Returning an Award Gets Eyeballs To an Issue: Anuja Chauhan

Indian author Anuja Chauhan defends intellectuals who have returned their awards to make an important point.

Indian author Anuja Chauhan is of the opinion that desperate times need desperate measures. (Photo: Twitter/@NewsroomPostCom)

Often described as one of the best writers in the genre of Indian commercial fiction, author Anuja Chauhan speaks up in defence of artists, filmmakers, scientists and authors who have given up their National and Sahitya Academy awards, in order to make an important point.

Recently, several noted intellectuals from across India decided to return national honours that had been bestowed upon them during their careers, as a protest against what they consider to be the current government’s failure to safeguard the country’s diversity, given the recent culture of banning and growing intolerance towards other ideologies.

<p>We live in very dramatic times. There’s a lot of <i>nautanki</i> going on. At this point in time, returning an award will probably get you what you need on that issue, which is eyeballs and minds on that issue.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Anuja Chauhan, Author</p>

The new age, fusion writer is of the opinion that desperate times call for desperate measures. Her popular fictions include The Zoya Factor, Battle For Bittora and Those Pricey Thakur Girls. Chauhan made her stand on the issue clear while attending the Mumbai international literary festival in this Quint exclusive video.