Returning Sahitya Akademi Awards - Is it a right kind of protest by writers?

Returning Sahitya Akademi Awards - Is it a right kind of protest by writers?

"The purpose of a writer is to keep civilization from destroying itself." - Albert Camus.

There has been a recent spur in the writers returning Sahitya Akademi Awards in protest. The number has reached nearly to 20. It simply reminds the time when Rabindranath Tagore renounced his title of 'Sir' in protest to Jallianwala Bagh massacre during the British times. Though it is not British times and we have all the freedoms which we need, the writers still felt that they are facing hostility from some factions of the society and have taken to protests in the form of returning the awards.

But is this protest being done in an appropriate form as Sahitya Akademi Awards are one of the highest level literary awards in the country; or is there no truth to the allegations by the writers?

Yes –

1. It is an appropriate response to the insecurities felt by the writers.

2. It is a symbolic show of protest against what writers feel as a growing disregard for freedom of speech.

3. The writers can use the media or their writings to bring their problems in front of the entire nation. However, they fear that some factions in society might turn hostile if they are criticized. Writings of the writers might provoke hostilities by those fractions.

4. Thus we can see that what remains with a writer to do, if his writings are bone of contention. This symbolic gesture thus shows the severity of the problem.

5. The violence and murders of writers with very different point of views was another issue. Here we see that writings and difference of opinions itself got writers killed. So there was no other way to protest. A strike might not have the same effect as the strike of petrol pumps or doctors’ strike.

6. This gesture shows that one of the highest literary honors too is insufficient if the writers feel that all spaces of liberal values and thought, all locations of dissent and dialogue, all attempts at sanity and mutual trust are under assault.

7. This tradition of returning awards is not new in our country and has been going on since the British times. So frowning at the writers to use this method is not fair.

No –

1. It is irrelevant to return the awards. It will not have much effect.

2. Sahitya Akademi Awards were given by the Sahitya Akademi to writers and not by the government. If an award is returned as a protest, it does not make sense as the government did not give the awards. Had the award been awarded by the government, it made sense to return.

3. If the writers want to protest they can do so in their writing. Many read what writers write. This way they reach a majority of the population with their problems. Returning awards is of no use.

4. The writers can also use media to make sure their plights reach the appropriate authority and even the people come to know about them.

5. The writers are feeling that their liberal space is getting reduced. To address this issue, entire nation is with them. They just need to initiate a dialogue with appropriate authority to resolve the problem. They need not take such steps.

6. These steps are only making such awards political. This will have ramifications in the future too. This can make these honorable awards a political tool.

7. In India, during the British times, whenever there was pressure on the writing space provided to the writers, the writers reacted with their articles and generated public opinion from their side. With the growing use of internet and good communication networks, the writers can reach every nook and corner of the country in matter of hours. Such avenues of protests must be used.

8. Also, more than returning the awards, scathing articles and criticisms can do a better job of generating public opinion. If a writer is afraid then to hide identity, pen names can be used.

"No tears in the writer, no tears in the reader. No surprise in the writer, no surprise in the reader." - Robert Frost.

Such is the importance of writers. This is how they can have an impact on the people. Various hostilities and problems of India have provoked writers and artists to protest against and condemn the damage done to social fabric, communal harmony and creative life of India. Not doing so will be failing in their duty. Literature in India has been a sort of conscience-keeper of the country. Though returning awards may not be the most appropriate kind of protest, it is a symbolic gesture which only aims to draw attention towards the issues raised by the writers. This protest is not damaging public life and hence instead of arguing if the protest is appropriate or not, we must focus on addressing concerns of the writers.
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    Discussion

