MYSURU: Citing 'rising intolerance' in the country, litterateur and social activist Devanur Mahadeva announced on Saturday that he would return Padma Shri and Sahitya Akademi awards.
He said returning of these awards now was only a gesture as he would be unable to return indirect benefits he has enjoyed from these awards and feels constricted for it. "Against my personal behaviour, I remained patient even as many authors and literary figures returned their awards, raising their voice against intolerance in the country, but I'm feeling disgusted after few writers and artists stood in support of those in power," he said in a statement.
He alleged that the principles of free speech, tolerance and social justice on which India gained independence has been shrinking after the Nehruvian period. "These principles are the breath for cultural and social India that we have to construct, but unfortunately there is intolerance spreading in the country without understanding any of this," Mahadeva added.
He said “The group which is now indulging in violent excesses of intolerance is emboldened by the feeling that those whom it voted to power are now in the central government and that whatever misdeed it may commit it will escape by their blessings. Therefore, violent incidents of intolerance which used to take place in a clandestine manner, are now happening in broad daylight. Never in the past had there been such a situation. Only if the central government introspects on this will it be able to provide governance.”
Known for his work in Dalit literature, he was honoured with Kendra Sahitya Akademi award for his novel "Kusuma Baale" in 1990 and conferred with Padma Shri in 2011. Mahadeva, without naming anybody, also criticised leaders of the Union Government for branding return of awards by literary personalities as their intolerance against PM Narendra Modi. “Current central government will have to introspect about this to be able to provide good governance,” he added.
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