New Delhi :
Citing the murder of noted rationalists and the Dadri lynching incident, Punjabi language writer and poet Surjit Patar on Tuesday returned his Sahitya Akademi Award.
He was also joined by other Punjabi eminent writers who announced to return their Sahitya Akademi awards. Among those who joined him included novelist and story writer Baldev Singh Sadaknama, poets Jaswinder and Darshan Buttar.
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The writers through their decision joined the protest by litterateurs against the spread of “communal poison” and “rising intolerance” in the country.
According to Patar, "Returning the award is a form of protest, and we are ready for other forms of dissent as well."
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Till date atleast 22 authors and poets have returned their Sahitya Akademi awards to protest against the literary body’s silence over attacks on writers and rationalists who were raising their voice of dissent.
On Tuesday, the wave was supported by noted author Salman Rushdie who called the situation 'alarming'.
