Devanur returns Padmashri, Sahitya Akademi awards

Joining the league of writers, intellectuals and filmmakers returning awards in protest against growing intolerance in the country, prominent Kannada writer Devanur Mahadev on Saturday announced that he would return the Padmashri and Kendra Sahitya Akademi awards.

Devanur, in a statement to media, said, “Returning them (awards) now, I know, is only symbolic in a way. I feel awkward that I am not able to return the position and prestige I may have obtained indirectly through these awards.”

What has irked Devanur is some writers and artists supporting the government. He has termed it as a sure sign of evil. Disgusted by this development, he decided to return the awards.

Devanur said, “I always believed that for every government to remain sensitive and society-oriented, writers, artists and intellectuals should act like the restraining bridle. However, much against my nature, I had controlled myself from reacting in the present context of returning awards.

“It appears as though history, having placed a huge challenge before our prime minister, is watching him with a little smile on its face. In sum, this is the time for introspection and soul-searching for everyone,” said Devanur.

Never in the past had there been such a situation. Only if the central government introspects, will it be able to provide governance, the writer said.

Regretting that tolerance was on the wane gradually after the end of the Nehruvian era, Devanur said, “We are witnessing the tragedy of people in the central government saying that incidents like Dadri and killings caused by ideological differences are the problems of the respective states.”

“There is the saying of a yogi that even God cannot save those who perpetrate murder, looting and hatred in the name of religion and God. I am returning the awards to remind ourselves of all this in the present situation,” Devanur said.

Devanur: Returning them (awards) now, I know, is only symbolic in a way. I feel awkward that I am not able to return the position and prestige I may have obtained indirectly through these awards. I always believed that for every government to remain sensitive and society-oriented, writers, artists and intellectuals should act like the restraining bridle.