https://indianpedia.org/index.php?action=history&feed=atom&title=MeesaMeesa - Revision history2026-07-30T21:20:59ZRevision history for this page on the wikiMediaWiki 1.45.4https://indianpedia.org/index.php?title=Meesa&diff=517213&oldid=prevNWIMuoi623534 at 23:10, 7 November 20252025-11-07T23:10:09Z<p></p>
<p><b>New page</b></p><div>{{Short description|2018 novel by Malayalam author S. Hareesh}}<br />
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2023}}<br />
{{Use Indian English|date=February 2023}}<br />
{{Infobox book<br />
| name = Meesa<br />
| image = Meesha.jpg<br />
| author = [[S. Hareesh]]<br />
| country = India<br />
| language = [[Malayalam]]<br />
| genre = Novel<br />
| published = 2018 ([[D.C. Books]])<br />
| isbn = 978-8-126-47737-1<br />
}}<br />
'''''Meesa''''' ({{langx|en|Moustache|italic=yes}}) is the debut novel of [[Malayalam]] writer [[S. Hareesh]]. It was serialised in parts by the ''[[Mathrubhumi Azhchappathippu|Mathrubhumi Illustrated Weekly]]'' and published in its entirety by [[DC Books]].<ref>{{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}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://news.webindia123.com/news/Articles/India/20180801/3402145.html |title=DC Books publishes Malayalam novel 'Meesha' |author=<!--Not stated--> |date=2018-08-01 |website=Webindia123 |access-date=2018-10-28}}</ref> 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'''''.<ref>{{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}}</ref><br />
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==Award==<br />
The [[English language|English]] translation of the book, ''Moustache'', won the [[JCB Prize|JCB Prize for literature]] in 2020.<ref>{{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}}</ref> The novel won the 2019 [[Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award for Novel]], which was announced in February 2021.<ref name="kerala sahithya academy award announced">{{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}}</ref><br />
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== Withdrawal ==<br />
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.<ref name="Followers of Sangh Parivar slam Malayalam writer S Hareesh over Meesha">{{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}}</ref><ref name="Threatened by right wing, Malayalam writer S Hareesh withdraws novel from magazine">{{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}}</ref> 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]], [[Nair Service Society|N.S.S]]. After this, the writer withdrew the serialisation of the novel from ''[[Mathrubhumi Azhchappathippu|Mathrubhumi Illustrated Weekly]]''.<ref>{{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=<!--Not stated--> |date=2018-07-21 |website=Firstpost |access-date=2018-10-28}}</ref><br />
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== In Court ==<br />
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.<ref>{{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=<!--Not stated--> |date=2018-08-03 |website=MSN |access-date=2018-10-28}}</ref><ref>{{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}}</ref><br />
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== References ==<br />
{{reflist}}<br />
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== Further reading ==<br />
* {{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}}<br />
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== External links ==<br />
* [https://onlinestore.dcbooks.com/books/meesa ''Meesa''] on the [[DC Books]] website<br />
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{{Vayalar Awards}}<br />
[[Category:2018 debut novels]]<br />
[[Category:2018 Indian novels]]<br />
[[Category:Malayalam novels]]<br />
[[Category:Novels first published in serial form]]<br />
[[Category:Works originally published in Indian magazines]]<br />
[[Category:Works originally published in literary magazines]]<br />
[[Category:Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award–winning works]]<br />
[[Category:DC Books books]]</div>NWIMuoi623534