While intolerance is increasing by the day in the country, the Government instead of taking any step against it has remained a mute spectator, said renowned Hindi writer Uday Prakash, who started the Award Wapsi drive by returning his Sahitya Akademi award after rationalist writer MM Kulburgi’s murder. A writer has nothing to protect himself with and there is a growing feeling of insecurity in the country, he added, explaining about the Kulburgi murder case.
“After the assassination of Kalburgi, the Sahitya Akademi did not even send a condolence message to the family nor did hold a condolence meeting,” he lamented. “I am very happy that poet Jayant Mahapatra has also retuned his award,” he said at a Preparatory Committee Convention against Intolerance held here on Tuesday.
Intellectuals including literary and cultural personalities, scientists, journalists, legal luminaries and academicians organised the meeting. Uday Prakash also said, “I don’t insist on other awardees to return their awards; it is my own view and decision.” He expressed concern over the rising intolerance in the country and reacted to several incidences such as communal violence, attack on individuals who dared to speak against fundamentalism, etc.