Intolerant to criticism, Kottayam public library boycotts writers

Kottayam: The Kottayam public library committee has allegedly officially asked DC books to avoid the presence of writers S Hareesh and Aymanam John from any further literary programmes jointly organized by the library and the publishing house.  This apparent boycott is in the wake of the comments made by these writers citing the absence of new books at the library. The minutes of the meeting held on July 3 this year accessed by Deccan Chronicle, specifically asks the publication house to boycott these writers in meetings to be organized jointly by the library and the publishing house.

Interestingly, Abraham Itti Cheria, President of Kottayam public library rejected the allegation that the library passed a resolution against the two writers.  But writer S Hareesh told DC that the library had decided to boycott them which is apparent from the decision of the meeting. S Hareesh made a speech at the KPS Menon hall a few months ago in connection with the observance of the fiftieth anniversary of CV Balakrishnan as a writer at Kottayam.  

The part of library’s resolution that demands DC Books to exclude John and Hareesh

He had said that there were no substantial additions to the books at the library over the last ten years. Mr Hareesh, one of the notable short story writers of the younger generation, is a native of Neendoor near here. He was formerly a member of the library. Writer Aymanam John, also a short story writer who was present at the function, expressed the same concern over the lack of books at the library.  “However, our criticisms were not taken in the right spirit.  The library authorities have showed fascist tendencies by the latest decision asking the publishing house to boycott us. We are planning to organize a platform of like-minded people who also find drawbacks in the functioning of the library”, he told DC.