Sarah Joseph returns Sahitya Akademi award, K. Satchidanandan quits all posts

 

New Delhi, 10 Oct 2015: Malayalam writer Sarah Joseph has announced that she will return the Sahitya Akademi award, while noted poet K Satchidanandan has resigned from all Akademi posts on Saturday.

Their move comes a day after writer Shashi Deshpande resigned from the General Council of the Akademi. Writers Nayantara Sahgal and Ashok Vajpeyi  too have returned  their prestigious literary honour criticising the ’communal policies’ of central government.

 

"The country is now passing through very tough times. I feel it’s worse than the black days of the Emergency, Sarah Joseph said.

 

"By banning beef, the very right to choose our food is being taken away, she added.

 

In a statement Satchidanandan said the Akademi had failed in its duty to stand with the writers and to uphold the freedom of expression guaranteed by the Constitution of India. 

 

He also stated that he was exiting from the General Council, Executive Board and the membership of its several committees.