Chennai- In a major escalation of literary and social dissent, a collective of more than 200 Tamil writers, readers and activists has issued a stern condemnation regarding the selection of lyricist Vairamuthu for the Jnanpith Award.
In a detailed representation released the other day, the group characterised the decision as a "profound affront" to the prestige of the award and the sanctity of the Tamil literary tradition.
The appeal, coordinated by writer K N Senthil and poet Deepu Hari, draws support from a broad spectrum of the South Indian intelligentsia. Notable signatories include Sahitya Akademi Award winners Ambai and Nirmalya, Yuva Puraskar recipient Karthik Balasubramanian, actress Rohini and filmmaker Sasikumar. The collective is urging the Jnanpith committee to immediately withdraw the honour, citing a disconnect between the author's work and the ethical standards expected of its recipients.
Critique of literary merit and "ornate rhetoric"
The signatories argued that the Jnanpith Award should be reserved for creators who serve as symbols of "distinguished creativity, human ethics and social values". However, they alleged that Vairamuthu's body of work fails to meet these criteria, describing his literary identity as one defined by "lowbrow writing and ornate rhetoric". The statement further contended that his writings are largely "crafted in line with the profit-driven manoeuvres of the film industry for instantaneous fame", rather than reflecting a "genuine exploratory craving" or the core cultural values of Tamil society.
Ethical concerns and the #MeToo movement
The protest extends beyond the quality of prose to the personal conduct of the author. The collective highlighted that 17 to 18 women have publicly accused Vairamuthu of sexual harassment through the #MeToo movement. The petition argued that a writer's life is inextricably linked to their work, stating that bestowing a high social honour upon an individual with such "long-standing moral stains" is an insult to a modern society that champions women's rights.
The group further alleged that his public speeches and writings reveal a patriarchal mindset where women are portrayed merely as "objects of pleasure".
Precedent and potential impact on award credibility
The collective pointed to a previous moral precedent set by the Kerala Cultural Academy, which withdrew its decision to grant the ONV Literary Award to Vairamuthu following similar public protests. The signatories warned the Jnanpith committee that granting the award to an "undeserving individual" would "irrevocably erode the credibility and dignity of the award in the future".
PTI