Joshi also said that he thinks every organisation has the right to give an award and it is an individual’s choice whether to accept it or not.

Wednesday, 14 October 2015 – 1:26pm IST | Agency: dna webdesk
  • Prasoon JoshiPrasoon Joshi

Renowned Bollywood lyricist Prasoon Joshi said on Tuesday that there is a need to understand the reason why several regional writers have been returning their Sahitya Akademi awards.

He said that the Akademi award is very precious to these writers as they are largely unheard and very quiet people, the award is perhaps the highest honour they can think of receiving. They associate honour and prestige with it, so it’s crucial to know what really is bothering them so much that they are willing to part with the award.

Joshi also said that he thinks every organisation has the right to give an award and it is an individual’s choice whether to accept it or not. He said that by not accepting the award the writers have come together to protect something and they need to be taken seriously by everyone.

He further said that the centre of the debate should not be whether the writers should accept or return the award, the point of focus here should be what are these writers protesting about. He said that these people are in pain and they are unhappy. The reason why they are so need to be explored and probed about.

Joshi also feels that the government will listen to these writers because it is “too big a moment”.

http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-prasoon-joshi-says-writers-returning-sahitya-akademi-awards-are-in-pain-2134702