Akademi urges writers to take back awards

The Sahitya Akademi on Friday again urged writers to take back the awards they have relinquished, saying these were given with love and respect and such feelings should be respected.

“Our executive board has already appealed to the writers to re-consider their decision to give back their awards. Sahitya Akademi is the writers’ institution and has always supported freedom of speech and it is with the writers. The Akademi is not against the writers,” said Akademi president Vishwanath Prasad Tiwari.

Padma Shri Dogri poet Padma Sachdev also supported the views of the Akademi and said that writers should re-consider their decision. “Sahitya Akademi is the home of all ‘sahityakars’. Due to the saddening incidents in the country, many members of the Akademi have returned their awards and for which we are sad and hurt. If people leave their home for reasons like sadness, anger or other, then the house becomes empty and keeps waiting for the person,” she said.