Kerala novelist C Radhakrishnan quits Sahitya Akademi over political interference

Guwahati: Acclaimed Malayalam author C Radhakrishnan has resigned as an eminent member of the Sahitya Akademi on Monday in protest against this year’s Akademi festival being inaugurated by a Union minister, who, according to him, lacks any known credentials in literature.

In the resignation letter to the Akademi secretary K Sreenivasrao, the Malayalam novelist has alleged that this was the first time such a thing had happened in the long and illustrious history of the Akademi, which has consistently upheld the autonomy of the institution against pressures to yield to political clout.

Radhakrishnan is known for novels like ‘Munpe Parakkunna Pakshikal’ and ‘Spandamapinikale Nandi’.

He said that all members of the Akademi had protested when a Union minister had participated in the organisation’s annual festival and subsequently, assurances were given that this would not repeat in the future.

The Akademi runs as an autonomous body under the Ministry of Culture.

“This is the first time such a thing has happened in the long chequered history of the Sahitya Akademi which consistently upheld the autonomy of the institution against pressures to make it yield to political clout. True, last year a lesser official, a minister of state, had taken part in the inaugural session of the Festival, inviting protests from all of us. Assurances were given then that this would not happen. Hope you remember the unrelenting struggle we put up against efforts to influence the Akademi politically while I was a member of the Executive Committee for five years,” Radhakrishnan wrote in the resignation letter.

The author also stated that he cannot remain a mute spectator to witness the funeral of the very last democratically autonomous institution of culture in the nation.

“The other two Akademis have been robbed of their autonomy since a long while ago. I hope and pray my fellow writers, young and old, would realise the severe danger this Akademi too is drifting towards. Again, as you very well know the far-sighted founding fathers of the Sahitya Akademi gave it a constitution capable of resisting all attempts to undermine the democratic autonomy of this institution and enable it to survive unmolested. Political bosses are now reported to be smarting even to redraft the constitution of the Akademi! Sorry, I can't be a silent witness to the funeral of the very last democratically autonomous institution of culture in the nation,” Radhakrishnan said.