Nasheman

India's largest selling Urdu weekly, now also in English

You are here: Home / Archives for Girish Karnad

Girish Karnad will be killed like Kalburgi, threatens anonymous Twitter account

by

girish-karnad

Bengaluru: Actor and Jnanpith awardee, Girish Karnad received death threat for suggesting Bengaluru international airport should be named after Tipu Sultan.

“Girish Karnad will meet the same end like kalburgi if he enrages kannadigas by replacing in Kempe gouda (sic) with Tipu Sultan.” the tweet, later deleted by the user, read.

“A tweet was posted by someone with the user name Intolerant Chandra…. We are aware of the tweet and action will be taken if necessary and if a complaint is lodged,” the TOI quoted a police officer.

Karnad had given a written complaint on the issue.

Girish Karnad on Wednesday apologised for saying the Bangalore international airport should have been named after Tipu Sultan and not Kempegowda, believed to have founded the city.

Karnad said he had never meant to insult the Vokkaliga icon when he suggested the airport should have been christened after Tipu, the 18th century king of Mysore who died fighting the British. “I have great respect for Kempegowda and I never insulted him. I apologise if my words caused any hurt to anyone.”

Chief minister P.C. Siddaramaiah, who had presided over the Tipu Jayanti programme where Karnad made the controversial suggestion, distanced himself from the remark. “He shouldn’t have made that remark. It is his personal view and there is no question of the government even thinking of changing the airport’s name,” the Congress leader said.

Karnad had justified his view saying Kempegowda was not a freedom fighter like Tipu, angering the Vokkaligas and sparking demonstrations. The community wields immense political clout and accounts for 15 per cent of the state’s six-crore population.

The Vokkaligas have termed Karnad’s remarks an “insult” to Kempegowda. Former deputy chief minister and senior BJP leader R. Ashok, a Vokkaliga, demanded an apology from the actor for making the suggestion at the first state-sponsored Tipu event.

(Agencies)

Bengaluru: Girish Karnad apologizes for his Kempegowda remarks

by

girish-karnad

Bengaluru: A day after he stoked a controversy with his remarks on the occasion of Tipu Jayanti, veteran playwright, actor and litterateur, Girish Karnad on Wednesday 11 apologized for the statement he had made against Kempegowda.

In a statement released from his home at J P Nagar here, Karnad, a Jnanpith awardee, said that what he expressed was his personal opinion and that it was not backed by any evil intention. He said he was sorry if his remarks had hurt anyone.

The noted writer had expressed the opinion that Kempegowda International Airport at Bengaluru should have been named after Tipu Sultan. His remarks had come during the birth anniversary of Tipu Sultan organized at the state secretariat on Tuesday November 10 in the presence of chief minister, Siddaramaiah. He had remarked that Kempegowda was not a freedom fighter like Tipu Sultan.

Former deputy chief minister and BJP leader, R Ashok, who is spearheading a campaign against the remarks of Karnad, who had also courted controversy with some previous remarks, said that he will continue to fight against the unkind remarks made by Karnad in spite of the apology offered.

“Karnad had made his remarks in a public meeting in Vidhana Soudha. If they were his personal opinions, they should have come at a private function. I hereby ask Karnad to come to Vidhan Soudha and make a public statement about his apology in the presence of chief minister,” Ashok stated.

(Agencies)

Prof. K S Bhagwan receives anonymous threat letter

by

K S Bhagwan

Mysuru: Rationalist Prof K S Bhagwan received an anonymous letter in English reportedly warning to kill him at his house on Wednesday. His wife said that the letter was delivered by the postman around 12.45 pm at Bhagwan’s house on Udayaravi road, Kuvempunagar. The letter was duly handed over to Kuvempunagar police station. The Police are reported to have been guarding the house round-the-clock.

The letter typed using a typewriter, addressed Bhagwan derogatorily and read as follows: “Don’t relax thinking you are safe. Haavina dvesha 12 years. 3 successful. Next you. Will never miss the target. No police security will save you when we come. We know how to do. Count your days”. (sic)

Sources said that the letter may have originated from Bengaluru, as per the seal on the order according to the report of investigators.

Earlier, soon after the Kannada scholar was shot dead by two unidentified men, a Bajrang Dal co-convener Bhuvith Shetty had posted a controversial tweet at 10:41 am on August 30 that said, “Then it was U R Anantamoorty and now it is M M Kalburgi. Mock Hinduism and die a dog’s death. And dear K. S Bhagwan you are next”, which had gone viral.

Soon after Bantwal police were informed about the controversial tweet, they registered a suo moto case at Bantwal police station.

Mysuru Police immediately provided Bhagwan with a personal security guard. Prof K S Bhagawan had reportedly received threats after his controversial speech on Bhagavad Gita at a recent event.

(Agencies)

Police protection to Bhagawan, Karnad after death threats

by

K S Bhagwan

Mysuru: Prof K S Bhagawan has been provided with a personal security guard by the Mysuru police, after a Bajrang Dal activist threatened him on Twitter that he would be the next target after Dr M M Kalburgi, sources said. Prof K S Bhagawan had reportedly received threats after his controversial speech on Bhagavad Gita at a recent event.

Police posted guards at the houses of well-known writers Girish Karnad and Chandrashekhar Patil, a day after renowned Kannada scholar MM Kalburgi was shot dead in Dharwad.

On Dr Kalburgi’s murder, Prof. Bhagwan said, “It is an unfortunate and dangerous development. Dr Kalburgi was my very good friend. He liked my writings and encouraged me. He was a great soul and a great scholar and thinker. He worked for the downtrodden.”

