Yavatmal farmer

Marathi Sahitya Sammelan Mahamandal

Yede (in white) at the opening

widow stuns audience with a pro-Sahgal speech at the inauguration of Marathi Sahitya Sammelan; attendees wear Sahgal masks.All efforts to tame the 92nd Akhil Bhartiya Marathi Sahitya Sammelan failed when the widow of a farmer invited to inaugurate the meet chose to take sides with noted author Nayantara Sahgal to whom the invitation was withdrawn a few days ago. At the inauguration in Yavatmal on Friday, Vaishali Yede said in her speech, “The society does not like a woman who raises her voice. She (Sahgal) was not called because she speaks and I was called (to inaugurate). But I will speak as well. I have not read literature but I understand humans. The system has killed our husbands. You (writers) write stories, books on our grief and get awards. But we have no value,” she said.The general mood at the inauguration was of dissent. While a few attended the programme wearing Sahgal’s mask, others distributed copies of her speech. The blame game over the controversy continued after the former president of the, the organising body, Dr Shripad Joshi alleged that a BJP leader put pressure to withdraw the invitation to the 91-year-old author.All dignitaries present at the event mentioned Sahgal in their speech and condemned the decision to not invite her. The new president of the Sammelan, Aruna Dhere termed the sequence of events “a mistake by the organising body”. “It was an honour for us when Nayantara Sahgal agreed to come for the event. However, it was very unacceptable that her invitation was cancelled. This is condemnable. It was a grave mistake by the organisers. Even if one might not agree with her, this was the platform for exchange of thoughts,” Dhere said.The outgoing president of the Sammelan, Lakshmikant Deshmukh read out a small part from Sahgal’s speech which was to be delivered on the first day. “Withdrawing invitation after giving it is not our tradition. Her speech would not have harmed anyone. I condemn the organising committee for that. She was the one who believed in freedom of expression, opposed emergency, Sikh massacre and also returned her award to condemn the killings of rationalists like Dr (Narendra) Dabholkar,” he said.Cultural minister Vinod Tawade, however, refuted allegations. “Even the government has not liked the way the invitation to Sahgal was cancelled. We only give funds but do not interfere in the business of the Sammelan,” he said.