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Sahitya Akademi’s gimmick falls flat, embarrassed on its home turf (Lead)
By Saket Suman
New Delhi, June 15 (IANS) In a dramatic turn of events, the Sahitya Akademi was left embarrassed on its home turf as noted writer-poet Keki N. Daruwalla, on whose works the Akademi presented a documentary Friday evening, clarified that despite being present at the Akademi, his views and stance remain unchanged and the question of taking back his Sahitya Akademi award, which he returned in 2015, does not arise.
“I must say that my views remain the same. And so does my stance. We still feel that enough was not done after the killings of rationalists and now (Gauri) Lankesh has been killed too,” he said in response to an IANS question at the Sahitya Akademi event here.
“The question of taking the award back never arose,” he said.
Daruwalla, one of India’s foremost writers and poets and a recipient of several national and international accolades including the Padma Shri, was among the prominent faces — along with writer Nayantara Sahgal — leading the “award wapsi” (returning of awards) in 2015.
The writers were protesting against what they called “rising intolerance and growing assault on free speech” in the country.
The spontaneous series of giving up awards had unfolded in October 2015 after Sahitya Akademi’s silence on the murder of leading scholar and rationalist Malleshappa Kalburgi and Govind Pansare.
Amid widespread protests and return of the prestigious literary honour by at least 36 writers, the Sahitya Akademi, 54 days after the murder of Kalburgi, finally broke its silence on October 23, 2015, condemning “the murder of Prof M.M. Kalburgi and other intellectuals and thinkers” and urging the litterateurs to take back their awards.
Daruwalla never took back his Sahitya Akademi award, which was awarded to him for his 1984 poetry collection, “The Keeper of the Dead”.
“I am returning my award not because of intolerance alone, but more for the fact that the Akademi kept silent and lacked the boldness to stand up for a murdered author,” Daruwalla had earlier told this correspondent on the day he returned his award in 2015.
What brought him back to the Akademi?
“Unhone kaha ki sahab aapki film hum screen kar rahe hain aap aaiye, maine pranam kiya aur main aa gaya,” Daruwalla responded from the Sahitya Akademi stage here.
“Woh desh ka mamla hai. Woh politics ka mamla hai. Uske baare main mere kaafi solid views hain aur main uske baare main likhta rahta hoon,” he reiterated, saying that his views have been consistent and that he has been writing about it.
The Sahitya Akademi, India’s national academy of letters, inaugurated a documentary film festival on June 11 and it reached its culmination Friday evening with Daruwalla’s tete-e-tete with the audience.
But what did the Akademi, which strives to promote literary excellence across languages in the country aim to achieve by playing a rather banal, mediocre and “at least 10 years old” documentary on the works of a writer who led the massive protest against the “autonomous institution” just three years ago?
The representatives of Sahitya Akademi at the venue denied requests for comments.
(Saket Suman can be contacted at [email protected])
–IANS
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Dr. Abhishek Verma Dedicates a Shelter in Memory of His Mother, Veena Verma, at KGMU; Inaugurated by Daughter Nicolle Verma
World-renowned business tycoon Dr. Abhishek Verma has supported Foodman Vishal Singh’s Hunger-Free World mission. In memory of his mother, Late Veena Verma, who was a 3 term Rajya Sabha MP.
Dr. Verma dedicated a state-of-the-art free permanent shelter for the attendants of patients at KGMU Medical University, Lucknow, under the aegis of Vijay Shree Foundation. His daughter, Nicolle Verma, inaugurated the shelter.
During the event, Foodman Vishal Singh honored Nicolle Verma by presenting her with a memento. Mrs. Nidhi Sharma and Avantika Yadav, associated with the organization, welcomed her with garlands. Following this, Nicolle Verma distributed essential items to the attendants and also handed out fruits. She became emotional remembering her grandmother on her birth anniversary.
On this occasion, she also inaugurated the “Veena Verma Sevalaya” in memory of her grandmother, Veena Verma, to serve the attendants. She expressed, “I feel proud that my family is engaged in nation-building as well as social service. Today, in collaboration with Vijay Shree Foundation founder Foodman Vishal Singh Ji, I feel immensely proud to dedicate this shelter for the poor, helpless, and needy attendants of patients battling serious illnesses like cancer. I am honored to be associated with the Hunger-Free World Mission for humanity.”
Inspired by the continuous humanitarian service provided by Vijay Shree Foundation over the past 17 years, Nicolle Verma donated 10 lakh rupees to support the cause. The purpose of this donation is to ensure that services continue for the needy attendants of patients suffering from severe illnesses in hospitals, as facilitated by Foodman Vishal Singh.
It is noteworthy that Dr. Abhishek Verma’s family has a legacy of public and philanthropic service. They are helping millions to carry forward the values and service work of their parents. On the occasion of his mother’s birth anniversary, Dr. Abhishek Verma dedicated this state-of-the-art permanent shelter at Lucknow Medical College to serve the attendants of patients through the Vijay Shree Foundation.
Supporting Foodman Vishal Singh’s Hunger-Free World mission, Dr. Abhishek Verma assured that he would continually support keeping this flame of humanity alive. He also promised to assist in providing medicines to the helpless patients.
Continuing her grandmother’s legacy of service, Nicolle Verma personally served food to the needy patients and attendants. She said, “It is our good fortune to have received the joy of doing this noble work today through Foodman Vishal Singh. I have taken another step forward in carrying my family’s values and cooperation by joining hands with the Vijay Shree Foundation. My father taught me to serve and help the needy, and I feel happy when I bring a smile to someone’s face.”
On the birth anniversary of the late Veena Verma, the event organizer, Vijay Shree Foundation founder Foodman Vishal Singh, said, “We feel proud and happy that Dr. Abhishek Verma, a globally renowned business tycoon, has extended his support to uplift our country from the hunger index. Today, on his mother’s birth anniversary, he inaugurated a state-of-the-art permanent shelter at Lucknow Medical College, which will always be helpful for the needy attendants of patients. It is a pleasure for me and the organization to receive the affection of Mr. Verma.”
The event was attended by General Manager Verma Family Office Hemant Garg, Sonu Rajput, and the organization’s volunteers, including Sandeep Singh, Parmeshwar Ji, Prashant Rao Gautam, Balram Singh, Ramesh Chaudhary, Suman, Jeetu, Anil, Suraj, Vinay, Manish Bhadauria, Manas Mehrotra, Vivek, Apurv, Happy, and others.
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