Kancha illaiah, famous author and Dalit rights activist, has received threatening calls from unknown persons.
Dr Illaiah, author of several books including “why I am not Hindu” on Monday lodged a formal complaint at the Osmania University police station. In his complaint Illaiah alleged that the threatening call were being made by the members of Arya Vysya community as they were angry with his latest book.
later speaking to the media he expressed apprehension that there was a serious threat to his life. “They may kill me like Gauri lankesh”, he said without naming anybody. Gauri lankesh, a famous Kannada journalist and activist was shot dead in Bangalore by unknown assailants.
He said he also gave copies of his books to the police.
Threatening calls have come at a time when the Arya Vysya community was up in arms against Kancha Illaiah's latest book. Members of the community were holding protests against the book saying they were denigrated and mocked in it. They have also lodged complaint with the police. Earlier another book “Why I am not a Hindu” had also evoked angry reaction from various right wing Hindu groups.
Kancha Illaiah who writes in English and Telugu is presently working as director, centre for study of social exclusion and inclusive policy at Moulana Azad National Urdu University, Hyderabad. His books have been translated in many other languages.
In his latest Telugu book "Vysyas are social smugglers", Kancha Illaiah said that the other communities dislike the trading community of Vysyas as the community is always engaged in trading and business and never join army to fight for the nation. He said historically Vysyas ate non vegetarian food and reared cattle and did farming but later they turned vegetarian.
Taking strong objection to the book, AP Arya Vysya Mahasabha president Jayanthi Venkateshwarulu said that as a professor he should not make abusive comments against any cates.
Pointing out that even Gandhiji belonged to Arya Vysya community, Jayanti said, "the community was contributing to the nation's exchequer by paying huge taxes and was always ahead in charity".
The book was a part of an earlier book "Post Hindu India" which was now translated in Telugu and published separately.