ICF interviewed cultural commentator Sadanand Menon in the wake of attacks on writers, artists, scholars and citizens. Menon rued the lack of an active leftist resistance to rightwing forces sabotaging creativity and free speech in the country in recent years. He suggested that to combat Hindutva forces collectively, we need to address the fact that these forces are not concentrated in a centre. They are “hydra-headed”, multipronged, receiving passive support from the state. Rather than the artist needing to “think twice” about their art, Menon stressed, it is more tolerance that is required.
