A group of Goan Sahitya Akademi award winners has condemned the killings of several other writers and the growing intolerance of Indian society over the past 18 months, even as the group has stopped short of returning their awards since “returning the awards is not going to solve the problem.”
Speaking on behalf of the group, writer Damodar Mauzo who himself won the award back in 1983 for a Konkani novel ‘Karmeline’ said that taking to the streets would be a better form of protest than returning awards.
“After listening to both sides, I came to the conclusion that returning the award is not going to solve the problem… Even taking to the streets, giving slogans in public will also help. But just returning the award (will not), they are also least bothered,” Mauzo said.
Mauzo said that the group of writers is upset with the chairman of the Sahitya Akademi, who has said that the award winning writers have earned credibility through the awards, when in fact it was the Sahitya Akademi which benefits by giving awards to bright writers.
“We are worried because of his silence. He should have apologised, long back. Immediately he should have reacted to it vociferously, because he heads a body of writers,” Mauzo said referring to the killings of writers and attempts at stifling dissent in the State.
Mauzo, however, said that they will raise their voice in various ways including at the upcoming International Film Festival of India.