Dalit Writers Forced To Leave Literary Meet Over Shivaji Remarks 

Pune: Noted Dalit writer Pradnya Pawar and Dalit scholar Raosaheb Kasabe were reportedly forced to leave a Marathi literary meet over their objectionable comments on Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj.

The meet was organised at Patan in adjoining Satara district by Maharashtra Sahitya Parishad and the alleged incident took place on Sunday when a mob asked the duo to leave the event for hurting the sentiments of the Maratha community with their remarks on the 17th century warrior king.

Kasabe was invited as a special guest, while Pawar was nominated president of the two-day event which was dedicated to Dalit icon Babasaheb Ambedkar.

She wondered if their speeches were objectionable, why was there no immediate uproar. “We were told by the mob that we were Dalits and we should not speak anything (on Marathas). They warned us of dire consequences if we spoke further and asked us to leave”, she said.

Pawar, the daughter of late Marathi author and poet Daya Pawar -- known for his rich contributions to Dalit literature -- described the incident as an act of cultural terrorism and censorship on free speech.

When contacted, Kasabe said he tried to initiate a dialogue with those in the mob, but they were not in a mood to listen.

“I asked them who am I? Have you read my writing? Did you know what exactly I said yesterday? But, they were ignorant and were just demanding an apology”, he said. Kasabe said he even offered an apology to them if they were hurt due to their ignorance.

He alleged that the mob was sent by local Shiv Sena MLA Shambhuraj Desai, who had a political rivalry with Vikramsinh Patankar of the NCP, one of the organisers of the literary meet.

He, however, denied any role in the mob's action. Satara SP Sandip Patil said the police were probing the incident.

PTI