Chennai, Mar 19 (PTI) A collective of over 200 Tamil writers, readers, and social activists on Thursday strongly condemned the announcement of the Jnanpith Award to lyricist Vairamuthu, calling it a “profound affront” to the reputation of the award and the Tamil literary tradition.
In a detailed representation, the signatories urged the Jnanpith committee to immediately withdraw the decision, citing both the nature of the author’s literary work and serious moral allegations.
The appeal is coordinated by writer K N Senthil and poet Deepu Hari. Notable signatories include Sahitya Akademi Award winners Ambai and Nirmalya, Yuva Puraskar winner Karthik Balasubramanian, actress Rohini, and film director Sasikumar, alongside a large number of poets, translators, and journalists.
The statement argued that the award should be conferred upon individuals who stand as symbols of distinguished creativity, human ethics, and social values.
“The announcement of this year’s Jnanpith Award to Mr.Vairamuthu is viewed by the Tamil intelligentsia, writers, and social activists as a profound affront to both the long-standing reputation of the award and the Tamil literary tradition,” they said.
The collective claimed that Vairamuthu’s writings are nowhere close to reflecting the core values or cultural pride of Tamil society and are bereft of genuine exploratory craving.
The petition described his literary identity as being defined by “lowbrow writing and ornate rhetoric”, alleging that his works are largely crafted in line with the profit-driven manoeuvres of the film industry for instantaneous fame.
Beyond literary merit, the collective highlighted that a writer’s life is as significant as their work, noting that 17 to 18 women have publicly accused Vairamuthu of sexual harassment through the #MeToo movement.
The statement asserted that bestowing a prestigious social honour upon an individual burdened with such long-standing moral stains is at odds with the ethos of a modern society that champions women’s rights. It further alleged that his public speeches and writings testify to a patriarchal mindset where women are portrayed merely as objects of pleasure.
The group also pointed to a moral precedent set by the Kerala Cultural Academy, which previously withdrew its decision to confer the ONV Literary Award upon Vairamuthu following intense protests regarding these same accusations.
The petition warned that granting the Jnanpith to an “undeserving individual” will irrevocably erode the credibility and dignity of the award in the future. PTI JR JR SA
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