Jayanta Mahapatra to return his Padma Shri award

Indian English poet Jayanta Mahapatra has written to President Pranab Mukherjee expressing his desire to return the Padma Shri award in protest against the rising intolerance in the country.

“In accordance with my beliefs, I would, as a mark of protest, humbly wish to return the civilian honour of “Padma Shri” which had been bestowed upon me by the President of India in 2009. I am returning the award against the growing moral asymmetry in the country”, he told ANI in a telephonic conversation.

The Cuttack-based 88-year-old poet received Padma Shri in 2009 for his contribution to the field of literature.

Pidma Shri award is the fourth highest civilian award in India. “Everyday the newspapers are flooded with comments of politicians against beef eating and incidents of violence related to it. I am genuinely hurt by all this”. He said freedom is being curtailed in the country. In 1981, he became the first Indian poet writing in English to win the Sahitya Akademi award.

However, he has decided not to return the Akademi award saying that award was given to him by the Akademi and not by the government. “But I strongly felt there is need to protest against the issue and it is my feeble way of protesting”, said Mahapatra.