Kannada writer K. S. Bhagavan, under threat from Hinduvta forces, said here on Wednesday that he was not afraid of death despite efforts by hardcore elements to silence liberal thinkers and humanists.
The killing of Gauri Lankesh early this month has created a scare and generally people are afraid of death, said the academic and author. The killers have succeeded at least briefly in trying to create an atmosphere of fear, but ideas cannot be killed or freedom of expression suppressed, he said.
He was speaking to reporters at the Sree Sankaracharya University of Sanskrit, Kalady, before releasing the controversial university magazine Mere Pyare Desh Vasiyon.
He said that there was a big divide among the writers and intellectuals under the present political and social atmosphere. The cause of intolerance is minds that are narrow or closed. They have not read anything unlike Swami Vivekananda,who knew the essence of all religions. He condemned the narrow views in all religions.
Mr. Bhagavan said he was neither a Leftist nor a Rightist but a humanist who wanted everyone to live in peace and harmony. It was Buddha who was the essence of open mindedness and tolerance. He asked his followers to question everything and not to believe what their religion said.
On the issue of nationalism, he said nationalism was narrower when compared to internationalism. But nationalism meant living in peace with everyone else. To live and to let live is the essence of nationalism, he said. Just as the sun and the elements provides for all groups of people, there should be no discrimination against anyone in society.
On the question of attempts by the ruling party to impose a ban on eating of beef, he said no one had the right to impose their views on others. People ate the food that is available to them. Food is a question of circumstances. The Vedic people ate meat but the number of animals dwindled and a ban was imposed on killing them because they were not available for agricultural and other priorities. Mr. Bhagavan, who is a strong critic of the philosophy of Shankaracharya, said that his stand did not change despite being in the university. He said that Shankaracharya preached oneness but was a strong supporter of the upkeep of caste system.