Noted Kannada writer and activist Chandrashekhar Patil, popularly known as Champa, has decided to return the prestigious Pampa Award conferred on him by the Karnataka government in 2009.
This, he said, was a symbolic gesture of protest against “the environment created in the country stifling dissent and freedom of expression”, following the murder of close friend and co-writer M.M. Kalburgi in Dharwad last week.
Prof. Patil said he would meet Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Monday and return the award. The Hindu spoke to him…
Why this decision to return the Pampa Award now?
This is my way of protesting the vitiating atmosphere prevalent in the country today stifling democratic debate, dissent, and freedom of expression. Kannada writer and journalist Linganna Satyampet was also found dead under mysterious circumstances in 2012 in Kalaburagi. We are not happy about the probe into that case as well. This is the least I can do as a writer to protest.
What do you feel the government should do?
At this juncture, I have three demands from Chief Minister Siddaramaiah. The probe into Kalburgi’s murder should be sped up along with reopening the probe into the death of Linganna Satyampet and catching the real culprits. The murder of Kalburgi is an assault on rationalism as a way of thought in the country. In protest and defiance to this, I demand that Mr. Siddaramaiah call a special session of the legislature and pass the Anti-Superstition Bill and make it an Act of law.
Do you feel the State hasn’t done enough?
My returning the award is not my comment on the government or the probe being carried out by the Police Department. I am not aware of the developments in the case. My demand is to speed up the probe and nab the culprits at the earliest.
What is the way ahead?
The government alone is not responsible for creating this stifling environment. Every one of us is responsible. This is just my way of trying to correct it at a personal level. All of us need to protest against this at a personal level and a societal level as well.
I think there needs to be a people’s movement based on rationalist thinking to counter this. Passing the Anti-Superstition Bill may be the first step in this direction.
