Perumal Murugan is first ‘Hollow Man’ of literature: Publisher

Chennai: Describing Madhorubhagan fame writer Perumal Murugan as the “first hollow man of literature”, publisher Kannan Sundaram of Kalachuvadu, which published the novel, said that he felt like a phantom limb and it itched while watching majoritarian mafias in action.

Receiving this year’s “‘ILF Samanvay Basha Samman’ award on behalf of Perumal Murugan in New Delhi on Friday, Kannan said, “Now and on a few occasions in the last year, I have had to step in to speak for the first Hollow Man of literature, writer Perumal Murugan.”

“If P. Murugan himself is now a shadow I feel like a phantom limb. It itched while I watched majoritarian mafias in action but restrained myself in the absence of Perumal Murugan,” the publisher added, delivering a briefing but moving speech during the award distribution ceremony.

Participating in a discussion on censorship in the context of Perumal Murugan case, historian and author A.R. Venkatachalapathy said, “I have been finding students every year whose life has been changed by Murugan.” Briefing the audience about the controversy, which was created around Perumal Murugan’s book, Venkatachalapathy accused the state of interfering only when it became a law and order issue.

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