As India marks 75 years of independence on Monday, more than hundred prominent international writers, creative artists are raising concern over the deterioration of free expression and calling for the release of imprisoned writers and dissident and critical voices.
The 102 prominent writers and creative artists joined PEN America and PEN International in signing a letter to Indian President Droupadi Murmu, who has served as India’s president since July.
The letter, dated August 14, was sent to coincide with the 75th anniversary on August 15 of India’s independence from British rule.
The joint letter expressed “grave concerns about the rapidly worsening situation for human rights in India.”
The letter said: “We write to express our grave concern regarding the myriad threats to free expression and other core rights that have been building steadily in recent years, since the Bharatiya Janata party-led government has come to power.
“We urge you to support the democratic ideals promoting and protecting free expression in the spirit of India’s independence, and restore India’s reputation as an inclusive, secular, multi-ethnic and -religious democracy where writers can express dissenting or critical views without threat of detention, investigation, physical attacks or retaliation.”
Other writers who signed the letter include Marina Abramovic, Paul Auster, JM Coetzee, Jennifer Egan, Jonathan Franzen, Azar Nafisi, and Orhan Pamuk.
PEN International, the world's leading association of writers working to promote literature and defend freedom of expression around the world.
“As India celebrates 75 years of independence, the state of free expression is under grave threat and is being mourned rather than celebrated,” Karin Deutsch Karlekar, director of Free Expression at Risk Programs at PEN America, said.
He also raises ongoing concerns about fraying of free expression and jailing and silencing of writers.
“We are relieved that the conditional release of poet Varavara Rao was made permanent on medical grounds this week, but other writers and public intellectuals including Hany Babu and Anand Teltumbde remain behind bars, and dozens of writers and journalists are subject to state-sanctioned threats and harassment. We urge the Indian government to stop trying to silence dissident voices, to allow free expression without fear of repercussions, and to free writers wrongfully jailed,” Karlekar added.
The letter urges the Indian president to support democratic ideals and free expression in the spirit of India’s independence, and restore India’s reputation as an inclusive, secular, multi-ethnic and multi-religious democracy.
The letter states: “Free expression is the cornerstone of a robust democracy. By weakening this core right, all other rights are at risk and the promises made at India’s birth as an independent republic are severely compromised.”
