Urdu poet Munawwar Rana on Sunday announced on live TV his decision to return Sahitya Akademi award along with Rs. one lakh cash prize and vowed not to accept any government award in the future.
Participating in a televised debate with other writers and politicians, Mr. Rana, a big name in contemporary Urdu poetry, said he had decided to return the award because he was disappointed with the present developments in the country.
“I come from Rae Bareli, politics runs through the street drains in my city but I never cared for it,” Mr. Rana said.
