He is the first writer from the two Telugu speaking states to return the award
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Hyderabad: Telugu writer and actor M. Bhoopal Reddy returned his Sahitya Akademi award on Thursday. He is the first writer from the two Telugu speaking states to return the award. Ms Katyayani Vidmahe, another recipient, may return the award next week.
Bhoopal says Right to Equality being ignored
With Telugu writer and actor M. Bhoopal Reddy returning his Sahitya Akademi award, the number of writers who have returned their awards increased to 31.
Speaking to DC, Mr Reddy said, “I decided to be a part of it as the ongoing communal harassment has worried me. Article 51 A(h) of the Indian Constitution, which guarantees equality to all communities, has been ignored. Over 40 days have passed and no action has been taken in the murder of late Karnataka author M.M. Kalburji… If this attitude continues, it will create a dangerous atmosphere for many writers in the country. Also, in 2013 author Narendra Dabholkarwas was killed and this year, CPI leader Govind Pansari was shot dead. There is no responsibility to protect writers; I feel pained about this, which made me give back my award. I don’t want to contact the Sahitya council, the award will be couriered to the address along with a cheque of '50,000, which I had received along with the award.”
Meanwhile, author Ms Katyayani Vidmahe, who is currently working on farmers’ suicides in Mahbubnagar, added, “I will return to the city on Saturday and announce my support; I too will return my award in protest.”
Mr Bhoopal Reddy was awarded in 2011 for his contribution to children’s literature in Telugu language.
( Source : deccan chronicle )
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