‘For Dissent’ - Nayantara Sahgal Returns Sahitya Akademi Award

Writer Nayantara Sahgal returns Sahitya Akademi Akademi award to register her dissent over recent issues.

Noted writer and Jawaharlal Nehru’s niece Nayantara Sahgal at the Bangalore Literature Festival. (Photo: YouTube/BlrLitFest)

India’s first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru’s niece Nayantara Sahgal has returned her Sahitya Akademi Award.

In memory of the Indians who have been murdered, in support of all Indians who uphold the right to dissent, and of all dissenters who now live in fear and uncertainty, I am returning my Sahitya Akademi Award.
— Nayantara Sahgal

According to a report by NDTV, Sahgal attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his silence on issues like the Dadri killing, murder of MM Kalburgi and Narendra Dabholkar.

Under Modi we are going backwards, regressing, narrowing down to Hindutva... there is rising intolerance and lots of Indians are living in fear.
— Nayantara Sahgal

Speaking to CNN-IBN, the outspoken writer, said the Modi government is a “reign of terror.”

In her explanation titled Unmaking of India, Sahgal has listed the recent events and PM’s silence on it as the reason for her decision.

She has also registered disappointment against the Sahitya Akademi for being silent.