Award winning writers take out protest march to Sahitya Akademi

Writers and their supporters, held a solidarity march in New Delhi today in protest against "rising intolerance" in the backdrop MM Kalburgi's killing. The silent protest came ahead of the Sahitya Akademi emergency meeting which is underway, to discuss the return of awards by eminent authors. Writers from different languages converged for the march carrying huge banners, with black gags and armbands, from Sri Ram Centre at Safdar Hashmi Marg to the Sahitya Akademi building. They submitted a memorandum to the Akademi demanding that it pass a resolution pledging to take stern steps to safeguard the freedom of speech and right to dissent of the writers. Akademi Chairman Vishwanath Prasad Tiwari accepted the memorandum and said it will be considered in the meeting. Talking to our correspondent, Ali Javed, General Secretary of Progressive Writers' Association alleged that government has created an atmosphere of fear to suppress freedom of writers. Folk singer, Malini Awasthi, who was present on the site, however condemned the protesters saying writers should lodge their protest through their pens and not by putting pressure on the Akademi. Eminent writers Keki N Daruwala, Geeta Hariharan, Former NSD director Anuradha Kapoor,and Shekhar Joshi among others were part of the protest. At least 35 writers from across the country had over the past few weeks announced their decision to return their Sahitya Akademi awards and stepped down from official Akademi positions. The protesters have also criticised Akademi chairman's recent statements in which he dubbed as "illogical" the act of several writers returning their awards. The writers said if the Akademi does not conduct a condolence meet for Kalburgi in Delhi, they will demand Tiwari's resignation.