Hyderabad: Kancha illaiah, well-known author and Dalit rights activist, has received threatening calls from unknown persons.
Dr Illaiah, author of several books including Why I am not Hindu today lodged a formal complaint at the Osmania University police station. In his complaint, Illaiah alleged that the threatening calls were being made by the members of Arya Vysya community as they were angry with his latest book, Samajika Smugglurlu Komatollu (Vysyas are social smugglers).
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. Lankesh, a famous Kannada journalist and activist, was recently shot dead in Bengaluru by unknown assailants.
He said he also gave copies of his books to the police.
Members of the Arya Vysya community have been holding protests against the book, saying they have been denigrated and mocked in it. They have also lodged complaint with the police.
Earlier, another book, Why I am not a Hindu, of his had also elicited angry reactions from various right-wing Hindu groups.
Illaiah, who writes in English and Telugu, is currently working as director, centre for study of social exclusion and inclusive policy, at Moulana Azad National Urdu University, Hyderabad. His books have been translated into many other languages.
