Meesa
{{Short description|2018 novel by Malayalam author S. Hareesh}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2023}}
{{Use Indian English|date=February 2023}}
{{Infobox book
| name = Meesa
| image = Meesha.jpg
| author = S. Hareesh
| country = India
| language = Malayalam
| genre = Novel
| published = 2018 (D.C. Books)
| isbn = 978-8-126-47737-1
}}
Meesa ({{langx|en|Moustache|italic=yes}}) is the debut novel of Malayalam writer S. Hareesh. It was serialised in parts by the Mathrubhumi Illustrated Weekly and published in its entirety by DC Books.{{cite web| url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/hareeshs-novel-meesha-hits-stands/article24575825.ece |title= Hareesh's novel Meesha hits stands |author=C. Gouridasan Nair |date=2018-08-01 |website=The Hindu |access-date=2018-10-01}}{{cite web |url=https://news.webindia123.com/news/Articles/India/20180801/3402145.html |title=DC Books publishes Malayalam novel 'Meesha' |author= |date=2018-08-01 |website=Webindia123 |access-date=2018-10-28}} Due to protests from Hindu organisations, the serialisation was cancelled after the third part. The novel was translated into English by Jayasree Kalathil under the title Moustache.{{cite news |last1=Resh Susan |title=How 'Moustache' Came To Life: Author S. Hareesh And Translator Jayasree Kalathil Tell Their Story |url=https://www.huffpost.com/archive/in/entry/jcb-prize-s-hareesh-jayasree-kalathil-moustache-meesha-book_in_5fb8970ec5b62517bdbd9f8c |access-date=23 February 2023 |work=The Huffington Post |date=20 November 2020}}
Award
The English translation of the book, Moustache, won the JCB Prize for literature in 2020.{{Cite web|url=https://www.mangalam.com/news/detail/438125-latest-news-s-hareesh-bags-jcb-literature-award.html|title=എസ്. ഹരീഷിന്റെ മീശ നോവലിന് ജെ.സി.ബി സാഹിത്യ പുരക്സാരം}} The novel won the 2019 Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award for Novel, which was announced in February 2021.{{Cite web |date=2021-02-15 |title=kerala sahithya academy award announced കേരള സാഹിത്യ അക്കാദമി പുരസ്കാരങ്ങൾ പ്രഖ്യാപിച്ചു; എസ്. ഹരീഷിന്റെ 'മീശ' മികച്ച നോവൽ |url=https://www.twentyfournews.com/2021/02/15/kerala-sahithya-academy-award-announced.html |access-date=2021-02-15 |website=www.twentyfournews.com |language=en-US}}
Withdrawal
In a section of the novel, a certain character suggests that Hindu women bathe and wear good clothes before going to a temple because they are interested in sex.{{Cite web |url=https://bangaloremirror.indiatimes.com/news/india/sangh-parivar-supporters-slam-malayalam-writer-s-hareesh-over-meesha/articleshow/65011379.cms |title=Followers of Sangh Parivar slam Malayalam writer S Hareesh over Meesha |website=Bangalore Mirror |access-date=2018-11-13}}{{Cite web |url=https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/threatened-right-wing-malayalam-writer-s-hareesh-withdraws-novel-magazine-85170 |title=Threatened by right wing, Malayalam writer S Hareesh withdraws novel from magazine |date=2018-07-21 |website=The News Minute |access-date=2018-11-13}} He goes on to state that women do not go to the temple whilst menstruating because they cannot have sex. These extracts, which were shared on social media, resulted in widespread criticism by Hindu organisations such as Yogakshema Sabha, Hindu Aikya Vedi, N.S.S. After this, the writer withdrew the serialisation of the novel from Mathrubhumi Illustrated Weekly.{{cite web |url=https://www.firstpost.com/entertainment/malayalam-author-s-hareesh-withdraws-novel-meesha-says-he-has-received-threats-from-right-wing-groups-4791341.html |title= Malayalam author S Hareesh withdraws novel 'Meesha,' says he has received threats from right-wing groups|author= |date=2018-07-21 |website=Firstpost |access-date=2018-10-28}}
In Court
A plea to ban the book was made to the Supreme Court of India by N Radhakrishnan, a resident of Delhi. The court refused to ban the novel and stated that the culture of banning books impacts the free flow of ideas.{{cite web |url=https://www.msn.com/en-in/news/other/meesha-row-supreme-court-decries-practice-of-banning-books/ar-BBLqk4M |title='Meesha' row: Supreme Court decries practice of banning books |author= |date=2018-08-03 |website=MSN |access-date=2018-10-28}}{{cite web |url=https://www.deccanherald.com/national/sc-refuses-ban-novel-meesha-685120.html |title=Culture of banning books impacted free flow of ideas:SC |author=Ashish Tripathi |date=2018-08-02 |website=Deccan Heral |access-date=2018-10-28}}
References
{{reflist}}
Further reading
- {{Cite web |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/lifestyle/books/2018/aug/22/meesha-book-review-a-bewitching-phantasmagoria-1861381.html |title='Meesha' book review: A bewitching phantasmagoria |last=L. George |date=22 August 2018 |website=The New Indian Express |access-date=2019-01-31}}
External links
- [https://onlinestore.dcbooks.com/books/meesa Meesa] on the DC Books website
{{Vayalar Awards}}