Bengaluru Police Commissioner N S Megharikh told sources that the police have also asked citizens to keep an eye out for anyone moving around suspiciously in the vicinity of the houses of writers and artists. The social media monitoring cell is keeping an eye on those who post threat messages and share irresponsible posts. “If we find any serious and inflammatory posts, we will take action”, he said.

(Agencies)

No plans to ban beef in state: Siddaramaiah

by

Photo: The New Indian Express

Photo: The New Indian Express

Bengaluru: Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has made it clear that there will not be any ban on beef in the state.

When he was asked a question by scribes on the beef ban in light of a protest held in Bengaluru on Thursday April 9 against the beef ban in Maharashtra, Siddaramaiah said “Let the people decide what they want to eat. We do not have the right to question their choices”

“Pork, chicken, mutton and let them eat what they want. Who am I to tell them? “Siddaramaiah added.

The protestors on Thursday at town hall premises had cooked beef biryani on the spot and had eaten it in public to register their opposition to the ban in Maharashtra.

Some prominent faces were also seen in the protest including writers Girish Karnad and K Marulusiddappa. The protest was organized by the activists of the Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI).

BJP unhappy

Meanwhile BJP has strongly criticized the participation of Girish Karnad and K Marulusiddappa in the protest by terming the act as ‘A shameful act which a civilised society cannot accept.’

Leader of the opposition in the legislative council K S Eshwarappa has demanded apologies from both the writers for participating in the protest.

“I know they are famous. Whatever they say will get some publicity. But they should have used their popularity for good causes. They should not use their talents for anti social propaganda. If they do not know to promote good causes, they should shut up. Hindus have been watching them patiently. But nobody knows when their anger will explode.” Eshwarappa said.

No knowledge of law?

Veteran freedom fighter H S Doreswamy has said that Girish Karnad and K Marulusiddappa should have had the basic knowledge of prevailing laws which prohibit the slaughter of cows.

He said that even Jammu and Kashmir where the Muslims are in majority has some laws against the killing of cows. He asked not to compare cow to other animals.

Girish Karnad had said during the protest, “The act of banning beef eating is provocative. I may or may not eat beef but I will stand by the right of others for whom the meat is a crucial source of affordable nutrition. It is about people’s right to food and their right to life.”

(Agencies)

Girish Karnad turns up for Bengaluru beef fest, but cops take away food

by

Girish Karnad (sitting, second from right) expressing solidarity with Left activists protesting the beef ban in Maharashtra. (HT Photo)

Girish Karnad (sitting, second from right) expressing solidarity with activists protesting the beef ban in Maharashtra. (HT Photo)

Bengaluru: Calling ban on beef as an act that was against the diverse food culture of our society, Left wing body Democratic Youth Federation of India and Dalit outfits today held a beef eating programme here that was attended by Jnanpith awardee Girish Karnad.

The event was organised in protest against the ban on beef in different parts of the country and also supported and attended another famous Kannada writer Dr K Marulasiddappa.

Protesters criticised the beef ban as an attempt to encroach upon the choice of food and against the diverse food culture of Indian society.

Both Karnad and Marulasiddappa did not eat beef,but said they support the event and stand against such ban.

“I don’t want people to say that because I eat beef therefore I opposed the law. No, everyone has the right to practice….” Karnad said.

To a question he said “Who said large part our population doesn’t eat beef? This nonsense is created by Brahmins;this is created by Hindutva protagonists. Vokkaligas, Muslims, Christians, Dalits and many other communities eat….then how is it against the practice of large population of this
country?”

Marulasiddappa said “I have not eaten beef here because I don’t follow that food habit, I have that right, but at the same time I don’t have right to scorn at those who eat it. I have respect towards them.”

Anticipating trouble as the event had invited a lot of opposition, police intervened and took away the eatables made of beef from the organisers.

Criticising the police action as undemocratic, organisers said, “this is against the law, we criticise this act by the police, ours was a peaceful programme, we have in no way affected the law and order situation.”

(PTI)

‘Claims of scientific proofs in Hindu scriptures amount to mockery of myths:’ Girish Karnad

by

Photo: V. Sreenivasa Murthy, The Hindu

Photo: V. Sreenivasa Murthy, The Hindu

Bengaluru: Jnanpith Award-winning writer Girish Karnad has warned against picking out details and characters from ancient Indian mythology to argue that they are proof of scientific advance in ancient times.

Participating in a discussion organised by the Communist Party of India (Marxist) here on Saturday, the writer said that those who attempt to find proof of scientific advance in scriptures are indeed insulting and mocking mythical imagination.

Making an oblique reference to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who linked medical science to mythology recently by stating that the creation of Ganesha is proof of the existence of plastic surgeons thousands of years ago, Mr. Karnad said such claims amounted to mocking and falsifying the “mythical imagination and symbolism” of our ancient writers. Mythologies across the world were rich in such symbolisms, he added.

he said claims on 2,000-year-old texts providing answers to all present-day problems amounted to “freezing” ourselves in a historical past. He recalled that Gandhiji, who revered the Bhagavad Gita , said that only 33 shlokas in it were relevant to him. “We should pick what is relevant to us from our past and discard the rest,” he said.

On the Hindi film PK around which the discussion was organised, Mr. Karnad said the Rajkumar Hirani production showed a remarkable “rationalist courage”.

KNOW US

GET INVOLVED

PROMOTE

Archives