protest against this.” Writers M Venkatesan and Deva Govindaraj joined in to condemn the book.
Addressing the gathering, Hindu Makkal Katchi founder Arjun Sampath said, “On Monday, Madras high court will give its verdict on Maathorubagan but even after the verdict is issued, members of Tamil Nadu Murpokku Yezhuthalargal Sangam will continue its protest. HMK will oppose that. We will organise protests across the country,” he said.
On Sunday afternoon, police gathered at the Arthanareeswarar temple premises to arrest Sampath. But, the arrest was called off on the orders of Namakkal district superintendent of police S R Senthil Kumar. “The reason for not arresting Sampath is not known. We got information from the SP not to arrest him. So we did not take any action,” said a senior police official.