From the time of man, reformation and varied opinion have invited trouble to the one who have raised the voice of difference. Write or Die was a session which raked the sleeping thoughts of boldness and courage which discussed in depth on the issues faced by writers of all times.
Writer T P Rajeevan opined that writing should be above time, people, caste, race and all types of differentiations. Writers express their feelings when they write which shouldn’t be suppressed by any external force. Neither should they be expected to respond to all social events nor should they be questioned on their writing.
Session moderator Jayan Shivapuram who is a writer and journalist mentioned that writers have not been dealt with tolerance by society at any time. He gave the examples of playwright N.N Pillai, M. P Mohammed, Writers Taslima Nazrin and Salman Rushdie.
Social activist and writer Hameed Chendamangaloor said that landlordism prevalent from societal existence of mankind is more powerful now and is restricting writers from expression. He mentioned that intolerance is found more with Christian and Muslim Community writers as they are bound by community customs and laws whereas Hindus have more freedom to write about their community.
Writer and Speaker K C Narayanan mentioned that reformative writers irrespective of time had to pay for their writing. The lives of Chekannur Maulavi and Perumal Murugan were exemplified to mention that writers have faced persecution.
The session dealt with religious, political, geographical and social interferences in writers’ lives. Active participation from the overwhelming crowd made the session lively and meaningful.
