IHRD seeks explanation from Deedi Damodaran for taking part in KOL protest

KANNUR: With the protest against the moral policing gaining momentum, scriptwriter and social activist Deedi Damodaran, who is also working as faculty in the Applied Media School in Kozhikode, under the Institute of Human Resources Development (IHRD), got a letter from the authorities seeking explanation for participating in the Kiss of Love protest along with her husband.
According to sources close to Deedi, she got the letter from Dr S Sheela, Director in Charge Institute of Human Resources Development earlier this week, following an anonymous letter from the parent of a student in the institute and she has been asked to give reply within five days. Earlier, in November 2014, M Sulfath, a social activist and teacher from Kannur had also faced the wrath of the school authorities for supporting the KOL. However, the school later decided to freeze all action against her when it became a controversy. "This kind of a development is indicative of the moral police gaining strength, and they want to restrict the movement of a woman," said Sulfath. "The Left parties should fight this."
Such an intervention is a reflection of the cultural fascism, said US-based film director Jayan Cherian who is doing a film on KOL. "This is the reflection of cultural fascism and even the authorities become part of such vested interests, which is very dangerous" he said. "Didi took part in the KOL protest along with her husband on a holiday and it is her freedom of expression."
Meanwhile the IHRD director said they sought the explanation as a follow up action on a letter they got. "We got a letter saying that her taking part in the KOL was indecent and hence we wrote her seeking an explanation, but this is not a memo," she said. The KOLO protest was held in Kozhikode on December 7, which was a Sunday.