  • RE: Returning Sahitya Akademi Awards - Is it a right kind of protest by writers? -tuhina shah (01/17/16)
  • i completely agree with the post of mr.prashant tripathi. very well analysed and written.
    indian writers are not bringing the political isues in between but they not left with any option.people are saying that a pen could have been used as a medium to protest, but how can this medium give positive results when WRITING, itself has lead to the attacks on others.although this is quite disrespecting if see it as part of sahitya academi, but saving the kinds of their own was prime motive rather than insulting the award giving academi.
  • RE: Returning Sahitya Akademi Awards - Is it a right kind of protest by writers? -vishnu prasad (12/16/15)
  • good evening
    i think this is no effect on govt because govt does not give sahitya akadmi award by this influence
    this is great honour
  • RE: Returning Sahitya Akademi Awards - Is it a right kind of protest by writers? -Kshitij (12/14/15)
  • Sometimes even the guns could not make such impact which a pen can make on the world.It is also known as the biggest weapon in the modern era .SAHITYAKAR'S are the one's who have power to shake the whole world just with there pen,they are the one who are there,indirectly,who raises the issues of need and to be improved.I don't think they should return there awards,instead of it they should write more and more about it and be the cause for change and should make the country better,without any loopholes,instead of returning their awards
  • RE: Returning Sahitya Akademi Awards - Is it a right kind of protest by writers? -aastha dixit (11/17/15)
  • i agree to the previous post .i would like to add that it might be an appropriate way to protest , as at least the problem should come in front of those people who appreciate " a pen is mightier than a sword" , but how can the pen be mightier in case when it is not getting the liberty to transform the real scenario into valuable writings,even their creatorsrs are living in the fear of loosing their lives.
    since sahitya academy award is an honour, and there is no use of giving honour to someone in form of just an award, but he should also be honoured for his creations..what is the need of such awards and honours then when we can't even face the reality.
    it's really a matter of shame for all of us that the situation has reached upto the level that they are compelled by their conscience to disrespect the most precious earnings of their lives.
    i support it , and hope that indian government does not stay in a dilemma like if it it has lost its senses as always.
  • RE: Returning Sahitya Akademi Awards - Is it a right kind of protest by writers? -Prashant Triptahi (11/17/15)
  • The fact that we are discussing about this proves that the action taken by writers has worked. In my view, a writer believes in his powers to shape the thinking of every one of his/her readers. The ability to do so is what makes a writer feel worthy. I completely agree with the protest shown by top writers in the form of returning their awards. This move is not political, it concerns the basic rights of a writer. If a writer can't openly express his views due to the fear of getting shot like Narendra Dhabholkar and Govind Pansare, then I see no point of writing at all. The written text is meant to provide thought provoking insights and if other people misplacing their anger into killing writers for just expressing their views on sensitive topics like superstitions is just plain wrong.
    Further, I read views from people here saying that this is not the proper method of doing it and they could have just done it online without dishonouring the academy. I must tell you that even now, people don't take this seriously enough and a fair share don't even bother to understand what has led to this rage in the writers community. Your twitter would have trended for a day or two and vanished, like #MSGreleasingtoday. Hence, even though this is not the proper way to spread the message but alas it is the best one available for our writers to reach the masses and not just the literary community. If I was one of them, I would be actively involved in the same.
    Lastly, for why they are making such a hype with protests, I'd like to quote the great Mr. Mandela, "When a man is denied the right to live the life he believes in, he has no choice but to become an outlaw."
  • RE: Returning Sahitya Akademi Awards - Is it a right kind of protest by writers? -nasim (11/15/15)
  • I think returning sahotya acadmey award is not an apropirate way to protest against intolerance because this award is not given by gvt but by the sahitya acadmey .teturning award has not much efffect . To protest writer can also use their wiriting many people will get awarness by articles of writters
  • RE: Returning Sahitya Akademi Awards - Is it a right kind of protest by writers? -md irfan (11/13/15)
  • yes..I think so that it is a right kind of protest by writers,because every award worth something.Writer and people of india don't feel safety after kulkarni face being by black ink before launching of book release by former pak union minister ,lynching in dadri and murder of rationalism in tharwaa and also scared about who is next targeted. I think not only writer and also other people sholud also protest against them. After returning award by writer and filmmaker
    people are trying to know what are going in india?why writers and filmmaker return their award?.People judges itself what should we do and what we don't?.
  • RE: Returning Sahitya Akademi Awards - Is it a right kind of protest by writers? -jumbish afreen (10/30/15)
  • returning the awards may not create a big havoc for the govt. officials but it does shows a mark of protest,it shows that people are against these odds going on in the country.the writers through their silence are raising their voice that if they can return such an hounarable award then revolting wouldnt be a big issue.since these awards are of great importance for them n it is their lifetime achievement.may not be on big scale but it has sure brought restlessness in the prime ministers house.bcoz india is a secular country and if any single community or any specific profession is facing terror residing here then its a matter of thought
  • RE: Returning Sahitya Akademi Awards - Is it a right kind of protest by writers? -md Afsar Hussain (10/22/15)
  • i think frnds , returing sahitya acedmy award is done only when dis genius had talk. returing award was a right decision as if our society is thinking that they are foul and they are not having knowledge then writers should not keep the award if society think that they are not deserving ...
  • RE: Returning Sahitya Akademi Awards - Is it a right kind of protest by writers? -KRISHNA TRIPATHI (10/20/15)
  • No, i don't think so it's a right kind of protest by writes bcoz it's an award which is given to writers not to return and protest in this way & if u hv to protest use media , collect people get their idea, you can use your books & through that you can also protest by writing your opinion & no need to make it a political award.
  • RE: Returning Sahitya Akademi Awards - Is it a right kind of protest by writers? -Janardan (10/20/15)
  • In my point of view writters had no other option than returning sahitya academy award. If writer goes on strike no one notice, media people had no time to writters plight than covering bihar election, stupid debates, PMs US Visit. If they write scathing Article there is danger from faction people. This is the only option left to the writters.
  • RE: Returning Sahitya Akademi Awards - Is it a right kind of protest by writers? -shishir pandey (10/18/15)
  • i think this is not a proper way to sow their pain against the system , they should collect all of the people and make a leader and ask government to talk on the issue , and u guys have a special thing to connect with people , make connect with people and media as well. do not give another point for politics ,,,
  • RE: Returning Sahitya Akademi Awards - Is it a right kind of protest by writers? -Deepa Kaushik (10/15/15)
  • Returning the award is the symbolic representation of intolerance against the irresponsible governance. The more the Government is maintaining a mute mode for all the henious crimes occuring across the country. When a party promises a series of equations on their election manifesto, they become answerable to the failure in fulfilling their promise.Law and order is utmost important for any country. It is a unsaid promose while coming to Governance of a country that they become answerable to the safety and security of their citizens. When the reluctance is pronounced enough through the silence over the matter of mysterious death of writers, it is very obvious to observe confrontation in some or the other form.It is understandable that Sahitya Academy is not wrong anywhere, where the awards are being returned. Still, the returning of awards got enough air to burn through the media and attain required attention. It is the way chosen by other writers to show their anger and frustation and they got pretty successful in their attempt to arouse their voice.Returning the award is also accompanied by a heavy reasoning of showing intolerance against injustice and improper Governance. The Government is indirectly been pressurised to address this matter to give a proper explanation. Hence, it is correct on part of the writers in returning the award.
  • RE: Returning Sahitya Akademi Awards - Is it a right kind of protest by writers? -fresco (10/15/15)
  • I don't agree that returning awards is the correct way to protest against Dadri lynching and attacks against rationalists, saying protests should be organised on a mass scale.