'Can't lose him to threats of caste superiority': Support pours in for Kancha Ilaiah

In the wake of attempted attacks against Prof. Kancha Ilaiah Shepherd, a tweetstorm with #SupportKanchaIlaiah began to show solidarity with the writer, and why it is necessary to maintain free speech. He is under attack from the Arya-Vysya community for his book ‘Saamajika Smugglerlu Komatollu’ (Komattis are social smugglers). A tense situation prevailed at the Kancha Ilaiah’s residence in Tarnaka on Sunday, after a few Arya-Vysya community members tried to barge into his house. Sensing trouble, police deployed police personnel to avoid any violence and detained 14 persons. In support of the writer, several people drew attention to the threat to his life with the hashtag #SupportKanchaIlaiah, and stressed the importance of these voices as well. Prof. Kancha Ilaiah’s ordeal a reflection of creeping Brahminism and fascism in India. #SupportKanchaIlaiah — Ambedkar's Caravan (@AmbedkarCaravan) October 8, 2017 Let's not wait for a Dabholkar, Kalburgi, Pansare or Gauri lankesh to happen! Stand with prof. Ilaiah now! #SupportKanchailaiah— Sneha Gole (@golesneha) October 8, 2017 #SupportKanchaIlaiah Supporting Kancha is supporting ourselves. Isn't it?— Jignesh Mevani (@jigneshmevani80) October 8, 2017 #SupportKanchailaiah Attack on kanchailaiah is one more stupid attempt to silence us. We will speak our minds with more determination. — Jignesh Mevani (@jigneshmevani80) October 8, 2017 The author academic is facing attack for his book post-hindu India where he critiques dominant castes #SupportKanchailaiah — Dhrubo Jyoti (@dhrubo127) October 8, 2017 #SupportKanchaIlaiah because our conscience cannot afford to lose our foremost bahujan scholar to threats of caste superiority — Dhrubo Jyoti (@dhrubo127) October 8, 2017 Have learned so much from Prof. Ilaiah, who's been receiving threats & is under attack. May his voice never be silenced #SupportKanchailaiah https://t.co/twWurXI2aG— Anja Kovacs (@anjakovacs) October 9, 2017 Many others pointed out that the voice of the writer must not be curtailed and he should be free to express his views. You don't have to agree with everything that he says to #SupportKanchaIlaiah. His is a voice that needs to be heard and protected.— Tejas Harad (@h_tejas) October 8, 2017 #SupportKanchaIlaiah Prof.Ilaiah as an activist and radical philosopher is a profound influence on those who challenge the caste system. — meena kandasamy (@meenakandasamy) October 8, 2017 in democratic state violence is not a means of counter argument, u 've other waysinwhich u can counter what u dislike.#SupportKanchailaiah— Anil Ausha (@anil_ausha) October 9, 2017 #SupportKanchailaiah Supporting kancha is fighting for freedom of expression.... — Mohammed (@MohammedJsr) October 9, 2017 The Telugu booklet for which he is being hounded for deals with the exploitation of the economy by the Arya-Vysyas. The writer had recently come out of his self-imposed 11-day house arrest after there was an attempt to assault him in Parakal, Warangal. Read: http://www.thenewsminute.com/article/blame-state-if-i-die-writer-kancha-ilaiah-comes-out-self-imposed-house-arrest-69506 He is known for his critical works on caste and its hierarchy. His famous works include ‘Why I am not a Hindu’, ‘Post-Hindu India: A Discourse in Dalit-Bahujan, Socio-Spiritual and Scientific Revolution,’ among many others.   He was a professor at the Department of Political Science, Osmania University. He currently is the Director for Centre for Study of Social Exclusion and Inclusive Policy at the Maulana Azad National Urdu University.