Urdu poet Munawwar Rana joined over 30 authors who have returned Sahitya Akademi award, conferred to him for his book 2014 ‘Shahdaba,’ on Sunday.
Hindi writer Kashinath also handed over the honour in protest against “irresponsible” comments by various ministers on writers who have been agitating against “rising intolerance”.
I am returning the Sahitya Akademi award. I won’t accept any award from the government in the future. I come from Rae Bareli, politics runs through the street drains in my city but I never cared for it.
— Munawwar Rana, Urdu Poet in a TV Interview
Rana voiced concerns against the “growing religious intolerance in India” while pointing out that writers and litterateurs have been associated with a political party at all times.
I am a Muslim and some may label me as a Pakistani. Many areas in this country are not linked with electricity but Muslims here are linked to Dawood Ibrahim.
— Munawwar Rana, Urdu Poet in a TV Interview
Meanwhile, protesting against the “irresponsible” remarks made by various Union ministers against fellow writers who have returned the honours, Hindi writer Kashinath Singh also announced return of his award and cash prize on Monday.
Certain ministers from the Centre have made irresponsible remarks against the authors who returned their awards. The authors’ decision have not been taken seriously.
— Kashinath Singh, Hindi Writer
The Varanasi based writer, who won the 2011 award for his fiction “Rehan Par Raghu”, has also been a professor at the Banaras Hindu University.
(With inputs from PTI.)
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