A group of Sahitya Akademi award winner writers from Goa on Thursday condemned the silence of Sahitya Akademi over the rising trend of intolerance in the country and recent murders of some writers.
“We demand from Sahitya Akademi the official condemnation of the threat to our fundamental rights that is more imperative at this juncture. We are hopeful that the Academy would condemn the cultural Talibanism in the country,” said writers led by Datta Damodar Naik. Writers on Thursday vowed to join hands to plan a series of actions, including a demonstration at International Film Festival of India (IFFI) to be held here next month.
As many as 14 Sahitya Akademi Award winners condemned the rising trend of intolerance in the country.
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“The rising trend of intolerance is threatening freedom of expression and age-old liberal and all-encompassing philosophical traditions of this country,” said Mr. Naik reading their joint statement at a press conference in Panaji.
Mr. Damodar Mauzo said they have put on hold their decision to return the awards in view of Sahitya Akademi’s upcoming Executive Council meeting on October 23.
“We are greatly disturbed by the recent murders of the rationalist intellectuals: Dabholkar, Pansare and Kalburgi followed by the recent lynching of a Muslim over suspected beef eating. The rightwing fanatics have disrupted the music concert and book publication of the Pakistani musician and writer’, said the press note.
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The writers said they would organise more effective actions by mobilising other writers, artists and intellectuals under one banner to protest against the ongoing situation in the country.
“We will even organise a big demonstration at IFFI, beginning from 20 November, along with filmmakers, writers and artists at national and international level”, said N. Shivdas, former chairman of State-owned Goa Konkani Academy.
The writers would soon meet Goa Governor Mridula Sinha, a writer herself to lodge their protest.
“During the last eighteen months in particular the rabid fundamentalist forces have torn apart composite cultural mosaic of this country. If not contained, they will turn this country into a graveyard of creativity. This will kill scientific temperament and literary and cultural renaissance, ultimately stalling the economic progress of this nation,” said the press release.