Cyberattack on literary stalwart M. Leelavathy over ‘starving children of Gaza’ remark draws widespread condemnation

Social media attack on venerated Malayalam literary critic and writer M. Leelavathy over her remarks on “starving children of Gaza” during her 98th birthday last week has drawn widespread condemnation.

Ms. Leelavathy had reportedly told a visitor during the birthday that “she was finding it hard to have food thinking about starving children with empty stomachs in Gaza.” A vitriolic social media onslaught began soon after her remark was published by an online outlet, which later took down the report following the backlash against Ms. Leelavathy.

Responding to the cyberattack, Ms. Leelavathy on Tuesday said “children are just children” and that she saw them with “motherly affection, no matter which country they hail from or what caste or religion they belong to.”

‘No politics behind it’

“There was no politics behind it. During the Onam in 2019, I only had porridge after coming across news about the starvation faced by the children of Wayanad. Those who oppose me are free to do so, and I hold no grudge against them. This is not the first time I am facing (such) attacks. I have faced stiff opposition from very early in my life,” Ms. Leelavathy said.

Minister expresses solidarity

Education Minister V. Sivankutty, meanwhile, expressed solidarity with her through a social media post, dubbing her remarks about the children in Gaza as “borne out of her humanity.”

Condemning the cyberattack targeting Ms. Leelavathy, Mr. Sivankutty drew attention to her invaluable contributions to Malayalam language and culture and to her advanced age.

“Those who attack her words in such abusive language in the cyberworld question the very cultural values of Kerala. Kerala is forever indebted to Ms. Leelavathy’s contributions as a teacher, literary critic and author. To respect and protect people like her is the responsibility of every Keralite. Kerala should be united in resisting and responding to such cyberattacks,” Mr. Sivankutty said.

The Old Students’ Association of Maharajas has called for strong resistance against the cyberattack against Ms. Leelavathy, who taught at the college and served as the Malayalam department head, according to a statement issued by the association.