Thrissur: The Kerala Lalithakala Akademi has stood firm on the controversy over the cartoon on Jalandhar Bishop Franco Mulakkal, who is facing charges of raping a nun of his congregation. It has backed cartoonist K.K. Subash and the award jury which bestowed last year’s award on his controversial work.
“The academy hasn’t found any need for a rethink on the award. The executive committee which consists of seven members and the general council of 13 members unanimously decided not to review the award,” said akademi chairman Nemam Pushparaj on Monday. “It is not the akademi that chose the winners. There were two rounds of verification of the works received for the award and as the akademi primarily stands for freedom of expression, we summoned urgent meetings on Monday and found nothing wrong with the cartoon concerned,” Mr Pushparaj added.
However, he said that those who object to the cartoon could contact the akademi which would consult legal experts whether it has violated any legal or constitutional rights.
“But, we have not fixed any timeline for such a consultation,” he added.
The akademi said in a press release after the meeting that cartoonists Sukumaran, P.V. Krishnan and Madhu Omallur were the jury members who decided the award and that the akademi holds their decision in high esteem.
The award-winning cartoon by Mr Subhash titled ‘Vishwasam Rakshathi’ appeared in ‘Hasya Kairali’ magazine in October last year, and it shows Bishop Franco holding a crosier with an innerwear at its end.
“The cartoon is not against any community, but a bishop who is facing charges of rape. The crosier (amsha vadi) is not a religious symbol like a cross. It is a symbol of power and that was the reply we got when we inquired about it with the Catholic scholars and priests,” artist Eby N. Joseph, executive member of the akademi said.
Earlier, Cultural Minister A.K. Balan had said that the cartoon was unacceptable and that the akademi would review the decision.
Auxiliary Bishop of Thrissur Archdiocese Fr Tony Neelankavil told a protest meeting held in front of the akademi gate before the meetings of akademi functionaries that the patience of the Catholic Church was being tested and that the cartoon insulted Christianity.
He said that they would hold a meeting to discuss the decision taken by the akademi on Monday and would announce the further course of action.
