Literary meet: Marathi Sahitya Sammelan to raise voice against bid to muzzle freedom of speech

Sabnis plans to rake up the issue of ‘growing intolerance’ in the country.

2 min readPuneUpdated: Jan 12, 2016 05:45 AM IST

literary meet, pune literary meet, sabnis, freedom of speech, Akhil Bharatiya Marathi Sahitya Sammelan, pune news

Activists support author Shripal Sabnis, who made controversial remarks against Prime Minister, by taking part in a symbolic morning walk on Monday. Pavan Khengre

MAINTAINING A distance from the views of Shripal Sabnis, Madhvi Vaidya, author and president of the Akhil Bharatiya Marathi Sahitya Mahamandal, organising the 89th Akhil Bharatiya Marathi Sahitya Sammelan, said on Monday that the body will pass a resolution at the literary meet to condemn the tendencies that are “trying to muzzle the freedom of speech in a democracy like ours.”

At the same time, Sabnis, already embroiled in a controversy for his alleged remarks against Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has promised to lash out at the “growing intolerance” in the country.

Vaidya clarified that the mahandal does not share the views on Prime Minister expressed by Sabnis and is not party to any controversy. Vaidya, however, maintained that the mahamandal will pass a resolution during the literary meet — starting in Pimpri on January 15— condemning the tendencies that silence democratic voices like those of Dabholkar, Pansare and Kalburgi.

“Be it threats to Sabnis or the forces that killed the three rationalists, we condemn them all. They stooped very low…We do not approve of such mindsets. Free speech should be countered with free speech and not with guns and bullets. We are living in a democracy and therefore, we ought to respect the freedom of speech of an individual,” Vaidya said.

Asked if the controversy will affect the literary meet, Vaidya said, they are putting in all efforts to make it a successful event.

Meanwhile, Sabnis, who will deliver his speech at the inauguration of the literary meet on January 15, is apparently preparing to talk about ‘intolerance’. He has prepared a 100-page speech encompassing issues, including the current ones like intolerance, secularism, communalism. “Yes, my speech will contain remarks on intolerance and secularism. My speech will highlight whatever is happening in the country. Besides this, it will also touch upon issues such as farmers’ suicides, caste system, among others,” Sabnis said. Sabnis, on Monday too, remained defiant and said that he will not apologise for his remarks.

Manoj Dattatrye More

Manoj Dattatrye More is a Senior Editor at The Indian Express, having been with the publication since 1992. Based in Pune, he is a veteran journalist with a 33-year career that spans editorial desk work, investigative reporting, and political analysis. Professional Legacy Experience: He spent his first 16 years on the editorial desk before moving into active field reporting. He has written over 20,000 stories, including more than 10,000 bylined articles. Impact Journalism: He is widely respected for "campaign-style" reporting that leads to tangible social change. Road Safety: His decade-long campaign regarding the dangerous state of the Pune-Mumbai highway in Khadki resulted in a ₹23 crore reconstruction project in 2006, which dramatically reduced fatalities. Environmental Protection: His reports against tree cutting on the Pune-Mumbai and Pune-Nashik highways saved approximately 2,000 trees. Anti-Corruption: During the COVID-19 pandemic, he exposed a scam where doctors were being asked to pay bribes for government jobs, resulting in them being hired without payment. Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025) Manoj More's recent work focuses heavily on the shifting political landscape of Maharashtra and civic governance in the Pimpri-Chinchwad area: 1. Political Shifts & Alliances "Ajit Pawar's NCP continues domination in Pune, wins 10 of 17 local bodies" (Dec 21, 2025): A major report on the local self-government election results, detailing the NCP’s stronghold in Baramati, Indapur, and Lonavala. "BJP ropes in 13 ex-corporators, deals major blow to NCP" (Dec 20, 2025): Reporting on a significant political defection in Pimpri-Chinchwad as the BJP gears up for civic polls. "Congress opts for solo BMC run as alliance talks with Sena (UBT) collapse" (Dec 17, 2025): Covering the breakdown of Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) talks for the Mumbai civic elections. "NCP(SP)'s Rahul Kalate, Sena (UBT) leader Sanjog Waghere set to join BJP" (Dec 19, 2025): Detailing high-profile party-hopping ahead of the municipal elections. 2. Civic & Administrative Accountability "PCMC draws ire for issuing tenders worth Rs 250 crore just before poll code" (Dec 17, 2025): An investigative piece on the Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation’s last-minute spending spree before election restrictions. "93 killed in 76 accidents in five years: Bypass service roads in Pune remain undeveloped for 18 yrs" (Nov 16, 2025): A critical look at the long-delayed infrastructure projects contributing to fatalities on Pune’s bypass roads. 3. Social & Labor Issues "As state says TCS has laid off 376 employees: FITE flags figures, say nearly 2,500 were forced to quit" (Dec 11, 2025): Investigating conflicting reports regarding IT sector layoffs in Maharashtra. "Maharashtra govt move to 'downgrade' Aadhaar cards" (Nov 30, 2025): Reporting on the state’s decision to require additional documents alongside Aadhaar to combat identity misuse. Signature Beat Manoj More is the definitive voice on Pimpri-Chinchwad, an industrial hub he has covered for three decades. His reporting is characterized by its aggressive stance against local "gondaism" (thuggery) and a relentless focus on civic infrastructure—choked drains, garbage management, and public transport. X (Twitter): @manojmore91982 ... Read More

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