The Supreme Court will hear a plea on Thursday that seeks to ban excerpts of the Malayalam novel Meesha written by S Hareesh. The petitioner has sought a ban on the publication or circulation by internet or propagation of a part of the novel which he alleged was derogatory to women, IANS reported
The novel, which is set in the background of Kerala’s social life nearly 50 years ago, was being published serially in Malayalam weekly Mathrubhumi. After three chapters were published, Hareesh decided to withdraw the novel on July 21 following threats from Hindutva organisations. The writer and his family members have allegedly been abused on social media.
DC Books published the novel and released it on August 1. “If Meesha is not published now, we could end up in a situation where it’s impossible to publish a story or novel in Malayalam,” the publishing house said in a statement, according to Deccan Herald.
The petitioner, one N Radhakrishnan from Delhi, has objected to a dialogue between two characters of the novel, which allegedly insulted Hindu women. He also alleged that the comments of the author about Brahmins amounted to casteist or racial slur, Live Law reported.
After the novel was withdrawn, Hareesh received support from Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, former chief minister and Communist Party of India (Marxist) leader VS Achuthanandan, writers M Mukundan, K Satchidanandan, Anita Nair, Unni R and KR Meera.
Hareesh, who works at the state revenue department, won the Kerala Sahitya Academy award in 2016 for his collection of stories titled Aadam. His first collection of stories was titled Rasavidyayude Charithram.
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