Chennai: The Kalakshetra Foundation took a last-minute decision on Thursday to withdraw permission to host popular Carnatic singer TM Krishna’s book launch event, which was scheduled to take place on their premises on February 2.
The Foundation in a letter stated that they are withdrawing permission to host the launch after reading an excerpt from the book which was published in an English daily on Thursday.
Chidambaram MP and VCK chief Thol Thirumavalavan took to Twitter to say, “Kalashektra humiliates not just TM Krishna but Dalits too.
The letter also states “The book review appearing in the newspaper, contains certain statements relating to the book which touch controversial issues and certainly has a lot of political overtones. We were unaware of the controversies surrounding the subject matter of the book at the time of renting our auditorium,”
Being a government organisation, the Foundation said, it cannot allow any programme that might instigate political, cultural and social disharmony. The Foundation faced backlash on social media on Thursday for taking such a decision.
Foundation director Revathi Ramachandran could not be reached for any further comment. The book reflects on Dalit Christians dealing with caste issues and finally able to deliver the instrument in this age and time. Responding to the issue, Magasasay awardee Krishna said he was deeply saddened by the Foundation’s decision.
Krishna emphasised on celebrating the art along with acknowledging the one who makes the tuneful Mridangam for it to be played. Through his Twitter account, Krishna later said the venue for the book launch has been changed to the Asian College of Journalism and would take place on Sunday at the same time.
In 2012, Krishna was nominated along with three other musicians to be part of the Foundation’s board.
Sashi Kumar, chairman of ACJ said “We are happy to host the book launch. Cows’ skin has been used to make mridangam for decades. This is nothing new. After the animal has died, its skin is being used to make an instrument that makes beautiful music. This fact should be appreciated and not shunned.”
”TM Krishna’s book has nothing controversial, but throws light on what exists in current society.” Thirumavalavan and historian Rajmohan Gandhi, who is the grandson of Gandhi and Rajaji, is scheduled to release the book, according to The New Indian Express report.
