It was a function that threatened to become an unceremonious battle. The occasion was to mark the launch of eight books belonging to various genres published by Aazi, a new publishing house, owned by S. Senthilnathan, a journalist. The launch function took place in Kilpauk, Chennai, on January 6.
The function seemed like an assembly of celebrities from various walks of life. Thol. Thirumavalavan, Leader of Dalit Panthers of India (DPI), Kanimozhi, poet and Rajya Sabha MP, Thamizhachi, poet, Khushboo, actor, Anand Natarajan, Executive editor, India Today Tamil, Rajendra Chozhan, writer, Chezhiyan, cinematographer, S.R. Raman, from Meteorological Department, and Ram, film director, among others graced the occasion.
The function went on smoothly with books being released and speeches made one after the other. The pleasant atmosphere was suddenly heated up when Thirumavalavan entered the scene to release a book authored by a Dalit scholar Stalin Rajangam.
Poet Arivumathi got hold of the mike after Khushboo completed her speech on the book ' a compilation of Anand Natarajan's articles that reflect on the current affairs. Arivumathi took her far task for not greeting DPI leader Thirumavalavan with due respect when the leader stepped into the dais. 'It is an insult to the leader, who represents downtrodden people', claimed Arivumathi.
He also recalled the old controversy surrounding Khushboo's opinion on 'chastity of Tamil people' and her subsequent comments on filmmaker Thankar Bachaan, who stood against her on the issue. He warned her of the consequences if she continued to behave in the same manner.
Khushboo immediately came up with a sharp reply. She clarified that she had no intentions to insult Thirumavalavan. She emotionally appealed everyone to read carefully what she had written in India Today before coming to a conclusion. 'I wrote about premarital sex and not about the chastity of Tamil women', asserted the actress with a shrilling voice.
The courageous response evoked anger among the supporters of Thiruma and Arivumathi, who tried to storm to the dais in protest. The atmosphere suddenly turned tensed. But the situation was deftly handled by Thirumavalavan, who instructed his supporters to calm down and made a perfect balancing act through his well rendered speech.
The dalit leader clarified his party's stand on Khushboo's remarks and came down heavily on the 'unhealthy journalism', which created all the chaos on the issue. 'I fully agree with Khushboo's remarks on premarital sex but I disagree with her sweeping comments about the chastity of Tamil women, in response to a query by a reporter of a daily', he remarked. He claimed that his party was committed to women's liberation and assured that his party would support her fight for women's rights.
Khushboo did not react to his speech, which calmed down the atmosphere and restored normalcy. The book by Stalin was then released by Thiruma and received by Khushboo.