Return of Sahit Akademi Awards : What the
intellectuals say ?
Returning awards is a peaceful way of
demonstration but Govt. should take note
of reaction of intelligentsia
Nearly 20 writers of
different languages across the country have united against attacks on speech and
it is perhaps for the first time in independent India that have returned the
award now, protesting that the Akademi has failed to perform its duty as the
custodian of creative literature in the country. One of the resentment is that Akademi has not
even passed a condolence resolution on the death of awardee.
Established by the first Prime Minister Jawaharlal
Nehru who was also its first chairperson, the Sahitya Akademi is the premier
institution of letters in the country. Every year it announces Sahitya Akademi
awards for writers in 24 languages.
The returning of awards have started since Hindi
writer Uday Parkash first did so last month over the killing of Kalburgi - was
an Indian scholar of Vachana Sahitya and academic who served as the
vice-chancellor of Kannada University in Hampi – and governents’ silence over
the killings of innocent persons.
Protests by one section could be termed as
politically motivated but not when so many different literary giants, most
apolitical and recognized and honoured by the government itself, decide to come
out in public to speak against what they
feel is wrong as feeling itself is a reality.
In a debate over the returning of awards by
various scholars, at one of PTC channel, all have different view on the issue.
Dr.Atamjit:
Returning award is itself a approach to the government, to show the resentment
and it is awardee’s own decision. It has not been started as a campaign, it has
started at its own but likely to come up as a campaign
Prof.
Akshay Kumar : Research scholars are reluctant to
accept the controversial topics
Prof.Chaman
Lal
: All the writers are of liberal ideology and not narrow-minded.
Mr.Grewal,
Govt. Rep. :
It should be the last tool to show resentment.
They should have first approached the government before returning the
awards.
When the local intellectuals were collected, they
too supported the writers concern but not the way of expressing resentment.
Dr.Satinder
Singh, National Awardee : India is the only and largest
democratic country having unity in diversity but due to sectarian riots have raised
a number of questions at the international platform. The unfortunate incident
of Dadri in UP have reminded the killing of prominent writers and in protest
have returned the Sahit Akademi Awards. To condemn the unfortunate incident in
the society is less than said. The pen
of the writer has more power than sword. It would be more appropriate in case instead
of returning the awards, the respected writers, should work jointly by writing against
the poor politics and create awareness to give a wakeup call for the sleeping
governments.
Harmeet
Vidyarthi, Punjabi Writer : Returning of Sahit Academy
Awards by the prominent writers, against the powers of communalism and for the
right to express, is an auspicious omen. The Punjabi writers have also contributed
in this nationwide movement.
The intellectuals class is only watching that the start
of returning of awards will confine to
rituality only or apart from this, the writers, along with the communalism, will also
lead the people in anti-people problems or not.
Abhishek
Arora, Educationist : Returning awards is a peaceful way
of demonstration. It is at least better than the other methods of violent and rowdy
demonstration like rail roko or strikes and bands etc
It is an appropriate way of conveying dissatisfaction adopted by the intellectuals of society. Intellectual’s way of demonstration needs to be different and distinct. At least they are not adversely affecting any common man's life and are also not posing loss to national property as well.
It is an appropriate way of conveying dissatisfaction adopted by the intellectuals of society. Intellectual’s way of demonstration needs to be different and distinct. At least they are not adversely affecting any common man's life and are also not posing loss to national property as well.
Government should take a serious note of this
reaction of the intelligentsia and take a strong message from this
demonstration. But it seems only loud slogans and other rowdy ways of
demonstration can only pierce the otherwise deaf ears of the govt. The docile
voice raised by the writers may not reach the government.
Vikramdtya
Sharma, PRO :I personally feel that returning the
awards by the prominent writers is their personal concern. However I also feel
that they must have found something which may have hurt their sentiments also.
But why to return award? What it will prove? If they have found something wrong
being happened, they should condemn it in other way.
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