Indian Writers protest rising Intolerance by Returning National Awards
More than 40 Indian writers have returned
their literary awards or written letters of protests in an unprecedented
challenge against what they call "rising intolerance and growing assault
on free speech"
In the past week, several award-winning Indian writers
have raised the stakes of a political debate that is roiling their country.
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| More than 40 Indian writers have returned their literary awards |
In a spiraling cycle of protest, some writers are questioning the academy’s silence over the killing of an atheist scholar in August who spoke against idol worship. Others are protesting what they describe as a rising climate of intolerance citing the
In early October, two of India's
most highly respected writers, Nayantara Sahgal and Krishna Sobti returned their awards. Joining them were Shashi Deshpande, K Satchidanandan and
PK Parakkadavu who resigned from the Akademi's councils.
And on Tuesday
Punjabi writer Dalip Kaur Tiwana gave up her Padma Shri, the fourth highest
civilian honour in India. She said, referring to recent communal atrocities:
"To kill those who stand for truth and justice put us to shame in the eyes
of the world and God."
At present, over 40 writers from all across the country have returned
awards, sent in their resignations or written letters of protest, and the
number appears to be rising.
Booker winner
Salman Rushdie also expressed solidarity with the writers and tweeted: “I
support # Nayantara Sahgal and many other writers protesting to the Sahitya
Akademi. Alarming times for free expression in India.”
Questioning the ideologies and motives of
these writers, Sharma said: “Who are they, which ideology do they belong to
should also be considered. This issue is also important. There have been so
many riots earlier. When did they last return their awards?” He said: “They are
protesting against (Kannada writer M M) Kalburgi’s murder. We are with them in
this protest. But they should know that law and order is a state subject. If
they have any complaint, they should send it to the chief minister, home
minister. They have not done that.”
“This is a wave of
protest to safeguard the freedom to express our opinions… How can writers
remain silent in this atmosphere of injustice,” said Punjabi writer Patar.
"There
is no breathing space and no freedom of expression for literary writers. It is
like losing oxygen because we are writers who wish for free breathing space. I
do not need an oxygen cylinder in the form of awards to live. The attack on the
brood of literarians is unfortunate and has taken away the freedom of
expression," Joshi said in a statement.
India's
Culture Minister, Mahesh Sharma, responded typically, asking what ideologies
these writers represented, and saying, "If they are unable to write, let
them stop writing."
Speaking to The
Indian Express, Sharma said: “This is an award given by writers to writers. It
has nothing to do with the government. It is their personal choice to return
it… we accept it.”
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