"My writings will be never the same. A censor is seated inside me and he is testing every word that is born within me. His constant caution that a word may be misunderstood and I'm unable to shake him off," said acclaimed Tamil author Perumal Murugan here on Monday.

This was Murugan's first public speech after announcing his "death" over social media after a controversy broke out in 2015 over his book "Madhorubagan" (One part woman). The book earned the wrath of some Hindu groups and castes and copies of his books were burned at the town of Tiruchengode, where the novel is set.

However, in July 2016, the Madras High Court quashed all criminal cases filed against the author.

In a moving statement read out after the release of his news book, a collection of 200 poems titled "Kozhayin Paadalkal" (Songs of a Coward), at the Nehru Memorial Museum And Library, Murugan said that it was the court verdict that propelled him to resume writing.