Publisher Navyana drops Tamil author's book for his pro-Modi stance

The English translation of a Tamil novel by Sahitya Akademi winning author RN Joe D’Cruz has been axed by Delhi-based publisher Navayana because of his statements in support of BJP’s prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi. The book, D’Cruz’s first Tamil novel titled Aazhi Soozh Ulagu (Ocean Ringed World), was reportedly to be released later this year and was being translated by author V Geetha. “It is both appalling that D’Cruz, who captured the rich and unique history of the seafaring community of Tamil Nadu in an epic tale spanning three generations, should call a fascist like Modi a ‘dynamic visionary’…However, there cannot be a place for such an author in a political publishing house like Navayana,” S Anand of Navyana was quoted as saying in the Deccan Chronicle.  [caption id=“attachment_1479089” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  D’Cruz has said he is contemplating legal action against the publisher. Image courtesy: YouTube[/caption] Geetha, who said she was withdrawing her translation of the book, told the newspaper that she stood by the novel but she’s didn’t want “to be associated with anyone of anything linked to Modi”. “I still stand by his novel, which I think is a fantastic saga of fisher life, and I am sorry Joe has decided to trade his considerable gifts as a novelist for a politics that is fascist and dangerous,” she said in a statement. Navyana, describes itself as India’s first and only publishing house to focus on the issue of caste from an anti-caste perspective. The publishing house says that since 2009 it decided to “broad-base its publishing programme, for the struggle against caste cannot happen in isolation from other struggles for justice and equality.” D’Cruz has said he is contemplating legal action against the publishing house given the project that has been underway for over a year, has been dropped altogether. However, he defended his decision to back the BJP’s prime ministerial candidate and said it was based on his first hand experience of seeing development in Gujarat. Denying that he had endorsed Modi due because he now supported Hindutva, D’Cruz, a devout Catholic told the Hindu," I am committed to social justice. I love my people, my country, my roots and culture. I have nothing to do with the Hindutva."