A Malayali writer and translator Sreedevi S Kartha posted this astonishing account yesterday on her Facebook page. A story of how she was asked to stay away from the launch of a book she had translated because the chief guest – a religious leader – did not wish to have women on stage. The launch was due to happen today at the Sahitya Akademi in Thrissur. After Kartha’s post gathered readers and various organizations protested at the Sahitya Akademi, the launch has been postponed. (Aside: Pictures of the protests show no evidence that women were wanted there either.) The publishers Current Books Thrissur are now taking the stand that they usually do not invite translators (ahem!) to book launches, and that they have no idea what Kartha is talking about.
Below are translated excerpts from Kartha’s Facebook post:
Tomorrow is my book launch. I’ve been banned from being on stage. Women are not allowed to share a dais with the Swamiji who is the chief guest. I translated Mr APJ Abdul Kalam’s last book Transcendence: My Spirirtual Experience with Pramukh Swamiji (HarperCollin India) into Malayalam. It has just been published under the name Kaalatheetham. The well-known publishers Current Books Thrissur commissioned the translation and I delivered it ahead of my deadline.
Tomorrow in Thrissur, at the Sahitya Akademi hall, the book will be launched. Current Books Thrissur has asked me to stay away from a ceremony in which Mr MT Vasudevan Nair, Abdul Kalam’s co-author Mr Arun Tiwari, Brahmavihari Das Swamiji (representing Abdul Kalam’s spiritual guru Pramukh Swamiji) will be present. They will launch a book of which they hope to sell 2 lakh copies. The reason I won’t be there is because of some astonishing, strange and hilarious conditions of Pramukha Swamiji.
- Women must not be seated on the same stage as the swamiji representing the ashram.
- When the Swamiji is seated on stage, the first three rows of seats must be reserved for his male disciples to ensure that even the impure shadow of a woman does not fall on the Swamiji.
How does that sound?
This highly objectionable, fascist demand has come from the BAPS Swaminarayan Sanyasa Sanstha, which is based in Gujarat. The BAPS sanyasis have an international reputation and huge financial assets. They own massive temple complexes in Delhi, Gandhinagar and other parts of the world. Thousands of people (including the late Abdul Kalam) think of the head of this organization as an incarnation of God.
Astonishing! A publishing house that makes its living off writers and makes livings for writers suddenly does not have the guts to turn down such an obscene demand. Through a staff member I was sent the message that I was to stay away from the function. The publisher has not even bothered to call me to apologize.
Beyond the personal insult caused to me as a writer, this incident has astounded me with its hidden, dangerous messages. What is the difference between the Taliban that ruled that no part of the woman’s body except her eyes must be visible – and enforced it with beheadings – and the groups of sanyasis who insist that men and women must not sit on the same stage? Soon women will not have to trouble themselves by thinking or studying. They will only have to serve their husbands and their sons. They will only have to give birth to Indian sons. And in the end jump into a sati pyre to ensure they go to heaven. These achche din are fast approaching, O fellow brides of our nation.
History has taught us that women are the first victims of religious fanatics. Those who try to fulfill evil fantasies in the name of god – where do they get self-respect and independence? So expect this and even more impossible behavior and demands.
Even so, we who have not lost our humanity or pride, we who believe in natural justice know one truth: their kingdom will not come.
Update: Strangely, writer Sara Joseph seems to have taken the position that Sreedevi Kartha was wrong to kick up a fuss. Joseph has been quoted here as saying that she talked to Current Books and believes their position that they meant to keep the launch ‘simple’ and that is why they didn’t invite the translator. In the same interview she says that Current Books said that she, Joseph, was more than welcome to attend the event and sit on the stage if she wants to because they are not anti-women. Joseph goes on to chide Kartha for not respecting the organisers right to invite whoever they want (even the person who created the book in its Malayalam state? What!) She goes on to say if Kartha proved that the allegations were true, Joseph would be the first to protest in front of Current Books.
Update: DC Books, Kerala publishing giant has put out a statement sharply mocking Current Books and swamijis who need to avoid the presence of women.DC Books has called it the duty of anyone who believes in democracy to object to a scenario in which women are kept out. They have also warned Current Books that any plan to organise a launch sans Swami and sans Kartha is not going to work out. They say “swamis who do not like the presence of women better avoid such public events and conserve the ‘aatmiya tejas’ they think they possess.” But DC Books too says it’s up to the publishers to decide whether to invite the translator or not. What ya!