Condemning a religious function that was organised by the Gujarat Sahitya Parishad at its building on Ashram road in Ahmedabad last month, the Gujarati Writers' Association (GWA) on Tuesday wrote to the Parishad demanding that rules be framed to ensure that such incidents are not repeated. The GWA said that it cannot be countenanced that rituals of a particular religion are allowed at a democratically-run institution, which has equality, brotherhood and secularism as its core values. The letter was written by GWA president and noted writer Manishi Jani, along with office-bearers Pratibha Thakkar and Manhar Oza. It was addressed to Parishad president Prakash N Shah and other office-bearers. According to Jani, on November 18 - which happened to be Labh Pancham, the fifth day of Gujarati new year - a religious function was held at Gujarat Sahitya Parishad where various deities were worshipped. Many office-bearers of the Parishad, including Prakash N Shah, attended the function. Photographs of the same were circulated on social media. In its letter, the GWA called the function a “disgrace for creative writers”, adding that such projection of a particular religion is not acceptable. Speaking to The Indian Express, Jani said, “We have demanded that rules be framed to ensure that such an incident is not repeated at Gujarat Sahitya Parishad.” He added that the newly-framed rules should be published in the Parishad's mouthpiece Parab. When contacted, Prakash N Shah said that before joining that function, he was not aware of the religious rituals to be performed there. He added that "since things were already set up, there was no point in speaking up then". Shah added, “Such a practice cannot continue. I will take up the demands raised by the association when the appropriate forum of the Parishad assembles.”
