The Sahitya Akademi Award – To Return or Not to Return

Recently, some writers and authors, honoured by the renowned Sahitya Akademi, seized the attention of the national news columns and bytes through a 'bizarre' action by them. The writers announced that they were returning the award conferred on them by the Akademi, as a mark of protest against the rising intolerance in the country. A solitary gesture by one author last month spread across the nation to around 33 other writers, who joined in the protest. According to reports, some of the protesting writers have returned the award amount to the Akademi. A few others have sent letters of protest, but not the prize money. Some have announced their decision, but not yet formally informed the Akademi. No one seems to have returned the citation or the trophy so far.

The Sahitya Akademi is a premier institution in India, promoting Indian literature. Although the Akademi is under the Ministry of Culture of the Central Government, it functions as an autonomous institution. The Akademi recognises and confers awards annually to authors of outstanding literary work in Indian languages. The award includes a citation, a trophy and cash prize. The amount which was initially Rs 5,000 when the award was introduced in 1955, has since been raised, and is currently Rupees one lakh (Rs.100,000). The Akademi also arranges for the translation of the winning book into several Indian languages, ensuring wider readership. It arranges felicitation programmes for the winner in several parts of the country, enhancing the stature of the winner-writer.

In this prestigious backdrop, when the announcement about returning the Sahitya Akademi Award in protest came, the news drew general curiosity – awe from some, and puzzlement among most. Initially, it was a statement of protest against the murder, a few days earlier, of the Kannada Sahitya Akademi winner, M M Kalburgi. Kalburgi's killers are still at large, and it is presumed he was killed by some unknown miscreants for his expressed controversial views of communal and religious nature.

The writer's protest against the Akademi was for its failure to mark its protest over the killing. Soon, several other writers announced their returning their Sahitya Akademi Awards in protest. The other protesting writers included 'the climate of rising intolerance in the country under the present central government' as additional reasons. The Dadri lynching incident was referred as proof of the deteriorating state of law and order in the country.

As writers announce the surrender of their Sahitya Akademi Awards, one begins to wonder if the intention is lost in the action.

1. · If the unfortunate killing of Kalburgi is the issue, against which establishment is the Akademi to mark its protest?
2. · If the deteriorating law and order is the issue, then why did the writers wait so long for this drastic action, when there were similar atrocities in earlier years?
   One can cite acts of violence of similar intensity and atrocity, going as far back as the mid-eighties onwards through to the early nineties and even as recent as the early years of last and this decade. The acts of violence have been as appalling and gruesome in the country over the decades.
3. · What then has changed in the recent past to propel the writers to a protest that has drawn more of media attention and less of a resolve or resolution?

It is not that one condones the acts of violence and atrocities in the country. However, the sudden spurt of reactions by the writers threatens to give a lop-sided impression about India, even to the outside world. This is unfair.

Writers in India have generally been held and regarded in high esteem for their literary dignity and political neutrality in their profession. The recent obscure reactions of the writers have raised eyebrows of the public at large about the real intention of their actions. One is at a loss to figure it out in spite of their explanations.

As the article goes to publication, award winners from the film industry and a scientist have also announced the surrender of their awards. Thus, a tsunami of protests is sweeping the country. Whether they are justified or not depends on how the citizen perceives it. However, in a cautious evaluation, one fears if the protests are skewed towards ulterior motives.