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.

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.